I've been looking for ways to upgrade my 1979 Brat and the first thing on my list is engine and transmission. I would really like to drop an EJ22 with a 5 speed in there but as I have heard that requires notching the frame rails and that makes me a bit uncomfortable. I had and idea that if you could build a frame and install an EJ22 with a 5 speed and the suspension from an impreza. Then you could just drop the brat body on top and bolt it on.
Sounds like a much easier and less risky approach to me but I would like to get some opinions.