MSSLGECKO

I like it . . . sounds like a good build. Any idea how much that would run me? I'm actually thinking that it might be smarter for my budget to go w/a used engine. How much are JDM engines? [Where do you get them?] As for the wagon, John, I am about to take the necessary parts over to tailgatewagon. He has offered to help me make the 5SPD XMember fit by taking the parts i need adjusted to his shop. I am still not quite sure what you had up your sleeve for the fix, but if it's a better route to go . . .

1 - purchase a new CCR 1.8T (EA81 or EA82 - whichever is easier for this) 2 - install it in my '84 Brat (I don't have a wiring harness, computer, or anything else) I want to turn my Brat into a RallyX monster w/ a little more hight on the suspension and taller wheels, but the engine really doesn't seem up to it. I would like to retain the reliability of my Brat. Let me know if this is my worst (and only) idea all day

4Hi is pretty effective for RWD. (Drives better than FWD, IMO.)

Hey guys, I was about to start a new thread, but I'll try this one first, because it seems appropriate. Are there and Colorado drivers who partake in the rally cross events? I may be attending one to become certified for running rallyx events here in Bozeman. There is a possibility that I and at least one other person would fly a cesna down and would then need to find transportation to whichever event is on that specific date/weekend.

That sounds pretty cool. I am thinking about doing a 2" exhaust or thereabouts on my Brat. Two questions: 1- How is the power improvement? (your engine is all stock, right?) 2- Was it very expensive for the parts that you had to buy? So, all the bends excluding the long 2" that you had and the cherry bomb. . .

I believe they exist. I want pic.s if/when you do it. Do you want this to be functional? (engine air, snorkel, or what?)

Yup - that's why I was saying fancy footwork. It will be: Pull lever in anticipation, Pump brake as quick as possible, Release lever to finish rear-brake maneuver. Perhaps I'll invent someway to pump the brakes quickly w/ the lever pull. (That's probably impossible and beyond my ability.)

Good Call. I was thinking about that, I wasn't sure how it was prevented from activating when driving around normally. It could be mounted vertically, right? Would that do the trick and make it active at any speed?

Well, I would like to do this in the future with a full set of SS brakelines and some rear disks (can someone tell me the size diff.s between EA81 front disks and EA82 rear disks? I assume the later is better suited.)

Interesting foot/hand work. But I think I could get it down = I demand to be the test pilot.

I'm not sure what you mean on the 'looping yourself' thing . . . I want to configure the HH to activate both rear brakes in an attempt to have a rear handbrake. It would be an interesting move. I would rig a second handbrake that would replace the clutch cable where it connects to the HH. So, to activate the rears, I would pull the new handbrake lever and hit the brakes quickly enough to activate the whole deal. Release the lever to release the brakes. Does this sound possible? Was I right about this changing the X pattern to front-rear? I don't have a major problem w/ redoing to of the brake lines for this. Maybe it is just a good excuse to go all SS on the lines. I think this could be a cool mod.

You know that just makes me want to go outside and try even more ---> Why? (Don't make me find out the hard way right now, it's too early.) Has this been attempted before?

Alright, the Hill-Holder device activates one front brake and one rear brake, right? Would it be possible switch the other rear w/ the front that is being activated such that the HH operates the rear brakes only? Would the X pattern for the brake system be hindered by this, or would this create a frong-rear pattern?

I think you're right about stiffening the rear up a bunch. I didn't really want to think about it earlier when I was tired, but after my nap and your wisdom, I see the reality of it all. I am working on bringing rallycross to Bozeman this summer, so I suppose that I will get to be doing some 4WD competition. I think that I will continue to drive in RWD when not in race-car form because it is that much better than FWD. I definately have some rear end hop sometimes; most of all when I do a handbrake stand on dirt (occasionally on pavement). As a side note, I am tempted to try tossing my 27" offroad tires on the Brat while my wagon is off the road. Does that mean that I'm crazy? I feel pretty confident that they won't fit (in the front for sure) but I still want to try it at least on the rears. Probaby will be outgeared most of the time.

Do you mean to say that a swaybar such as an XT6, as an example, would be more work and/or money to mount on the Brat as opposed to the T-Wagon swaybar?

I definately will have to look into the 2WD struts and I'm looking at doing a swaybar in the rear sometime soon. What would you expect the brat to do [handling] w/ EA82 coilovers and the honda springs? (should I not do the honda springs for road/dirt application) That would give me a few inches in the rear, right? (2-3"?)

Thanks for the chart and input, guys. I think I'll probably be shopping at the j/y for this mod. The only thing that gets imported for my subes are them and their j/y parts. :cool: So, I think the WhiteLine is a little above me but it sounds cool. (At this point, a swaybar is a swaybar for my brat.)

If you feel like explaining it to me, I would like to know what anti-lag is. Seems like it might reduce the amt. of lag

Why? It really drives much better. I can floor it through a turn w/out spinning the steering wheels plus w/ the Lo range, my underpowered subaru is able to spin wheels much more easilly. And it is more fun and well worth removing the dying axle that was still hanging on. I have an offroad subaru so I don't need 4WD in this one. (I know that I'll get stuck in a ditch sometime and wish I had 4WD, but oh well.) Andrew - I'll let you know the down low as soon as I have it. You gonna race the lifted rig? (By the way, I met Wayne(sp?) today and saw his 3" Hatch - we need to take all three rigs out sometime!)

I'm thinking that a rear swaybar install for my brat would be a nice improvement. Can anyone give me a breakdown of which EA82 sway bars are strongest/weakest and experiences/suggestions? Anything really, I'm not familiar w/ the rear swaybars. I really like the WhiteLine Swaybar that Edrach has on his brat - Ed's install job has set the benchmark for me. (Ed - was this an expensive setup to acquire and install?) Anyhow, let me know what the story is!

I was thinking that I could try it on a diff. and have a second one to swap out if/when I want. I'm trying not to put much $ into this car right now, so an LSD is a distant option. I guess I'll have to see how your wagon drives on the pavement to help me decide what I want. By the way, Brian, can you get me the necessary info (time, place, etc.) for the autox on sunday? I really want to do some rallyx style driving w/ the Brat - I think it could perform pretty well.

Yeah, after thinking about it, I'm realizing that I just want a limited slip diff. Maybe some day for the Brat.

Well said. It's been raining intermitently today, and is looking rainy right now - forecast: Wet Roads including dirt and pavement. It seems that my car drives better in rear wheel drive than it had in front. Possibly because the front cv's were worn from years of use and the rears are much less worn and abused. I really like it and love the way it drives on dirt roads. I would like to have both wheels spinning at all times, so maybe a welded rear diff. would complete the whole drivetrain setup. Aside from wearing tires faster and more of a propensity to drive sideways should I expect from a welded rear diff?

Just got the RWD drivetrain setup and it is AWESOME. It's not hard to break the rear loose on gravel and w/ the use of 4WD Lo, I can have whatever gearing I need. I kind of want to weld the rear diff., but I don't want to put too much strain on my drivetrain. Those of you w/ welded RWDs, how is it for normal daily driving? The next thing I plan to do is come up w/ some sort of stop for the 4WD lever so that I don't need to worry about dropping into 2WD in a corner or anything like that. (Any ideas? I want something that can be deactivated so that I can park in 2WD.) Then it's on to engine tuning and a new radiator. Well, that's about it, I love the RWD Brat!

I think it's cool too. Do you have any close-ups of the 'bed' area and how you sealed up the edges?