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themixtoo

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Posts posted by themixtoo

  1. I started this project in 2002, when something went haywire in the computer system of my 83.5 Turbo Brat (and no one in Cleveland had the testing equipment anymore). Didn't want to junk the car (super rare here in northeast Ohio) so I set it aside. In 2004, my daughter was involved in an accident with a huge semi-dump truck, she wasn't hurt, but the '95 Impreza wagon was 'totaled' by the insurance co. I bought it back from them for $350 and then decided to make a Impreza/Brat. The Impreza had been damaged on the passenger front corner. I parted most of the car out but kept the engine/trans, rear diff and suspension engine cradle and the left side front suspension and the complete wiring harness with the combo meter too. After researching ideas here on USMB I started the transformation. It seemed to me that doing a lift would allow me to bolt a 3x3 steel tube to the factory cradle bolts and then I could relocate the Impreza cradle about one inch forward so I could put some nice 32" tires on 15" rims under it. All was well and good till I had to custom make the front/rear lower control arm mounting brackets. Any way, it all worked out ok till I inspected the EJ22 engine. The accident snapped the threaded bosses off the engine block where the power steering pump mounted and I was at a stand still. Fast forward to last year and once again, my daughter had destroyed another '95 Subaru.... this time a Legacy..she calls and says "dad I'm sending the Legacy to the recycle yard, do you want anything off it?" WELL.... I'll take the whole thing.... at least this one she didn't hurt the engine :)post-5087-0-44660100-1449777396_thumb.jpg

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  2. I have a 95 Impreza with a bad 4eat trans...... recently picked up a 95 Legacy 4eat trans..... how do I change the speed sensor that's in the Legacy trans to the cable set-up in the Impreza?  Trans codes on the VIN tags read Impreza...TZ102ZA3BA and TZ102ZAAAA on the Legacy.   Also, do they have the same final drive gear ratios? so I don't have to change the rear diff... Thanks in advance for any help. Gary in Cleveland, Ohio

  3. Well ..... Next up is to re-design the upper front strut spacers as now I have new Legacy Outback front struts ready to install but I think they will lift the front too high (is there such a thing) and damage the front axles. So modification is in order as I really want to drive this THING on the street sometime this year.
    So, everything is bolted up and the right side (with the modified upper strut bracket) is 1/2" higher than the left side. Here we go again, I guess I"ll have to redesign the left upper strut mount for the third time. This is such a drag, but I WILL get it sooner or later. The Brat sure looks neat with these 27" AT tires mounted on those 15" rims from GrossGary. Thanks again.

     

    '

  4. I'm afraid 'easy' doesn't discrible me very well. Probably 'different' is more like it.:lol: . Gary
    Well it's a monumental day today, not just because the wife and I are celebrating our anniversery (32 years) but the Brat rear suspension with the additional 2.5 inches of lift so my 27" tires will fit IS FINISHED:banana: . Last night I fabricated a couple of brackets to mount the Impreza rear rubber brake hoses. Now they are primered and painted, but I can't install them because the little clips that lock the hoses into the struts and the brackets had to be 'special ordered' from my local 'Ru dealer (go figure). Next up is to re-design the upper front strut spacers as now I have new Legacy Outback front struts ready to install but I think they will lift the front too high (is there such a thing) and damage the front axles. So modification is in order as I really want to drive this THING on the street sometime this year.
  5. Ok so I was originally going to put an EA82 Crossmember into my BRAT for the power steering while doing an EJ swap but the guy I am getting the engine from is also giving me the EJ engine crossmember.

     

    The original idea was to put a 4 inch lift and have the lift block act as an adapter. Once the crossmember is in this is essentially a 5 lug swap.

     

    I have yet to measure things out with the EJ piece so it's more theory.

     

    My concern is what axles I will need or do I have to custom make them.

     

    Also all of the 5 lug swaps out there are using XT6 rear parts. Can legacy/impreza parts be used instead' date=' as there are more common.

