Mike W

If your bar doesn't need to comply with SCCA specs, and it's primarily for mounting your harness, check out the "show bars" sold for VW bugs. A couple years ago I looked at 4 and 6 point bars at the Bow Wow store in Lynnwood. They're damn cheap (like $150) and according to my measurements the 4 point would fit the Hatchback like it was made for it. The tubing is thinner than SCCA requires but with some crossbracing and gussets should be strong enough to survive low speed roll overs etc.

That's not the first crawler buggy to use the 2.5. Remember that one posted a couple years ago...I think it was on the Pirates message board.

Hi guys. Looks like I'm tuning into this late and only got a minute to typle. Rguyver up in Canada was the first to do this mod and I copied him with his help via email. He noticed that late model EA82 cars had slip joint on only the outboard end of the rear axles. So you get 4 of these style of axles and use the slip joints on both ends of your stock EA81 rear axles. The result is original length axle when suspension is compressed and an extra 1/2" or so of stretch to accomodate 3" or so of down-travel. Seems to work good on my car with Toyota FJ60 shocks. Gotta get back to work....

Hey I applaud his use of a non-Soob powerplant. Did you just happen to have the Chevy or is that simply the best option for your purposes? Any idea how much the whole thing weighs and how much torque and hp? Are bigger diffs, lockers and axles in the works? Very cool how you moved the front end forward. Excellent work and thanks for sharing the pics etc. Good luck at races!

Nice work! I've been offline for awhile and recently wondered what Lumpycam would do next. Now I can scratch supermodded '79 off my dream project list! Hope I get to see this thing in person...no doubt your attention to detail and inovative engineering are at least as cool as Unhatched. More photos please! Subframe? Cage? Axle mods?

Maybe '81 GL Brat. Gen 1 with EA-81 and dual range. The holy grail might be early Brats that were supposedly lifted and modified by Jackman for Subaru. (Just a rumor or unconfirmed legend.)

FHI = Fuji Heavy-duty Insanity? Man I just love all this evolution and mutation. Wonder what'll happen when someone comes to the table with a huge budget, advanced R&D facilities and a desire to build the ultimate-ultimate offroad subaru? How about an even more complete Hatch Patrol history, going back to Todd's crew wheelin' with Zap at Evan's Creek. Also should give credit to all those nuts who were offroading and modifying Subarus as early as the 1970's. Major props go out to the Aussis for putting their offroad exploits on the internet. And if Brett hadn't shipped those first few lift kits to the states it might have taken a lot longer for the cult to catch on. Thanks Back Yard Boys, Offroad Subaru Club of Queensland, etc. etc!

Oh boy I'm so in the inner circle, and I got to hear about it direct from the source! Thanks for the call Ken, I've been wondering about your project and how it was coming along. I thought you moved out there to be close to Evans Creek but now we know it was just to hide your projects from snoopy soob-heads. Can't wait to see how it turns out and functions. This evolution/mutation thing is kinda funny...sorta like when Zap gave in and finally installed a lift kit.

Cool pics Austin. Props on the new paint job! Looks sharp out there in it's natural element. Outbackish yet oldschoolish too. Very cool. That Stonehenge photo of the three Soobs should be on a calendar fer sure.

Hi Marck, I for one think it's a good idea to wash under the car. I try to keep the engine and underside clean so I can tell what's going on as far as leaks and such plus it makes working on it more pleasant. I used to do it at the DIY car wash. Pressure washing with soap seems to remove the grime pretty well and the pressure is usually low enough that blowing off undercoating isn't a problem. Some of the pay car-washes offer "engine cleaner". It works well on the engine but it might deteriorate rubber components so be careful what you spray it on. Dawn dish soap does "take grease out of your way"...as advertised. We use it at work to disolve solvent etc. Simple Green is a bit tougher on oil and grease. GumOut Foaming Engine Cleaner is tougher yet but I've blamed it for prematurely rotting of CV boots etc so it might not be good for uncoating either. Oven Cleaner is badarss stuff...strips heavy grease down to bare metal and peels paint too so use it with extreme caution on car parts. I just bought a Karcher electric pressure washer for $139 at Sam's Club. Man I love that machine and wish I bought it sooner. Very portable and plenty of psi. I always thought these electric units must be disposable junk but two guys at work convinced me that they hold up to abuse surprisingly well. Mine seems well made and works great. Hope it doesn't self-destruct because I really like using it.

Oooh what pretty yellowness Jamie... er uh Austin. Sorry man, couldn't resist. I generally don't dig yellow but that looks mighty good. Especially for what you spent doing it. Nice job!

