Allouez

Hope it's not a head-gasket ... That can make a car run hot. Happened to me some years ago. Does it run rough when you first start it? Also, if you can smell antifreeze and it blows a little white 'smoke' from the tailpipe, those are indications of a bad head-gasket.

Very nice....

NOT mine, but thought you'd all like to see this, just in case you haven't already: http://subarujusty.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=memberjustys&action=display&thread=1276

Thanks! And likewise. Interior is fair... cracks in the dash and so-on. But it's remarkably clean otherwise. So glad I didn't sell this thing when finances were tight....

Just thought I'd share my Brat w/you all. Originally from Arkansas, but now in Wisconsin. It's been sitting for a couple of years and I'm now ready to goto work on it. Just got it going this weekend -- a LOT of electrical problems -- but a new fuel pump later and it's ready to go. At least until winter, when I plan to build and engine for it. I'll need plenty of help, so I'm glad for this forum!

Great-looking car. I love the color too, but it should be fun painting it.

So I had to put my Brat into storage for 2 years and as of today am re-devoting my time and (few) funds to the cause. The fairly wimpy after-market Mitsubishi fuel pump that it came with can't seem to get the gas up from the tank and to the carb. Did OK before I parked it. It's got 1/8 tank, so that's not it. Any good recommendations for an electronic pump? Also, I'd like to start modifying this car during the winter. I'm generally aware of what others have done in this regard, but am wondering what my parameters are for an early Brat. Is a motor swap within reason/worth the effort, or should I put a carb on it and generally call it good? (I'm looking for more power) Is a 5spd. at all doable w/the 1.6? What ignition mods can be done? In the meantime, I'll keep reading this great forum. Thanks.

Yeah, rebuilt carb, but don't know if they replaced the float needle/seat or not....I'll look into it. Thanks.

Hi- I posted a while back, but no luck yet, so here's my situation: It's an 83 GL wagon. Initially, it would bog-down and hesitate once up to running temp. It ran rich and charcoaled the carb up. I removed the after-market gas-cap (vapor lock?), installed a new exhaust (was suggested that it may have been a cat. issue) and a rebuilt carb (from an 81 hatch. I've been told that this should work fine), and it now has new problems. It seems to be fine at idle, and then, as if someone threw a switch, it dies and won't stay running unless you stay on the gas. It's been at an import garage (they did the carb. work) for 2 1/2 months and they are completely out of ideas. I think it's a vacuum issue, but they've told me that they've checked for leaks and cannot find one. He did say that it runs better without much of anything hooked-up, but still not right. Of course, we've tried all the obvious stuff... Again, it's as though a valve closes or something, and it starves for gas. Ideas?? Thanks! Eric

Hi! A lot of great people on here, so I'm sure you'll like it. Good luck w/the Justy. I've always wanted to try one...had so many others. And yeah, there were some on E-bay for cheap and in good shape, but maybe not in your area. Let us know if you get one...they're an interesting car in a few ways. Especially the transmission choices. Personally, I've always wondered if they could be made to perform like a Mini....

Mine has come on lately as well, and means, I think...correct me if I'm wrong ladies and gents...Emission Control System. This light could mean any number of things, but it looks more and more as though my issue is a bad catylitic converter. I've heard however that it could be a PCV valve or Oxygen sensor. Sorry I can't be more help...Again, mine is running poorly, hesitates, no power and a big dead-spot at half-throttle. Don't know what your situation is... Can anyone help out?

The post about the "other" fuel filter (near the gas tank) is a good one. I'm having a very similar prob. w/my 83 wagon, and have replaced nearly everything that it might be and have yet to solve it, though the cat. is up for surgery this coming week. Mine acts as though the choke isn't opening properly, but it does. If I solve my prob., I'll be sure to post it. Definately check that other filter if yours has one. My father always said: "Check the cheep stuff first". Thanks all for the great posts. I'm learning a lot!

Wow, that is a great-looking car! I hope you'll post some details about it. Nice work.