     

    BW[/quote'] Everybody is right, just use the EA82 crossmember. I have done this mod on my Brat it's pretty neat but the time I have invested is outrageous. I had to make custom mounts for the front lower control arms, modify the upper strut mounts, custom mounts for the rear tailing arms, make custom upper rear stut mounts and now I have no room for a fuel tank with the Impreza rear diff cradle mounted with a 3 inch spacer on the rear frame rails. SO bottom line is, IT CAN BE DONE BUTT:banghead: . Gary

  6. OK....Finally it rolls on the Impreza suspension!!!!!!!! I'm still not thru, rear will be 2.5" higher and the front will be about another inch higher. What you see here is with my '98 2.5RS Impreza 16" wheels on. The final 'look' will have 27" tires. These are only 25" in dia. DAMN once again can't download the pix it's too big and even my kids laugh at me when I ask how to reduce it. Any feedback would be appreciated. LOL. Gary
    Ok I've downloaded that Easy Thumbnails thing, lets try again

    post-8096-13602761686_thumb.jpg

  7. Started fabricating the front mount for the differential/lower radius rod. Mocked it up, tried to tack weld it, couldn't get good penetration (in other words F'd it up). At two in the morning, woke up and remembered just how important it is to turn ON the gas when using a MIG welder. HAHAHAHA
    OK....Finally it rolls on the Impreza suspension!!!!!!!! I'm still not thru, rear will be 2.5" higher and the front will be about another inch higher. What you see here is with my '98 2.5RS Impreza 16" wheels on. The final 'look' will have 27" tires. These are only 25" in dia. DAMN once again can't download the pix it's too big and even my kids laugh at me when I ask how to reduce it. Any feedback would be appreciated. LOL. Gary
  8. I've read a number of threads about the whole 2.2 swap intp EA81's Overall whats going to be the biggest stumbling blocks to get over? Seems like rear suspensions and front suspensions stick out in my mind. I know that the tranny tunnel needs modification to, but hey what are plasma cutters and welders for anyways, ha ha. So tell me what you think? Should I get a project in motion?
    Sorry it took me so long to see your thread. I think you can do this without a lift but serious cutting will need to be done around the tunnel and under the rear seat area. Also, if you can get away with an aftermaket fuel cell that'll make things alot easier. The rear differential is mounted differently than early hatchbacks with 4WD. Check out the thread with the EJ22 Justy, if he could do that I'm sure you can too, but he didn't take it to the level we're headed to. Gary
  9. Can we get a part number for those axles?
    I have a '84 Turbo Brat and it HAS 25 spline inners. Don't know the correct part # but I'm sure an old OE parts book (if any still exist) would have that #. I do remember it was a different # than the standard 4WD. Gary
  10. This 'tweeking' of the rear suspension has turned into a nightmare! Everything turns into a project. The seperate mount for the front of the differential had to be narrowed 7" and the outer pivot bushings on the rear spindles are frozen. Don't want to damage the spindles so I'm trying to drill out the rusted bolt (got five hours into one bolt so far and NADA/NOTHING, can't even budge it with a sledge hammer and my tie rod fork tool. CAN'T BELIEVE MY FIRST POST ON THIS PROJECT WAS ALMOST A YEAR AGO!!!!

    Started fabricating the front mount for the differential/lower radius rod. Mocked it up, tried to tack weld it, couldn't get good penetration (in other words F'd it up). At two in the morning, woke up and remembered just how important it is to turn ON the gas when using a MIG welder. HAHAHAHA

  11. summit racing.i dunno the webaddress,but they have a grip of fuel cells.
    That's funny you mention Summit Racing, I was just looking at their catalog yesterday, as a matter of fact they are only 45 minutes from my house. I might be able to use one of their fuel cells after the Brat is emissions exempt but not right now.
  12. Sorry, everybody, lots of things happened to distract me on this project. This 'cut the spring' idea didn't work. I'm still experimenting with a new plan.....99 Outback struts, Impreza coil springs and my custom top mounts will give me 6.5" lift (on stock 14" wheels). this may put too much strain on the CV joints as I only dropped the Xmember 3", but we'll see. Engine and trans are in. Last night I bolted up the Impreza rear suspension assembly, needs a little 'tweeking' but it looks pretty good except now I got no place for a fuel tank. Does a Justy tank have the fuel pump inside or does anyone know where I can get the Impreza tank modified to fit between the 'frame rails' of the Brat? Gary

