TomRhere Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Ok, as much as I hate the thought of doing it, I'm scrapping out the '86 BRAT. She's just to rusty to fix. I've been in contact with Wolf Steel, http://www.alfaparts.net/subaru.html on shipping them the body panels that are prone to rusting on the BRATs. They can make replacement panels from the bad sections. Other than the bed wheel wells, and rocker areas, what do you BRAT owners consider as target areas for rust-out, and replacement panels? Would like to ship them the whole shell, but I can't afford to do that. I'll just cut the offending section(s) out, and ship them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrat Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 the inside bed wheel wells are another area. I saw a brat on eBay recently that had some other wheel wells covering up the stock ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benebob Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Front frame rails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I want them made out of stainless steel. I have used stainless for all welded in rust repair I would love to have the pieces to replace the rust prone parts before they rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted January 1, 2004 Author Share Posted January 1, 2004 I'm taking notes on this. Any more suggestions? Scott, I like that idea too. But Stainless would be $$$. I'll ask them for a rough quote, though. Jus to get an idea on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted January 2, 2004 Author Share Posted January 2, 2004 I've heard back from Allen Hall at Wolf Steel. They do not make anything out of Stainless steel. They do have Zinc-coated Steel for making the rockers from, same pricing as the Mild Steel ones. Been working on stripping out the '86. Started yesterday morning, and have it stripped as far down as the Front and Rear suspension components, front and rear bumpers, gas tank, fuel and brake lines. I be a tired whipped puppy now. I'm getting to Old for this stuff. NOT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrat Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 actually, an aftermarket gas tank would be awesome.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted January 2, 2004 Author Share Posted January 2, 2004 I shall ask them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHATBRAT Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Might I suggest a tailgate since they are hard to come by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted January 3, 2004 Author Share Posted January 3, 2004 Check on that too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted February 14, 2004 Author Share Posted February 14, 2004 Spent the day yesterday, out in the garage with a saws-all and cutting torch. Boy do my hands and fingers hurt now from hanging on to the saws-all. Dadburned arthritis anyways. Cut off the radiator support, strut tower areas, roof, and upper dash section. Split the cab floor down the middle, but more to the PS, to the rear wall, then across the inside of the bed to the wheel well area, to get a good template of the floor pan for the Metal Shop. Still have the bed to cut up. Going to cut-out the entire wheel well sections to send along with the floor pan. Been emailing with Chris over in Ann Arbor, Mi. He has 2 '82 BRATs that he'll be parting out. We are hoping to get the bed floor area, and a good front end section out of those to send to the Shop. Haven't talked to anyone from the Shop lately, but I will ask on the tailgate, and gas tank when I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baccaruda Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 what are you going to do with the roof? I want to weld in a T top roof eventually, in mine. I don't have a lot of $$ to allocate towards "t-top roof" at the moment, so if you'd like to try and make some funds off of it, i'm not your best bet, but i figured i'd speak up also, where did you make the cuts for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cole098 Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 What about the area where the rear torsion bar mounts too??? Any chance for new brat doors???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave valiant Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 are the tail lights good? I need aset for my 84 Brat. Wanna sellem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted February 15, 2004 Author Share Posted February 15, 2004 I'm going to graft the roof into the Wife's ride, as she doesn't have T-Tops on her's. I made the cuts about 4" down on the A-pillar, and just above the B of the BRAT logo. According to Allen at Wolf Steel, they are only interested in the lower third of the body. So I'm thinking a whole door is out of the question, but I'll ask. May just be a replacement section of door bottom, and outer skin. Sorry Dave, but my '82 is getting the tail light for the PS, the DS on this one is fubared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Tom, I saw mention of rear (bed) wheel wells. My interest is in the rear shock mounting area. This I believe is where the wheel well rust issue stems from. (Salt and debris trapped behind the mount) Will the rear shock mounting plate/area be included in your request. May I also add. Thanks for taking on this endeavor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 After more than a few of these I looked at the problem in detail and explained it and the fix here: http://www.subarubrat.com/wheelwell.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Thanks Scott, that is a very well done and comprehensive article. Tom Will the mount Scott shows be included in this request. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted February 17, 2004 Author Share Posted February 17, 2004 Yes, I am sending the entire left and right wheel wells, (both inner and outer sections), along with the shock mount brackets. I can give them a link to Scott's write-up on the needed repair of this area. Going to try and get a section of the rear subframe to send them also. Just to see if they can devise out a repair section for that area. I know on this '86, it's rusted way badly were the torsionbar bolts in. Had to use the firewrench to remove the rear suspension. Mustache bar, and shock bolts turned out by wrenching, but the torsion tube was staying put otherwise. Skip, I'm taking on this endeavor because I really love my BRAT's. I want to keep them on the road as long as possible. An extreme lack of body repair panels is making that practically impossible. Thus the undertaking of scrapping the '86 out, to save the other ones. This will also benifit other BRAT owners, in their effort to save theirs. One must be sacrificed, so that others may live on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUBARU3 Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 Do they have any Gen 1 stuff? Thanks Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted February 17, 2004 Author Share Posted February 17, 2004 Todd, No they don't. They really don't have anything for Subaru's at all. But, all they need is a template to make a part from. Be it an old panel or a mock-up made from any material that would hold it's shape during shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWX Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 how about the battery area? its the same between Brats and hatches, right?(all EA-81s except for turbos I'm thinking) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted February 20, 2004 Author Share Posted February 20, 2004 Cut the entire wheel well areas out, then just cut the rest of the box into manageable pieces. I'll be loading the parts to be sent into my '82 so I can get them skidded up and weighed, tomorrow. So far, this is what I'm sending to Wolf steel; DS floor pan area, they can copy it for the PS, PS rocker section, better shape than DS, Complete rear wheel well sections, including shock mounts, Battery tray area. Once I hear back from Allen, I may be sending a door shell, and the tail-gate shell. Have to see if they can do anything for those yet. Maybe even the gas tank, ifin they can do something with it, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUBARU3 Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 So what do they charge to fabricate something? (Gen 1) Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted February 22, 2004 Author Share Posted February 22, 2004 Todd, You would need to contact Allen to get a quote, I can't give you one. His contact info is in the link I posted at the top of this page. I can say that the parts are costly, but they are custom fabricated pieces, which = $$$. But the cost is moot when you're trying to restore a vehicle. That's just my opinion, I want to restore both of my BRAT's, and I will do it, regardless of an item needed's cost. I took the parts to the shop yesterday and skidded them up for shipment. 33#'s of tare weight, and 112# of rusty steel, for a total of 145# gross. Bossman will be calling some Trucking Co's for me Monday to get a quote on shipping charges. I also included the lower front splash shields, and the fender brace struts/rods for the lower end of the front fenders, in this shipment. I have been told of the whereabouts of an '78 Wagon, way rusty, but mine ifin I want it. I may get this, and do the same to it, thus giving some pieces available for the Older Subaru owners to work with. Will post here if I do get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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