swiftt

Rear engine seal of engine or the tranny input seal could be dumping oil all over the clutch. You'd probably see an oily mess coming out of the bellhousing if this were the case though. Where are you at in Portland? I may be able to give you a hand if you need.

In the user's manual for my '79 Brat, it says to use 4wd anytime there's a cargo load in the bed. I'm not really clear on what the problem would be since there's a differential in place to drive the rear wheels at any speed necessary without tire scrub or driveline feedback. From what I understand, it's virtually the same differential that Datsun/Nissan has used for years to drive their rear wheel drive cars. Perhaps someone can explain the problem to me in detail?

How about a jet engine swap out of an M1 Abrams? 1500 HP in a 1800lb car baby!

One more thought... I'm not familiar with Subaru injection but I assume you're injection uses some sort of air mass or air volume sensor. You should locate and inspect its operation. If it's dirty or bent or something and the operation is slow or sticky, it will cause a overly rich condition (stumble followed by a 'throaty' growl) under hard acceleration. The early Bosch air volume sensor, used in L-Jetronic, was/is prone to this when it gets dirty. A good and careful cleaning (carb cleaner works well) makes all well. Good luck. Let us know what you find.

Some people just can't be satisified... Seriously, I have a stock 79 Brat. Well it does have a Weber but stock outside of that. 65HP from the factory baby! Not sure what it puts out with the new carb but it's not much more. It's slow off the line. It's slow on the freeway. It's just plain slow. It's reliable and versatile though. Good on gas too. I average about 31mpg city/highway. It gets me everywhere my BMW's get me. Much slower but I still get there. It will also go a few places I'd rather not take the others. It's all paid for too... I guess it's all just a matter of priority and what you want out of your car. Seriously, if I wanted a fast car I'd go pick one out. Although it would be a fun project to make the Brat fast, it wouldn't be a good financial move. I could drop thousands and after I was done, I *might* be able to keep up with a vtec Honda off the line. I'd rather take those same thousands, buy a faster car, and just keep my Brat the way it is. Resale value is something to consider as well. I know Subaru's aren't really sought after in the classic car market yet but given time, they will be. When shopping for classics, people tend to gravitate toward original cars that haven't been molested. Good luck and have fun with whatever you do!

I don't know the answer. I have a 'GemTop' brand topper that sits level with the roofline. It is in need of some seals also. I haven't investigated yet but I plan on trying to locate the parts through the GemTop dealer. Let us know what you find out as I'm sure there are many of us in the position of needing new rubbers for their toppers.

It could also be the fuel pump is getting tired. It may provide sufficient pressure for idling and leisurely driving but cut out on hard acceleration.

That Gen1 looks pretty tough all lifted like that! So was the lift a factory or dealer option? Are those wheels still around anywhere? I sure would like to find a set somewhere so I can buy REAL truck tires to fit.

Sounds cool. How did you lift yours? Did you fab the kit yourself? I thought the original Jackmans were a 13" wheel? How is your Weber jetted and at what altitude are you? I'm only a couple hundred feet above sea level and I'm currently running 140 mains, 60 primary idle, 50 secondary idle, 170 air correctors. Idle and primary circuits seem to be dialed in. The secondary circuit is still a little rich though. I have to pick up some more jets to try and lean it out a bit more.

I'm in the area (I vote for Flying Pie on Stark. ) and would certainly be interested in meeting some of you. My schedule is pretty hectic though. If you have a consistent meeting time and place, I'd try to make it from time to time. I can't commit beyond that though. That said, evenings and weekends are best for me. On a side note, where do you guys get Gen1 parts locally? Any good scrapyards worth mentioning? I've used a combination of dealership and Schuck's/Autozone special orders. I have a cache of spares too. If anyone is seeking anything, I may be able to help. In particular, I have a low mileage hydraulic lifter EA71 and a set of four 13" chrome wheels with all hubcaps and nearly new tires I'd love to get rid of. They take up too much space!

Hi all. New member here. I've read much but never posted. Anyway, checking in with a 1979 Brat. Twas my first Subaru although I've been an old, foreign car junkie for all my driving career. Original body with only a couple little dime size rust spots on top of right front fender and one on door. Dare I say rust free except for those flaws. Paint on hood is sundamaged but good everywhere else and is original 'mocha' (I think) brown. Bought it about a year ago for $1100. Installed a low-mileage (supposedly between 10,000-50,000) Japanese import EA71 with hydraulic lifters (and they're quiet). Pulled the transaxle and replaced all four seals. New, 3 piece clutch. New tie rod and tie rod ends with alignment. New Y-pipe. New, (almost properly jetted - I'll let you know when I get it just right) Weber 32/36dgev. I have a rear Gemtop topper that sits flush with the cab roofline. I removed the seats in the bed so I could use some bedliner on it. I am going to fab some brackets to install and remove the rear seats at will so it will remain somewhat original yet add versatility. Just passed smog last week with 79ppm HC and 0.6% CO running the Weber. Awesome! Now registered, insured, and ready to rock. It is only one of four cars so it will not be driven every day. Probably only once a week and when I need it to haul something. It should last a long time! I still need to replace the clicking halfshafts and a leaky muffler that makes an otherwise pleasant and reliable truck sound like a POS! Also need to get a new thermo switch to operate the radiator fan. It is currently wired to run all the time. Not practical with winter coming. Ultimately, I will address the bit of rust and the damaged paint. Would be nice to replace the cracked windshield and rubber on the Gemtop too but...? I think I have some pics. I'll see if I can dig them up and figure out how to post them. Anyway, sorry for the book. Nice to meet you all. -Dave