Crabman

I've been meaning to ask this one for a while. In my '79 brat, which comes equipped with the single range 4WD transmission, the 4WD stick chatters non-stop when I'm driving in Front Wheel drive. This hasn't gotten any worse over time, and it doesn't seem to have any negative implications, other than the fact it is just annoying. The noise will go away if I push forward on the stick. I suppose I could use a short bunjy cord to hold the stick in the non-noisy position, but I'm trying to make my car less ghetto and more awesome. Has anyone else encountered this problem? More importantly, anyone have any good fixes??? Thanks in advance, Crabman

Thanks Zefy. I got under the car last night, and you are right there are 2 'soft' hoses for each side in the front, an upper and a lower. At about $20 a pop, that's $80 if you want to replace the lines. Anyway, I think I am going to leave 'em, because they did not appear to be leaking. I need to get this brake work done soon however. My Brat is not stopping so good right now. You have to 'plan ahead'. Crabman

Hey quick question fellas. I'm getting ready to replace the entire front brakes on my '79 brat. Got everything I need except the brake hose. So I was looking on-line for it today. At partsamerica.com. They have one part number for "Front, Upper", and another part number for "Front, Lower". What do I need? One of each of these? Thanks in advance, Crabman

Wow, beautiful Brat. If I didn't have one, I would jump on this.

Hey Todd, Thanks for the response. I'm trying to get the gist of what you are saying. So, would I have better luck putting a 2WD tranny from a Gen 2 in my Gen 1 Brat? If so, would it be a 'bolt-on" operation, or would there be other special considerations, fabrication and what not involved? Thanks, Crabman

All I can say is, your Brat may have had only "half its balls", but you had super balls and you hung them way out there. Getting the brat home may have been the most amazing subaru related accomplishment in history. Worst thing is, I had to leave Bosco stranded in the middle of the Mojave because I had my wife and 1.5 year old daughter with me. We pulled over to eat, and when we get back on the road, I can't believe it, we pass him and he has the brat back on the road again, limping it home in the truck lane. We should have taken pictures for the thread. Sorry about all the stress buddy. Glad you got home safe and sound. Crabman

OK finally attached a better picture. Does that look like a Gen 1 tranny to you fellas? Well changing exhaust hangers wouldn't br a big deal, but if I needed crossmember/trans mounts of a gen 1 2wd, I think I would be out of luck. Gen 1s are almost non existent out here. And its outside my ability to fabricate that sort of thing. Guess I will let this one go, and focus on other improvements.

Yeah this engine is a huge curiosity to me. Probably the main reason that I bought it. When I get it, I'm thinking about doing a complete breakdown. I'm just expecting some nice surprises, good or bad. I'll be sure to take a lot of pictures. The fella got my check, now I just need to find time to pick it up. Probably in May. So expect an update then!

Lookin Good!!!

Yeah I have no good answer for you. Just because? No truth is I do a lot of freeway driving and I can tell my brat would love one more gear to shift into at those highway speeds. It should help with mpgs. I don't really have much off-road use for the car. I don't really know if I want to make the conversion yet. Once I find out what is involved, I'll have a better idea.

i'll try again later tonight

Sorry trying to attach a better picture

Hey fellas, I have toyed with the idea of putting a 2WD 5-spd transmission in my brat. And now it seems like I have located a transmission, I'm trying to figure out if I should go for it or not. I have read some varying opinions of the difficulty of the swap. I have heard that its a "bolt-on" job, I have also heard that some fabrication is required. Can anybody give me the skinny on exactly what this will take? And can you also take a look at the picture and let me know if I am looking at the right transmission, if it will mate to my EA71? The seller only describes it as a "77-84 1600/1800/Brat trans" Thanks, Crabman

It will be such a monster I'll smoke all 4 tires in 4WD as I shift into 4th gear on the highway!!

I bought two complete replacements from these people on ebay. Have not installed yet but they look OK http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CV-AXLE-SUBARU-BRAT-1979-81_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ33729QQihZ003QQitemZ130172191853QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

LOL s'ko you are too funny. Maybe I'll just put Ethan's go-kart motor in the Brat instead. They have about the same HP :-p You guys I have no idea what I am going to do with this yet. But the fella came way down in his asking price and I have been looking for an excuse for a road trip lately. So it just got be a can't lose situation and I went for it. Please don't expect my EA71 hot-rod thread any time soon. I am more of a long term project type of guy. To tell you the truth I think I am more anxious to get an operable heater core in my brat (what's going on with that thread anyway?) But I told s'ko that as soon as I get it, we are going to put it on an engine stand, drink a couple of beers and just stare at it until we come up with some good ideas. Take care fellas, Crabman

Its A Done Deal!!!

I am in negotiations with the guy. And think I am going to make him an offer later today. Then I just need to plan a trip out there to pick it up. I guess the official EA71 hotrod project has begun. Kostamojen, I am going to blame you if things go terribly wrong. Cheers, Crabman

Aw heck, I take it back. I can't consider buying this, I'm not really even sure what I'm looking at, and the guy doesn't have much info about it, doesn't know if it ran, runs, or what. Yeah and what kind of heads are those anyway, EA63 dual port on an EA71 case? I'm curious to hear other opinions about it. How much do you guys think its worth?

Hey everyone I hate to do this again. But I'm planning on hot-rodding an EA71, and I think this thing might have some good parts for that. Anyway, I just contacted the guy via email, it's still for sale, and I'm hoping to talk him down quite a bit. So this is my way of asking the board really nicely if you all don't mind, I'd like to call dibbs on this, or at least dibbs on trying to get this reasonably. Any objections, let me know, I am a really easy going laid back guy, so no worries either way. Thanks Kostamojen for posting! Crabman

Dang, that thing gives me all sorts of ideas. Most of the links are that page are dead. Wonder if that engine is even still for sale.

Hey I'm just saying, where are those pictures?!?!

Trying again to post pictures from our awesome southern california old gen meet up and clutch change. She just drove like a dream on the ride into work today.

Subieguy, you are totally right. It is the manhatten project. I was so darn tired and brain dead last night! Thanks for the correction. Cheers, crabman

Not sure where the best place for this type of post is, but I thought I would stick it here since this is where I normally post. But has anyone seen that old 80's movie, "My Science Project"? There's a great scene where the kid steals plutonium using his remote control subaru brat. After a long day of changing the clutch in my 79 brat, when I saw that, I just cracked up. Dumb movie, but awesome subaru scene.