odie

for some bizzare reason my 85 Brat shows 000,104 right now...I bought it last week and it had 000,092 on it...

I think it's a US liability thing as to why most US owner's manuals say "towing not recommended"...the owners manual that was in my Brat has a picture of it towing a trailer with a big red X over it. But since the Brat has a bed a hitch is pretty low on my priority at the moment...I really need to get it street legal and registered before anything else.

thanks for the link...welll I do indeed have a dual range TC...just gotta figure out why it won't go into low...I'll probably be pulling it in the end and working on the linkage. Would probably be easier in the end.

well...answers my question...I was baffled by the lack of a tank and the rad not staying full... would it be ok to add a tank to capture overflow for future top offs? Kinda don't want to mix up a bunch of new anti freeze only to have it puked out. that stuff is getting pretty expensive.

I just googled it...got a hit from u-haul... "If U-Haul doesn't have a hitch for your vehicle, nobody does! Your vehicle requires a custom-built hitch which we will gladly fabricate for you. If you are able to bring your vehicle to our Tempe, AZ Research & Development facility we'll provide you with a free U-Haul custom trailer hitch, including free installation, and a lifetime unlimited warranty in exchange for the use of your vehicle to fabricate the trailer hitch. We'll need the vehicle for two to three days. If you are interested in this offer please complete the form below and we'll contact you to schedule your appointment. This offer is only valid until one customer per vehicle can fulfill our requirements." sounds like a road trip for someone...lol

is a hitch even available? my owners manual says no towing...but what do they know? LOL....build one, not too difficult if you can weld. Built them for my old Mercedes and Harleys. About to build a VW hitch too.

that kinda sounds like what I got going on...still waiting on my Haynes to arrive so I can see an actual linkage schematic... anyway, the starter sits high and off to the drivers (left side) in about the 10 o'clock position (as you are sitting in the car) not sure if that helps to identify the trans. There is a lever up nere the starter with a rod going back along the top of the trans. getting under the Brat that rod appears to go into the trans/transfer case at the top about midway. there is another rod coming out of the top of the trans from that area which goes back to the gear shifter area and up thru the floor (4WD lever I assume) I'm going to guess is a dual range and the low range shifter is seized...please elaborate on the disassembly and hammer fix...need to drop or partially drop trans for access?

I'm a little confused...if there is no shift rod then how does the single range transfer case even get shifted into 4WD? Or does the single shift lever operate two seperate shift rods?

Well, how far up do you have to pull the lever? Maybe I'm pulling it all the way into 4WD Low and just don't know it.

I don't want to force the lever up. The person I bought it from said they bought it from a guy who had 2-3 other Brats and used them for mudding a lot. I can definitely see were he would have swapped transfer cases so he could have the more desireable dual range unit. Is there a difference in the case exteriors that would identify it for sure? I could look for signs that the TC has been pulled (marks on bolts, case to trans mounting joint disturbed and such) The engine is marked EA81, but GL and DL both had the same engine? Is there a part number or stamping on the TC that would identify it?

Newbie here...I tried the search function but haven't found much yet... Basically how do I visually identify what transfer case I have? It's a 1985 Brat GL (assuming the emblems are correct). 4 speed trans (the knob says 4 but could be a swapped knob) and I can't "find" 5th by searching with the shifter so I'm pretty sure it's a 4 speed. The transfer case lever doesn't say anything other than 4WD. No high/low markings. It shifts up into 4WD ok but that's all. The owner's manual says to push the clutch in to shift further into 4WD Low but it won't move any farther. It's entirely possible someone removed the 5 spd and dual range and swapped in a 4 speed and single range T/C. Not sure why. Or is the 5spd Dual range an optional item for the Brat? I had assumed all GL Brats were 5 speed and dual range.

Just bought my first Subaru of Cragislist...1985 GL Brat. Body unbelieveably clean and almost rust free (easily 95% or better). Jump seats still there. Either shiny original paint or proffesional repaint since BRAT decal is there and no signs of trim tapped off. Interior kinda rough. no carpet. Engine bay hacked up. Weber carb. Missing AC compressor. Many wires rigged. Missing spare. Odometer showed 000094 miles?????? paid $1500 and I think way under-valued due to the body condition. This Brat was obviously not from the Texas gulf coast originally.