cobcob

My thoughts on it are that if I go ahead with it I will drive it with the current engine/trans combination in there and rebuild the spare one, new seals etc, just a general clean up. Then swap that into the Brat and keep an eye out for a good deal on an EJ22 (Maybe an EJ257? )

Thanks guys! The price on the Brat seems kinda steep, but with the mileage on the Millenia all the offers I'm getting are right around the same as what the guy is asking for the Brat. Considering that it has a spare engine and trans (41k miles) and low mileage (for an '82) I think that the Brat is looking like a decent choice. Towing the boat would most likely just be around the yard etc. maybe an occasional short trip to the lake but nothing major, it's only a 14' fiberglass anyway... Agreement there... I've had my arms buried in that disaster of Japanese engineering that is the Millenia and I HATE trying to work on that! Still hard to comprehend that a 1999 luxury sedan fetches as much as a 1982 Soob... But hell... IT'S A SOOB!

I'm considering trading a high mileage 1999 Mazda Millenia for a 1982 Brat (90,500 miles) with a spare engine and trans and a fiberglass topper (pics & desctiption posted here linky) I need to know if I'm out of my mind... I'm needing a reliable vehicle for my 350+ miles a week of travel, needs good gas mileage and 4x4 as well as being able to move a bit of firewood around and tow my small boat... All things seem to point to a Brat... Question is, am I out of my mind?

My bad, didn't realize it'd been posted before... Sorry

Brat with WRX Turbo engine He's claiming 420hp without NOS at 470hp with NOS (at the wheels)

Thanks for the heads up on the shock bolts... I'm still waiting to hear back about the potential sale of my other vehicle, that sale is going to fund the purchase of the Brat it all goes according to plan! Does $3500 seem steep for an '82 with 90,500 miles an extra motor and trans (41,000 miles), and a topper?

Thanks Bratman, unfortunately there's a spray in liner in the bed so I'm not sure if the panel's have been sprayed over or not... I'll have to check into it a bit more... It's on a car lot so I'm trying not to show too much interest too soon or they'll try and screw me over good

Finally got hold of some pics of the Brat in question... There's a touch of surface rust just below the bottom rear corner of the driver's door, under the sill.

I've taken a good look underneath and she's nice and clean under there... I checked the subframe connection , there's no bondo or rust in the wheel arches, and the subframes are good too... the only major rust I can find is in those fenderwells in the bed.

Thanks guys, I've seen that web page but I wasn't sure how much rust is too much... With the shock mount you mean the bolts at the top there I assume?

I've found a 1982 Brat for sale around town so I took a look at it yesterday. She's in good condition, a tiny bit of surface rust just in front of the rear driver's wheel. The biggest concern I have is that the fenderwells in the bed are rusted through just in front of the rear shock mount. I understand that this was a common occurance for the Brat but I would like some input on how difficult this is to repair. Also, are they asking too much for it? The price is $2500, it's got 90500 miles on the clock, comes with a spare engine and trans (41k miles on that) and a topper... seems like a good deal to me I'm just nervous about that rust in the fenderwells