[What are the options when the rear frame rails for the 86 brat is all rotted out?]

did more on the brat today, and the frame rails from the wagon are short on the front side, boo. Just add a little more metal and off we go.

 

I have the drivers side trimmed out and fitted, I am using the wheelwell, the frame and some of the rear deck from the wagon.

[What are the options when the rear frame rails for the 86 brat is all rotted out?]

Quite simple really rust is like an iceberg there is always more then what you see.

Buy a cheap Chinese made folder my basic one cost $60.00 Australian .

Read, up on bend radius and check dumpsters near sheet metal fab shops for free offcuts.

Beg borrow or make a Rotational jig or carefully drain liquids and gently lay vehicle on it's side maybe on some old tyre's for better access.

Cutting and welding in an easy position will make the job much easier and more likely to be finished to a high standard and not be put off because it is too much like hard work.

Use a Mig Welder and where there is an area where a duplicate of any factory flanged area is required that the factory spot welds drill a hole about 6~8mm diameter and fill with a plug weld to the underlying metal section.

As well look into edge welding along the lines of "Stitch welding as done to rally cars for additional strength.

remember to always join in new metal to a frame rail with something along the lines of a 45 degree slash cut never use a vertical weld bead on any chassis section as this will cause it to fracture beside the vertical weld.

It is actually illegal to weld vertically across a chassis section in Australia because the stress concentration will always cause a failure at that point.

Remember to treat the rail internally against rust after welding with a coating such as fish oil to break the cycle of corrosion by eliminating one or more of the required elements for corrosion such as oxygen access to the area.

Additional strengthening can also be added as well as skid sections if serious off road use is envisaged in the future at the same time.

Any brat is actually worth fixing as no manufacturer has made a replacement vehicle with the Brat's unique abilities and characteristics,at least so far

 

 

Definately will be cutting and welding in the new pieces in a step style and even then placing a flat brace 4+ inches in each direction over my stiches.

 

I have every intention of this bieng a long lasting toy. I have built 1 ton trucks (k5 blazer + c30 parts) and gusseted the crapola out of it.

 

I will be doing my repairs first and then lifting after due to time and $$$ constraints at the moment.

 

Thank you.

[Brat 5SPD D/R Conversion]

I found the best d/r 5speed to be in the '88 GL (Loyale) wagons, but any of the ones from '85 to '89 will do. They're pretty bulletproof. Jerry helped me with the conversion on my '84 Brat almost 10 years ago. It's still running; a bit "crunchy" now when shifting but that's okay; I can live with it.

 

 

Spoke with him today, Very Nice Gentleman.

[Brat 5SPD D/R Conversion]

Hi,

 

I did a search but nothing is comming up, mabye I am using wrong search terms.

 

Can anyone tell me what subarus have the D/R 5 Speed for me to convert my 1986 Brat to 5spd and D/R?

 

Thank you.

[What are the options when the rear frame rails for the 86 brat is all rotted out?]

Well started tearing into it finally.

 

I cut out alot of rot, the mounts for the torsion bar housing and the diff holder.

 

I also pulled the tank, what a nightmare... :banghead:One of the tank's welded nuts broke free from the cross brace on the bottom of the bed. I cut a small hole up in the bed area to get to it with a 13mm. Had to use 13 due to the welds.

 

I will start uploading pics soon.

 

I have also braced the rear bumper with wood like a sawhorse just incase while I'm cutting the crap out it decides to buckle.

[rear end (unibody?) issue]

Also Depends on the height of the car if your suspension is shot it will have a bad lean.

[Holy Cow! ... Three in a Month! ... (invisibility Paint?)]

Everything happens in THREE's your car should be good for good.

[What are the options when the rear frame rails for the 86 brat is all rotted out?]

UPdate, I have done nothing. Was trying to sell my quad to get some more $$ for the Brat. I have done that and will start tearing it apart this week.

[someone photoshop these n a BRAT]

My banjo gets angry at midnight thighs reduced with Haiburton bikini bottom balsa wood elevator nozzles.

 

What the hell are you talking about?

 

 

LOL. What he is saying another member is lazy and selling or would opt to sell, and he would not.

[someone photoshop these n a BRAT]

[What are the options when the rear frame rails for the 86 brat is all rotted out?]

If it's that bad it'll have to be full rebuilding/strengthenig of that entire area, and redo susp mounting points, etc....

 

but, if it's that bad there, I can only image how the rest of frame rails look. short of a complete custom subframe build, it's only a matter of time before it collapses...

 

 

 

Actually the entire rest of the car and even the rear half past the sway bar is in excellent condition. Will take some pics as I start this weekend. oh yea BTW nice Solid Axle build !!!!!!!!!!!

[What are the options when the rear frame rails for the 86 brat is all rotted out?]

I had a brat a long time ago that had a busted torsion bar, plus the frame rail was rotted badly...

 

I did this...

http://www.indysworld.com/80s/general/USRM/mick-usrm/Strutsinrear/strut.html

 

 

 

 

I like the way you did that but the trailing arms are attached to the torsion bar mounting area too and it is sunken into the body about 1 inch. I will be gutting the bottom of the bed next week.

[What are the options when the rear frame rails for the 86 brat is all rotted out?]

What to do? What to do??

 

I just picked up an 86 brat in great shape but....................

 

My rear frame rails are all rotted out where the torsion bar mounts.

 

I am going to try frame rails from an 84 wagon I just got for $200

 

First attempt..

[Brat rear suspension question]

what to do when the rear torsion is all rotted out?

[87 brat rear wheel well swap.]

Man I would love to grab a set of wheel wells only but my frame is bad too around the torsion bar mountings. going to go do some more research on putting struts and not using the torsion at all.

[1986 Subaru Brat]

Hi All,

 

I just picked up a 1986 subaru brat in decent shape and I have the normal wheel well rot and the not so normal rot around my torsion bar mounts.

 

I have access to a gl wagon and the whole rear is rust free almost not even dirty. I want to know if I can cut the gl wagon rear subframe out totally along with the wheel wells and even some of the sheetmetal inbetwen the wells and graft it into my brat. I am going to figure something out, THE BRAT WILL DRIVE AGAIN.

 

Let me know what you guys have done for these type of issues.

 

Thanks,

 

Richie