dec0y13

Is there a "how to" on how you modded the frame to fit the bigger engine?

This I s such a nice build. I am truly inspired. I'm looking forward to pouring this much love into mine. I wish you had a body repair tutorial on here. Lol

That's perfect. I'd be pulling all of the linkage, pedals, and plumbing anyway. I'll just grab the axles as well

Ok more questions! The tranny from like an 04 sti or 02 wrx is not gonna work with my 98 2.2 engine is it? Also, will I need a new ECU from a manual car To work with my 98 automatic harness?

Ha! Yellow is the way to go! BTW I love your Bumble Beast Turbo. I was just looking at your thread the other day. I'll make sure to keep everyone posted. I'm still pulling pats now. Once I get all of the cossmembers together. I'll be able to get my measurments and have the frame compenents machined. I'll get lots of pics for everything along the way. It should be entertaining. Lol

Thanks Kiwi, I was thinking that the EJ20T was the max that would fit without Notching the frame. So that's actually super helpful. I May have to either strengthen the front frame on my build and cut the original frame, or look at a different engine. My lift will not be nearly enough to clear the engine heads under the original frame rails. I was unhappy with the performance options on the EJ2.2 (maybe 120 horse). I was looking at the 2.0 Turbo because I get the 200+ horse I was looking for. (not sure how that compares to NZ. I beleive you use Kilowats like in OZ?) I'd love to get a Dual-rang EJ tranny (After all the BR in BRAT stands for Bi-Range), but they are in extrodinary rare supply here Stateside, and I DID actulaly find a STI 6 speed. (expensive, however less expensive than shipping a tranny from OZ)) The STI tranny has the Adjustable VCD center diff and LSD rear. Also, the gears are closer together and I hope will give me a couple lower gears to work with. So I can do a bit of offroad goodness in loos terrrain with it. I live in a desert type area so a less rock crawler more rally style set-up suits where I'll be off-roading. (It's less Moab and more Baja.)

I thought everything changed over to the 27 spline after the EA82 chassis? I may not be understanding what you're doing. As I understand it. You can use an EA82 tranny with an adapter plate. This way you can use EA81 axles (The clutch gets tricky, but there are some combinations that work without to much modding.) there are also people on this forum who make shifter adapter kits. The tricky parts are the wiring and fuel delivery of your 2.2. EA81's are mostly carberated,and I think the 2.2 you are looking at is fuel injected. You'll need the fuel pump and fuel lines. also, you'll need the wiring harness from both cars and the ECU from the 2.2 car. you'll need you combine and rewire them together. (Again alot of resources on the forum for that.) I would find a doner 4WD EA81 for your project. Most everything will swap right over And you'll have alot more fun. (Subarus are meant to be 4WD )

As far as ownership goes, BRAT's are remarkably trouble free. The 2 biggest issues are body rust and the CV axles tend to have a shorter life compared to modern CV axles. They are simple to work on and way fun to drive. If you don't own a BRAT already, finding one may be the hard part. They are becoming increasingly rare. They do come up for sale from time to time on the forum. You'll find the people here are extraordinarily helpful and full of knowledge. I think you joined the right group

I've had it for a couple years. Here's where it stands currently. Not Bad, It runs great and I still need to pop out a few dents and get some of Pooparu's decals on it, but it's gonna get a huge update 1st. From the back you can see the bumper and tailgate I need to replace. (I got the tailgate, but it's not painted as of yet.) The end goal is to have it look like this...except Yellow I'm going to replacing the entire underside of the truck with all the suspension and all of the electronics of different 98-2004 cars. In the end it will be standing on a 3"lifted frame, the fenders will be trimmed out and extended and I think its gonna sit on 17/225/55's (27" tire). The current power-plant I have is an acceptable EJ 2.2 that will connect to either a RS (5 Speed) or STI (6 Speed) tranny through an Impreza drive-shaft and to a LSD in the rear (4.11 final drive ratio). (I don't have a tranny as of yet.) The entire interior will be stripped out and rebuilt racing style with the much newer gauges and lights and I'm adding a main switch and push-button start. This year, the goal is to get it running with the 2.2 and next summer drop a 2.0T WRX engine in the bay. Currently I have a couple doner cars I'm pulling from. (98 Legacy with a blown tranny and a completely wrecked 04 STI) I'm in the process of Building the frame. Looks like I'll be using 2x3 1/8 thick box-steel for most of it. The frame is what will mate the Body with Upgraded drive line. It's gonna be quite a project! I'll keep everyone updated as I go Whoot! Fun Fun!

