DPDISXR4Ti

Holy cow, that was quick! Okay, so it' most likely an open 3.90. I guess I had the ratio right, but not the LSD part. Thanks for the quick answers!

I seem to recall that all genII Brats had a LSD, or did I dream that? Can I confirm by spinning one axle and see that the other moves in the same direction? I know that doesn't always work. What about the ratio? Weren't they all 3.9's? I've got someone interested in the one that came out of my '85 and I want to make sure I've got the story right. Thanks...

My current driver XR4 has a SC50 T3/4 - this one may get the same treatment. At the moment, the XRBrati has got a turbo motor in it, but with a simple open header. It's just a tinsy bit loud, so I have to make sure it's back in the garage before bed-time, or leave it out until the following day. The car will be a driver that is 1/3rd show-piece, 1/3rd track car, and 1/3rd functional "truck". As such, I'm not planning to go over the top on making it look too "pretty". Rhino-liner will hide lots of sins.

Yep. I can confidently say that this will be a one-of-a-kind. The funny thing is, I sorta already want to do another one, so that I can apply all the knowledge I gained (i.e. mistakes), from building this one. Take a look here for what I was thinking.... (ScorBajio) http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8943

Is that a function-specific tool, or just a grinder with a different attachment? Looking at it, it seems the later might be possible, even if that's not what the story is here. Back to the bedliner, I think I'd just get all the loose stuff up and re-spray it. With as thick as you can lay that stuff on, I would think you could get it reasonably level.

Well, for better or worse, I'm the President of the Merkur Club of America. Trust me, there's no reason to be impressed - no hot interns (or even fat ones), come along with the position. So I'm rather "wedded" to the platform. And from a semi-practical standpoint, I know the car inside and out, and have enough spares to build a small fleet, should I so desire. So much for my semi-practical justification for the project - who am I kidding - I should have just bought a Ranger if I wanted to be practical.

It'll be a stock 2.3T initially. Eventually, I'd like to do a I4 Turbo Diesel of some sort, but I'm not focused on that part right now.

Here's a link to page 12 of that same thread: http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2639&start=165 The most recent pics there are a couple months old - I should have some new ones postly shortly (just as soon as I figure out where in the house I left my camera:mad: )

Way ahead of you Shawn! http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24401&highlight=Merkur

WHICH Carlisle?:-p The way I see it, this thing should be welcome at four of their shows.... Performance & Style Import Nationals Ford Nationals Truck Nationals I'm still holding out a slim hope of getting it to the Ford show, but it's looking bleak. If I'm able to get it to a sound "work in progress" stage, then I might borrow the plates and tags from my other Merkur (shhh!) and get it out there. We'll see. You're welcome to stop by most any time Paul. I remember when you were here about a year ago, I had just "discovered" that I would be able to use the B pillars from both cars. Well, that totally turned out to be a false hope - I've had to cut a lot more of the structure out of the Brat than I had hoped - that's why I've decided I've got to go with a roll bar - it'll be the best way to get some structrue back IN to this thing once everything is bonded in place.

Which body lines are you referring to? The one at hip height on the rear quarter of the Brat is just going to flatten out and fade away as it overlaps into the XR body. That's been a lot more challenging on the passenger side due to the fuel filler. Bottom line, I'm planning on Rhino-liner-ing that portion entirely so that it doesn't have to be perfect.

Yea, that's sorta the idea, as well as maximum headroom for any seated passengers. I suspect that the time spent with the shell on will be minimal, but as long as I already have it, I want it to fit!

I just passed on a nice, rust-free XR for $800. Don't go telling me about another one! Just go here for the full pictorial story of the XRBrati Project: http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2639 You can just zoom ahead to page 12 if you want the most recent shots. I need to get some updated ones taken over the next week or two. I was working on fitting the rear bumper just yesterday. As I suspected, it fits nice ...until you try to lower the tailgate all the way. I think I'll only need to drop it down by about an inch, so just a small matter of re-fabricating the bumper shock mounts.