I saw the ad for that one and almost called to tell you about it. Wasn't sure if you still wanted a wagon. That'll be wierd seeing Zap in a wagon again. Wonder what'll be next? Gen 1 wagon? A sedan? Monster Justy? 360 monster van?

I'd love to go but I can't make it (big surprise huh!) As a side note check this out: Two springs ago I was the first vehicle to drive over the old Blewett pass road. I broke trail through the snow banks...and get this... I did it in a rented Dodge Neon. Man I beat the snot out of that car 4x'ing over rocks and mud, I scratched the roof sneaking under a fallen tree and then I rally'ed it down the switchbacks. Rental cars are fun to punish. If it's clear of snow, the road from Swauk Pass east to Mission Ridge is sweet. One of my all-time favorite scenic detours.

If the torsion bar can't keep it up, you could rotate each side one spline to increase the spring rate. Or to occasionally increase load capacity air shocks might the way to go. On a 3"-4" lifed car/brat, shocks spec'd for a Toyota FJ60 landcruiser will fit.

I haven't done business with them for a year or so, but "Chris" at the Lynnwood, WA Bow-Wow store was giving USMB members a nice discount. I got my Redline Weber there and they saved me a bunch of money and I got it quick. I've also purchased OEM oil pumps and other stuff from them also at good prices. The Seattle Bow-Wow might give discounts too. Maybe Zap can confirm or deny this since I haven't been to that store in a long time.

Everyone I know uses a return line and seem happy with it. There is another common brand of pump other than Carter that doesn't cost so much but I forget the name. Ask at a shop that caters to the aircooled VW crowd and they'll hook you up.

That is way cool. Definitely needs to be at WCSS6! Moosensmobile for sure.

Today I spotted what looked like it had been a 1980 or so DL 4wd wagon with the sawzall baja conversion. No lift or big tires installed but it did have a nice roof rack installed on the hood. Rather original design I must say. Looked like it had some kind of fabricated bed in the back and maybe a rear wall but I couldn't see much as I drove past. Anyway it was kinda cool looking in a Red Green sort of way. It was parked behind the Jiffy Lube near Martha Lake. Anyone here the owner? There was also a gnarly Yota truck parked there so I'm guessing the Soob gets used offroad.

What you didn't take many photos!?! Geez you must have been busy driving and spotting. I can't wait to see the video. I wonder what the SNORT guys had to say about the Subarus on their message board? And I wonder what they would do with a Subaru if they owned one? Hmmm things might get interesting if those guys take an interest in Soobs.

Hey I like the cutting torch idea! What better way to get to know all my new yuppie neighbors! The other day one of these folks had the police come out and give me a warning citation because my car had a flat tire and warned me that working on cars outdoors is now against the law. And apparently having a set of wheels stacked up with a tarp over them is also illegal now. Gotta love neighbors and laws like that! Anyways... Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll try Tom's method since I do have a few tire irons but currently don't have a sawzall or bolt cutters. I once used a porta-band saw to cut a tire off a rim. It cut like butter and no smoke. Wish I had one now.

I need to get some old tires off plain steel rims so they can be recycled. Is there an "easy" way to get the tires off? Angle grinder with cutoff wheel? I just don't feel like paying a tire store a bunch of money for dismounting junk rubber.

My favorite quick remedy is a heavy-duty ziplock bag wrapped around and secured with wire ties and duct tape. Works for months if you need it too. You can even get fancy and inject more CV grease with a needle injector on your grease gun. Rebooting really isn't all that bad once you're in the mood for black grease. TRW brand boots are the best I've seen...very strong rubber. I stick the axle shaft in a bench vice and carefully remove the metal bands. Put on rubber gloves and have plenty of rags handy. Pull back the big end of the boot and reach in with a hook shaped tool to flip out the wire retainer clip. Slide the joint apart and put a rag over the bearing assembly. Remove the C-clip on the end of the axle and slide off the bearing assy. Now you can swap boots and re-assembly in reverse order with fresh CV grease.

There are official beer tasting glasses made of real glass. They're bigger than a dixie but less than a highball. Maybe someone could get a brewery to donate some of these glasses? Not a bad form of advertising.

So the simplest form would be a beer potluck where everyone would just bring enough to share? I could see picking up a couple big bottles of exotics from Greenwood or Ballard markets and dolling it out in shot glasses. I've been wanting to try some more Barley Wines. I once had some Bigfoot BW...very potent but nice. As for suggestions on a more organized approach. Maybe a sign-up list so we don't have too many duplicates? I guess that way we'd know how many participants and how much to bring.

So when does the lawn tractor get a EA81 transplant?