Just about all the subarus of the early 80's have the same /interchangeable Dashbord. Although, many have slight differences in the vents and gage clusters. It may be easier to find something like an 83-84 GL wagon. They are far more commom and the parts you're looking for will be a perfect fit. (the sedan and 2D hatch will also work for like years) On the Bad side, those vents are fragile and most of the subaru's from that era lost them long ago. hmmm as a long term thought. My vents are good. I'm gonna pull out my whole dash and replace it with a custom built one eventually.

Poop! I love that you are making the RC BRAT decals. Do you have pics of them on an actual car yet?

Would the rear diff on the cars have a 4.11 stamp?

All the dual ranges I've seen can't handle the WRX engine I hope to get in this thing next year. Unless there is something I haven't seen dual ranges endeed with the EA82's I've heard the GT trannys are quite rugged and can handle a bit of horsepower. So I had to give up on a DR tranny. (this did break my heart a bit) I'm going all EJ on this build. I better check to see what Diff I have now

I was wondering about that same thing. Which cars have the the 4.44 final drive? Is there a tranny number or indicator?

This is gonna be a trail ride. No heavy duty off-roading. I'm going for more of a rally setup. I have a lot of desert out here and I'm gonna be in the dunes every now and then. The wheels I'm going for are 265/70/15's (currently looking at General Grabber AT2's) These are reasonably close in size to the stock OD of the original wheels. Plus I'll be using the much heavier axles and suspension from the legacy.

That's perfect! I need the Impreza wheelbase

Using 3" Box steel w 3/16 thickness for most of the Subframe. BRAT body goes on top. Legacy Drivetrain and suspension on the bottom

Hey all, I'm Monsterizing a BRAT. I'm building a custom sub-frame. I am literally taking EVERYTHING from a 98 Legacy donner car and building it into my sub-frame that will eventually bolt onto the underside of my BRAT. (the brat dash, steering collum and all electronics are also going and will be replaced with the doner car systems) The Brat gets a 3" lift and the fenders will be trimmed out. Whew! that all being said. The car has an Automatic Tranny (that is blown) and planetary diff. I want to replace it with the 5 speed tranny from a GT or XT and eventually the LSD from one as well. The problem is I want the VCD from the GT/XT's but I don't know what the tranny number / model number is or if it's the same as all other manual gear box Subaru's of that era? I also know that there is a difference in 98 and up because the clutch goes to a push type rather than a pull type. Also Is the drive shaft the same between Legacy's and impreza's? (the impreza has the correct wheel base for a BRAT) So, any info I can get is helpful, and if you have some tranny kit around you're selling Please let me know! The end goal is a look and stance like the Tamiya RC BRAT (I already have a custom roll bar made to be like this one)

Yeah, I would like a few pics myself. I would love a shorter throw. please keep us posted

That's some good advice!. I'll have to talk to bill about it. do you have a pic of your setup?

OK, I bought the lift kit. this is gonna be my Spring/summer project. So, now I'm out shopping. I know I've seen it on here somewhere about putting the jeep rancho shocks on the rear of EA81 lifts. does anyone have a link or know what's compatable? Does anyone have a steering linkage for a 3" lift or can make one? (I have no welding ability) Also worried about the shifter itself. anyone have any issues with the shifter being 3" lower? ANY HELPFUL info is appreciated. If you have lifted EA81 experience I would love your input. thanks guys

thanks Veg. the link was super helpful

Yep, bulb was burnt. I was able to harvest another plunger from the junkyard. Now the light works, but I have so much slop in my 4WD shifter that it still doesn't show me in 4WD when I shift. Well, at least that's an easier one to fix

WOW, that's a bigger tire than I expected! How about w/o fender trim? and all season street tires?

OK I want to lift my BRAT 2" looking into kits now. (Right now, I have NO LIFT, I'm running some 14" Peugeot rims. A 195/70r 14 seems to be a tight fit in the front.) I'm trying to see what the best wheel/tire combo is when I get the lift. If I'm right, looks like I need a 15x8 rim, Shopping for tires I came up with a 215/60R-15 That's all well and good, but what if I score some 15x10 Chevy rims? will they fit with a 2" lift w/o cutting fenders? Are they too wide and what tire could I use? I'd love some pics of you guys with EA81's and a 2" lift. that would give me a good idea on the direction to go. I want the most aggressive and wide look I can get.