mandelbrotx Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 So, here it goes. I've never done a lift before, but I want to lift my 79 brat. From what I've been reading it sounds like a Royal Pain in the back side, and that leads me to my questions. What would be involved in lifting a gen 1 brat? Right now I've got the back end up on jack stands and I think I can see what I would need to do to lift it back there, but it looks like I would need to do something with the diff or is it possible to rotate the torsion bar down? The front seems like another beast all together. Until I get the new wheel cylinders installed in the morning, I won't be able to get the front tires off to have a good look a what all is going on. Any advice given will help me understand what I see when I can poke around. I'm only looking at a 2" or 2.5" lift and some 15" tires. From what I have read on this site I shouldn't need to worry about axle's should I? I'm a fabricator, and have use of a mill so that's one thing I don't need to worry about. I will be doing the 6 lug conversion to open up my options on rims. Am I missing something super critical in this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoobieDoo Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 it looks like I would need to do something with the diff or is it possible to rotate the torsion bar down? Simple: http://www.sjrlift.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=3 From what I have read on this site I shouldn't need to worry about axle's should I? Do a body lift for less stress on axles. Bigger tires alone will cause more stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael appel Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 For the 1979 brat the torsion bars in the back are the problem and you will need at least a 4 inch to clear 15s unless you find 25 inch tires. My friend toolman look him up has made a lift for one and the back needs spacing for the bigger tire he was running 31 inch swampers wth a 1 1/2 inch spacer to get the tire away from the torsion bar but 31 is a bit hard on the stock 4 speed and single range but the axles were fine but we went through 3 trannies in one year but if you are intrested he has taken off his lift and will be taking down the specs for others to follow but it seems others use a ea81 tosion bar system for the back because it is easier to fab it in and the torsion bar wont get in the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[HTi]Johnson Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 So..this is what a 4" looks like. PM me if you want some info on how to get the rear lifted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandelbrotx Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Thanks michael appel My search mojo failed me. You would think searching for "ea71 lift" would have turned up your post from last July with all the nice BIG pics of that lift. Did you have to do anything in the front other than the coil lift? When I have the money and time I plan on putting a dual range tranny and LSD on. But from the looks of it, I could fab up the kit and have it on in a day. I knew I was saving that heavy wall box tube for something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael appel Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 engine and tranny need to be dropped 4 inches to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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