Seahag1978

I bet you're right Connie, I never thought of that! The new dash will probably have better ones... I'll check where they are when it stops raining.

I wish I could... I'd be a popsicle before I left my zip code!

I had little knowledge about the truck when I got it, so it's like playing hide 'n seek. In Spring and Summer the temp gauge never came off the bottom, so we thought the temp gauge was broken. The auxilliary fan has a switch hard wired to the dash, so not knowing the engine temp, I ran the auxilliary fan full-time, better safe than sorry, kinda thing. Judging from what we're finding, there was a paranoia about overheating. 100% anti-freeze, low temp t-stat and hard wired auxiliary fan. Is beer cardboard interchangable? I don't have to use Japanese beer cardboard do I? (I don't like the food, I KNOW I won't like the beer.) I hope this specimen will tolerate BudLite beer cardboard. If not, I'll have to make a "parts run" to the liquor store, the lines to the cashier are brutal this time of year!

A couple of weeks ago we found that it had 100% anti-freeze in it... replaced some of it with water... still more than adequate.... flushed the heater core too. Seems the water in the whole system never gets really hot?

The Good: My '78 Brat started this morning in -2 degree weather... I had to babysit it for the first 10 minutes and then it stayed running while I went back into the house to defrost myself for Round 2. The Bad: After 1/2 hour of idling and 3.5 miles of driving, the temp gauge only rose to halfway between cold and the lower normal range mark. The defrost is only putting out barely lukewarm air. It has a new T-stat. Well, to add insult to injury, the driver's side vent is blowing cold outside air into the cabin. The Ugly: I took it in for a tune-up today and it's running worse than when I put it in... arrrgggh! I was afraid that would happen. Mission Impossible: Trying to find a mechanic. The guys that have worked on Brats way back in the day, refuse to work on them, and the ones that will, don't know what they're doing! It's very frustrating! Back in again tomorrow

Everyone here has been so free with great advice and moral support... from day it got on the truck, the Brat has been a major headache but it's all coming together with the help of everyone on the board... McBrat for pointing the way here... Todd got me motivated enough to tackle it, Skip diagnosed the many problems and Edrach supplied the moral support. And many of you supplied the parts... Subafreak, Paul, Russ, Todd, Tommy, Kurt, Jason... most of all my Tim... he's stuck with me even though he smashes knuckles, road rashes his back crawling under the "no room under this lemon yellow #@%&*". Now that it's up and running, he's pretty proud I think <wink> Thank you all!

There's a Subaru decoder here: http://subaru.sonik.us/vindecode.html It doesn't work on older models with less than 17 digits.

Way to go Connie! You're place is starting to look like ours... dash on the top back of the couch, car seats in the dining room... 1950 Ford bumper leaning against the wall... boxes of parts for both trucks... man, we need a garage! We cleaned out the shed, so that'll help!

Thank you so much guys! The idle problem is fixed! It was the anti-diesel solonoid, dirty EGR and a couple of wires and hoses hindering the operation of the throttle linkage. The white smoke is gone too. She'll still go in for a proper tune-up on Tuesday. I took her up to 42 mph and no more screaming! I think she'll make it further than one exit on the highway now!

Take Northwet up on his offer! If it doesn't work out, please, please, please, research car carriers very carefully. I had an absolute nightmare getting my Brat shipped from Florida to Mass., it took a month, and god-awful threatening phone calls from the driver, saying I'd never see the car again. I order to end the nightmare, I had to report it stolen because the driver was a raving maniac... BTW he had 11 other cars on the rig. Once the police were involved, he was "relieved" of his duties and the "company" flew another driver down from Chicago to complete the run... it arrived 2 days later... the new driver was as nice as the first was evil... go figure. Oh, if it does work out, Northwet, head slightly north and I'll feed you! Mary

LOL! I have been there... trust me, it's time for him to "excavate" and take inventory, then send out a list of goods... there's a LOT of stuff! If he agrees, I'll set it up for him...

Look on the plate on the driver's door, it will tell you the month/year of manufacture.

Looks like you're ok to use them. Check the link below, 3rd and 4th items on the list. You might want to print the page and carry it in your vehicle, just in case. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs31thru32.htm

Awwww... like the 18th? No can do... Tim's working. When are you out of the shop for real? I really want to snag whatever you have for my money pit! j/k

No, not clip in. They are on a six-legged bracket that's welded (they could be bolted, I guess) to the bed. The seats, (which are rather short) and seatbelts are bolted onto the bracket/floor. They also have headrests on a shaft bolted to the outside rear cabin wall that adjust for height. You would need to fabricate a headrest into the mix somehow... whiplash sucks. There are a few for sale on the board here and eBay. Liability laws stopped the fun! Strangely enough, they are still legal in Massachusetts... home of litigation! We have the most lawyers in the country... New Jersey has the most toxic waste dumps... because New Jersey won!

Ahhh.. thought you'd approve... makes me smile... big giant hug to you, Paul! Now I just have to find a wee smoker to use the ashtray on the back... hehe! Seriously... I love seeing these "old girls" being kept for posterity... she's gonna be a winner next Spring! Funny, I never had any attachments to cars except Brats? I cried for a long time when my first one had to be "retired" Now my Hyundai... good car... no attachment... it's (I'm) lucky it gets gas.

Hey Russ, You still got that brown wheel? With Todd's instructions I can refinish it to black. It was the hard plastic that I was worried about... looks like the wheel cover and string will solve that problem of the crack and the paint wearing off and add to the look! Let me know... thanks!

It's a '78 generation one. The paint was on it when I got it, it's Ford Chrome Yellow BZ... the decals were made by Ed Dahl... he also makes the "Brumby" decals... look on eBay, I think they're up for sale now... he has several styles for Brats too.

Tim had the seats I got from Moosens redone! They're awesome! They match the paint perfectly.

Got the name of that junkyard in Nevada? I'm still looking for the black steering wheel and one black armrest.

I'll catch one tomorrow... it's been raining and foggy all day. I appreciate the help, thanks!

Thanks! Would a picture help? There's a guy in town that will fix it, but he'll probably want an arm and a leg...

ahem, Ed, wanna share your folder? I know it exists already! heheheh! It's a tough time searching and then waiting a week for something? LOL! In all seriousness, I have a rolodex and add used parts places as needed... unfortunately, they always tell me, "Lady, the car's been crushed... it's all we have." <sigh> Only consumables like brakepads, filters, front axles (you guys break a lot of these:)?) are listed on the most popular websites. OH! Why can't we set up a new forum (incoming! duck!) that people can post places that sell parts, with specifics... it's so hard trying to find things! Yeah... we have the Marketplace, but there are only so many parts available... I have visited websites and the links are broken or gone... just a thought...

Assuming it's an automatic, Tim thinks it sounds like the modulator valve... it's cheap to change. Good luck! Mary

Does anyone know where I can find a sunroof gasket? I assume it's aftermarket, but there's no name on it... I think it's 15 x 30 and has a mirror finish on the outside. It's in a '78 Brat. Thanks! Mary