    This 'tweeking' of the rear suspension has turned into a nightmare! Everything turns into a project. The seperate mount for the front of the differential had to be narrowed 7" and the outer pivot bushings on the rear spindles are frozen. Don't want to damage the spindles so I'm trying to drill out the rusted bolt (got five hours into one bolt so far and NADA/NOTHING, can't even budge it with a sledge hammer and my tie rod fork tool. CAN'T BELIEVE MY FIRST POST ON THIS PROJECT WAS ALMOST A YEAR AGO!!!!

  13. I dunno, if no one here has experience with that, try the suspension forum at www.nasioc.com . I think there are other manufaturers that have coilover setups that don't need to lower perch - some may require welding - I dunno. Probably just need to find the right internal dia. to fit the strut housing and then the right spring rates. After you get some names of manufacturers - probably a coupla emails will tell you if it's feasible.

     

    sorry i got nuthin else!

     

    Carl

    Thanks, Carl..I'll check them out. Gary
  14. Sorry I've been gone so long, lots of projects have forced the Brat to the backburner. I think I've solved the strut problem for a minimal cost. I cut the lower strut spring mount off the strut and welded it to a piece of pipe that slides over the OEM strut. In it's compressed state (out of the car) one turn of the coil spring is about 3.5 inches so I cut the pipe (that I welded the spring mount) 3.5 inches longer than where it was on the strut (this much is done so far) and then I will cut one turn off the coil spring and re-assemble. This new outer tube that slides over the strut will be spot welded at the two ears that clamp around the spindle in order to keep it from rotating around the strut. Gary....pix will follow
    Sorry, everybody, lots of things happened to distract me on this project. This 'cut the spring' idea didn't work. I'm still experimenting with a new plan.....99 Outback struts, Impreza coil springs and my custom top mounts will give me 6.5" lift (on stock 14" wheels). this may put too much strain on the CV joints as I only dropped the Xmember 3", but we'll see. Engine and trans are in. Last night I bolted up the Impreza rear suspension assembly, needs a little 'tweeking' but it looks pretty good except now I got no place for a fuel tank. Does a Justy tank have the fuel pump inside or does anyone know where I can get the Impreza tank modified to fit between the 'frame rails' of the Brat? Gary
  15. Take a good look at the length of the Baja rear struts, because they may be quite a bit different and may not fit on the Imp.
    1999 Legacy Outback front struts are two inches longer and the lower spring mount is 1 7/8" higher than the Impreza Outback Sport strut. I might have to modify my upper strut mount as I allready have 4.5" of lift added at that point. now I know 6.5" lift sounds cool but I don't want to break any CV joints either. Thanks again for all the help. Gary
  16. Take a good look at the length of the Baja rear struts, because they may be quite a bit different and may not fit on the Imp.
    You are correct-o-mundo. I only had time last night to take a glance at them (she must have ESP) as she kept a close eye on me last night. Rears look very different but the fronts look like they will work. Still won't know until I can actually remove a wheel. Maybe t'm'r'o, would be nice to finally get a day here in the 50's. LOL Gary
  17. Seems like your best solution would be Outback struts, since they have a lot more tire clearance. Another option is 2003+ Forester struts (98-02 Forester rear struts have less tire clearance).

    http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=52126

    Thanks for the thread. I'll check out the specs on my wife's '03 Baja. I think it has the highest ground clearance of all our 'Ru's. If it will work I'll convince her she needs new struts on the Baja and then I'll keep the 'old' ones for myself:brow: . I should be ashamed of myself....NOT! Gary
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