el_freddo

Finally, after LOADS of work then tidy up and packing we’re off to Subinats in Sydney on Saturday. Left earlier to do some other stuff while up here but left almost two days later than planned. If you ever come to Australia and want to experience a wild time, come in October and do the Deni Ute Muster! It’s a loose weekend that’s for sure. This is one of the landmarks of the host town of Deniliquin - the ute on a pole (because why not?): Redback Brumby is loving the cruise so far. I’m sure she’ll keep the same attitude all the way home too. Cheers Bennie

Big update. My Brumby sits like this at the moment and was like this for more than the last two weeks: It’s late Friday night as I write this, and I intend to leave for Skidney on Monday after work - and Redback Brumby still sits how you see her in the pic above. It’s getting close and I’m cutting it fine. One of the reasons for the above Jack stand action was this (as previously mentioned) - and they look mint in person with tyres mounted: The last week and a half was hectic prepping items for painting between work commitments. As usual for freshly painted things they look awesome but I wonder about their longevity. The biggest item was the bullbar that got a full scrub back, rust treatment, rubbed back again and then primed and painted from there. Here’s a much quicker picture summary of what was done: After the “final” spray of the bullbar had cured I found four sections I missed so had to get another can to finish it off. I think this extra can of paint got a great texture finish and a much more even coverage. I believe it’s still fully curing as it dulls easily when gently rubbed with your hands. Looks great though! The brakes and hubs got some paint too. It all took time but it came together well I think: Now to get it all back together this weekend - including replacing a split CV boot up front (outer too!), wiring in the stez (now mounted!), central locking, UHF radio (ceiling mounted - finished the console for it today so can’t wait to see if fitted) then put the interior back together! And I need to replace the rocker cover gaskets too, the current ones are a bit leaky… All in two days. We’ll see how we go. Cheers Bennie

If you’re spacing out the backing plate you’ll need to space out the hub to line up the disc. No chance of modifying the backing place to avoid the swing arm? Got pics? Cheers Bennie

This is all I can find at the moment: https://ausubaru.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=10858&p=106517#p106517 From what I remember he had a WRX drivetrain and brakes fitted. I can’t find any pics of it now though as all the photo links are broken ;(

I don’t know mate, I don’t have a gen1 to play with and they’re quite scarce around this part of the world. It would be a cheap way to find out if the 5 stud conversion would fit - you’d need to ensure the rear stub axles fit the gen2’s drum brakes as the fabricated rear hubs adapt the EA81 stub axle to the EJ 5 stud pattern - if this works that’s a major hurdle over come. If not maybe the EA81 rear swing/trailing arm can be swapped in. Big maybe though. Once the rear is sorted the next thing is to ensure the front control arms can be reamed out to accept the larger EJ ball joint. From there it’s working out the master cylinder situation as you’d definitely want to upgrade that to EJ spec! Lastly and probably the most frustrating bit is sorting the front CV shafts. It’s probably best to go custom here for ease of just getting it done. There are ppl who have fitted EJ brakes to the Gen1 brat. I believe over here in Oz a fella had an emerald green one that had the brakes and an EJ fitted, I just can’t remember if it was EJ turbo. I’ll see what I can find. How’d you come up with the designs? You must be good with cad! Something I’d like to learn more about with complex components. Cheers Bennie

If you can fit Gen2 BRAT brakes you can fit the Subarino 5 stud brake kit 😉 There may be some slight differences with the hand brake cable etc.

I forgot about this system, we only got it in the early series 1 models. You might have to get under it and manually manipulate the lever on the side of the gearbox. From memory the cable end of the lever needs to be as far back as possible - but I could be wrong as it’s years since I looked at how these work. Jack up a wheel to do this to make it easier/possible. I don’t share the same sentiments as Numbchux about towing on the rear wheels in 2wd. Cheers Bennie

Make sure it’s in 2wd - push the 4wd lever backwards and down. It might help having a rear wheel jacked off the ground to ensure there’s no bind in the system that will hold it in 4wd. Other issue could be a dead wheel bearing. Cheers Bennie

Does this shop do alignments on Subarus regularly? Do they know where all the adjustment points are? On your vehicle: no crash history or signs of a crash that could have bigger things bent out of shape? That’s all I’ve got atm. Cheers Bennie

What’s so difficult about replacing the bearings? It helps to have a mate that’s got a press - that’s a must for this job! The rest is very much the same as any other bearing replacement. And you know what sort of quality bearing you’re replacing it with since you’re the one purchasing the bearing and installing it. The used hub method has its merits. I reckon there’s a point where you get over hunting down a used hub and collecting dead ones on the shelf. All the best with it! Cheers Bennie

I’m guessing you’re talking about the window winder handle? Once the handle is off after removing the retainer clip, the plastic bits should come off relatively easily. Remove the door handle and the surround of the handle that opens the door, then the door card can be unclipped. Cheers Bennie

^ this! 100% the issue. Once done it’ll work perfect. Cheers Bennie

Well the water pump was replaced. The bolts are not fully torqued up as I didn’t trust the threads in the block! No leaks. From that point on she was driven as needed - mainly on longer runs on the weekend or when carting stuff. I’m now in the middle of prepping for Subinats ‘24 in Sydney again. This is the ten year anniversary and my second, I’m hoping to do three in a row with the next one having the Brumby EJ powered (changed direction from the earlier discussion about the EJ conversion plans). I’ve sent my rims in for powder coating, going with the pearl white. This image is very accurate in how I saw the colours in the shop: These rims will look awesome once I get them back, the wheel nuts will look pretty average now though, I’ll have to try to buff them up for a better appearance. And I need to find my centre caps for these, I’ve got them but never run with them fitted. Tyres will be fitted with the outside edge on the inside so I’ll have the worn edges tucked under the car and the good edges easily visible to those looking at the Brumby. I finally got around to installing a UHF radio, several bits need to be sorted to complete that setup - it’s mounted on the roof, basically the same as how I mounted the unit in Ruby Scoo. And I got a basic head unit to get some tunes back into the Brumby without having to use a portable speaker. Since I was running the speaker wires I figured I’d finally install the central locking I purchased a number of years ago. It quickly got out of hand after this decision today. This is how I left it at dinner time: Got some work to do there and two weekends to get it sorted before we’re off to the event on the 14th of Sept. Also should say the grommets for the door jamb from a HQ/HJ/HX/HZ Holden for power windows and mirrors work a treat on the Brumby! I got the idea from Marty when he sourced them for the MCM Brumby build last year (this Brumby should be at Subinats as well 🤞). I also want to give the five poster a lick of paint, not a show quality finish, just something that ends up all being one colour! This is holding up the install of the UHF aerial that will be mounted on the left side of it too, so I need to get this sorted - next weekend all going well! I’d like to paint the front calipers and rear drums a bright green. If I had my game sorted, several weeks ago I would’ve grabbed a set of rear discs I’ve got at my old’s place and slapped them on the brumby - with the calipers painted. Still got the usual stuff to sort out - oil and filter changes, clean the interior out and pack for the trip. Then we cruise! Can’t but can wait. Cheers Bennie

1999? Sorry I’m not helpful. Really you need to find whatever parts cars you can get hold of and work with those. Sadly I can’t help there either and I bet my left but they’ll be few and far between.

Coolant level still good? I’m thinking with that sort of mileage you could have the beginnings of a dead head gasket, leaking valves or dying coil packs. I don’t have any real world experience with the H6, I’m just going by what I’ve read from other ppl’s and a mate’s experience. Cheers Bennie