Well, not to take time from your probs., but mine is an 83 wagon gl. Got it from a junkyard and ran well for the first couple of months, and then began to lose power and eventually choke and hesitate off-the-line. In time, it began blackening the carb/air filter and eventually quit all together. I had replaced wires and plugs prior to the probs., and was told it was anything from a clogged cat. to after-market fuel cap vacuum-lock and eventually the carb. So I replaced the carb w/one from an 81 hatch that ran great and for a time my issues seemed resolved, but now the hesitating is back (as is the blackening). Note the carb is NOT identical to the 83's; there is one fewer vac. line on the 81...I was told that it shouldn't be an issue in this case however. I plan to open the cat. converter this week, but your theory on weak coils caught my attention. Mine is original, as is the cat. and most everything else on the car. I've had a LOT of these older Subarus and have never had one with these issues, so I'm at a loss. No computer (thank God), and very simple, but I've not been able to figure it out. I've had 3 mechanics look at it and nothings been solved... Anyway, if you have any thoughts, I'm all ears. And good luck to you too. P.S. I plan on replacing the coil regardless...do you have any recommendations along those lines? Factory, or a different coil? Thanks!

I'm interested in what you find out... I'm not a mechanic, but your problems sound somewhat similar to mine, as I'm now on carb. #2, a carb. that came from my former driver and worked very well though my problems persist. I only wish I could offer some advice...

Yeah...I've wondered about that too. Think I will and see what happens. It does have the original exhaust, but no computer on this one! I love this car.. saved it from the crusher!

Hi! Any suggestions? It's an 83 GL wagon. Never really ran quite right, but now it's terrible. Starts and idles great, but hesitates under throttle and has stalled at lights. I have to floor it to get any power and now this won't even do it. I've replaced the carb w/on that I know is good and have had a mechanic go over my work...Can't seem to solve it. A sensor of some sort??? Thanks for any help!

Yeah...definately get back on this one. I have the same trouble. 1st time I've run across this. I've got an appointment with a mechanic next week...he doesn't seem to think it's rings, but we'll see. Mine's running poorly on top of it. (83' wagon....) Haven't tried the PCV yet...

Wish I'd taken photos of my retired 81 hatch. Hell, it would of made the top ten list while it was still on the road!

Thanks...thought it might be a timing thing. Hope I can figure it out. To early in the year up here to get out the Brat!

Yup...Actually, I've put round headlamps FROM an 81' hatch onto my 83' wagon, and modified a grill from a 79' wagon to make a pretty mean face. Turned out great, but required a bit of wiring and drilling... Good luck!

Hi All, I have an 83 GL wagon. Got it from a yard, but have been running it for about 6 months now w/out trouble. About 1 month ago, car began hesitating and bucking at speed, then wouldn't start at all. Opened the air cleaner lid and it's BLACK and charred and smelled strange. Mechanic told me the carb is dirty and compensating...running rich. I had another carb that I KNEW was good, as it came from my old hatch. Again, ran fine for a while, seemed to have cured it, but now is doing the same thing! What does this mean??? Thanks for any advice!

Thought you all might get a kick out of this...don't know where it is...just got it in my e-mail from a friend! Hope I loaded the pic correctly...

Hi, Yeah, I've owned a couple of 87's and I didn't much like the 4 headlamp set-up either. I looked into changing it around, but like another post says, you will have to either cut-out the metal or weld in something from an earlier hatch. I now own an 81' and it looks much more aggressive with the 2 round headlamps, but what helps in any case is replacing the plastic honeycomb grill with something like a black mesh or billet-style grill of some sort. I've done this w/my 81' and then fastened the Subaru emblem back on in the center and it looks very sharp, almost FIAT-like...many have asked me what it is, taking it for some very small muscle car or something. It takes just a little cutting of the grill, but it will look quite different. Otherwise, I've seen some really great bumper treatments on this board that made their later hatch look very sharp..some sort of bull-bar with fog lamps, ect., that sort of thing. All depends what effect you want...but have fun and good luck!

Thanks for all the responses! WJM: If you can get them, please do it (or secure them), and let me know what I owe you. Thank you! XSNRG: Thanks for checking...I appreciate it. 78TurboBrat: Any hatch will do. Mine is an 81', but it's all the same. I need the quarters...as much of them as you can get, and the rocker panels. If you have a sound rear valance (don't know if that's the proper name for it...the panel below the rear bumper...), I could use one of those too. Let me know what you think and we'll go from there. Thank you! I'll be checking in again tomarrow. I really appreciate it.