Craven Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hello Folks I picked up a 86 Brat from a friend for a some work I did for him, with a smoked clutch and a bad 4sp. trans, I think (won't go into low gear). Some kid took this Root beer brown Brat from Texas with a fairly decent body and decided it would look better paited Black with Gray flames, all done with spray bombs. He even painted the inside Black.The motor seems to run pretty good, not a smoker or the like. So like the real genius thinking Subrau's are nothing but a water cooled VW with the motor on the other end. I found a nice complete 87 ea82 4x4 5sp. hatchback with a smoked motor in J/Y and bought the whole car. Put a battery in the 87 hatch when I got it home and fired it up. Took it down the road killing skeeders all the way. I believe they got the motor a bit to warm and took out the rings(lots of blow-by).The trans. and hi/lo 4x4 seened to be just fine. So I figure I could do a easy trans, clutch swap and interior switch and after some minor paint and body work I would be on my way of having a neat little truck. But after doing some reading here, it looks to be more of a job than just to r/r the stuff. I think I'll keep the 87 shifters and linkage and just modify the Brat crossmember to fit the 5sp. trans.. I think I can get the 87 hatch console to work and not look too bad. While I was a the boneyard looking at the 87, I spied a Mazda SR5 pickup with the stock white spoked 6 lug 14" wheels and the the guy threw them on the deal. Going to do the drill job on the hubs, they should look ok on the Brat with 195/70/14 tires. So anyone think I'm on the right track or am I just dreaming. Craven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Go for it. Look at the repair manual for a step-by-step process for the 4 to 5 speed swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Welcome to the Board. Nice to see another owner from Michigan on here. I agree with northguy, go for the 5spd swap. But if you decide not to, I have a 4spd D/R sitting out in the garage, came out of an '86. BTW, where's the middle of the mitten, exactly? That covers a lot of acreage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craven Posted May 17, 2004 Author Share Posted May 17, 2004 Northguy What repair manual gives a step by step? TomRhere I live between Midland and Mt Pleasent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craven Posted May 17, 2004 Author Share Posted May 17, 2004 Nothguy found it right here, all's I had to do is open my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Page around on the site. There are a number of things available besides good advice/information and fellowship( not sure what the feminine noun would be). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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