Thanks Paul. You wouldn't happen to have any pics, would you? I probably couldn't use an actual one designed for a Brat, given that my shock towers are about an inch further back, and I'll need to go another 11" down through the bed to the XR's floor. Just trying to get some guidelines, as the cap is actually at my brother's place in Wallingford. It's doesn't look like it's getting here until I get this damn thing road-worthy. Speaking of which, after a couple months off for cold weather hibernation, I've been working on the XRBrati Project again over the last week. I've FINALLY got it cut into place, hence the reason I'm now working on bringing the two bodies together in a structurally sound way. I figure a 6-pt roll bar does that better than anything. In fact, it was from searching on here earlier today that I found these guys: http://web.inetba.com/autoweld/index2.ivnu Has anyone used them? It would be nice to find someone more local who's reasonable, but I'm not finding that. I suspect my best bet would be to trailer the car out once I get to that point. Don't want to risk having it break in half by driving it out there!

I have a canopy top like this one... ...and I want to fit/fabricate a roll bar like this one.... I'm assuming I can fit the topper over the roll bar pictured, yes? Does anyone know if I could go even higher? Just a little bit higher even? BTW, does anyone know who's roll bar this is on the red car? It's just a pic I had in my Brat archives, but it appears well-designed, impeding on bed space as little as possible.

Correct. Every 4-lug Ford that I'm aware of has a 4x108 pattern, both Euro and US Fords. The nice thing about the Pug/Subby pattern is the fact that you can recognize it without measuring!

Perhaps they'll create a new designation for me when I'm done.... Frankenstein class!!!

Just take a look at this thread. At 11 pages, it's rather lengthy, so if you want to zoom ahead to the later pages, I won't hold it against you. http://forum.merkurclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2639

If you have an '87, the jump-seats must have been added and not factory original, right? I wonder if that would matter at all, strictly from a legal standpoint. Reason I ask is this... The rear portion is from a '85 Brat, so certainly the rear seats were factory original for that model year. I had been thinking I would title this as a Merkur once complete, but maybe I'm better off going with it as a Subaru. I have valid titles for both, so that's not an issue. Hmmmm....

I don't know why it is that "ute's" are so popular down-under, yet we get none of them in the States. Are we really that testosterone over-laden that we can only have a full-size truck, capable of pulling a locomotive out from under a bridge, to simply drive to work every day, and maybe bring home four 2x4's if we're feeling real frisky? I realize we've had them here in the past (Brat, Ranchero, Rampage, El Camino), and they never met sales expectations. But it's time someone take a risk in Detroit and try again. In fact, there have been rumblings of Ford bringing the Falcon Ute over, but it remains to be seen if they actually step up. In the mean time, I'm not waiting - I'm making my own.

Having just visited Gary's U-Pull-It in Binghamton, I was reminded how much more severe the rust problem is, by simply going 100 miles further north. Seems most everything in there was rusted, but especially the Subarus.

I wouldn't say I'm really trying to replicate a P100. The side-to-side outer dimensions of the Merkur are anywhere from 1.5 to 3" wider than the Brat. That works out well, as I'll be able to tuck the Brat sheet metal in side of the Merkur. That's especially true around the B-pillar, where the 3" difference kicks in. That's good, as it should allow me to double-up in that area and make a very strong and stiff cabin.

Which show do you guys usually go to? The Import Nationals or Performace & Style?

Well, it's still mostly a Merkur at heart, but I might be inclined to do some of the other shows as a change of pace. I think I'd have quite an array of alternatives though - look at all the Carlisle shows I could enter... Performance & Style Import Nationals Ford Nationals All-Truck Nationals But first, I've got to get it done....

I haven't had much reason to visit lately Paul. Progress has been made on the XRBrati Project, but not at the rate I'd like. You can see some pics here... http://forum.merkurclub.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2639&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90