dave valiant

This might sound like a stupid question to all of you on the USMB, but today someone asked me why I love my Sube so much. I told the guy that my Brat is super reliable and on snowy roads I on a regular basis pass my share of Chevy,Ford,Dodge,totoya 4x4s without worry of my personal safety.I also told this guy that I've never had starting problems with my Subes. My N/A carbed 84 wagon started with no problems at -18 ambient air temp. I've never had a problem with my Turbo Brat starting either it was -12 yesterday morning and she whirred right over. So why do you all love em. Just curious. USMB for life

I love my over head valve engines. I might have a dinosaur mentallity but I wont own OHC powered cars. I had one once a Nissan pickup had to change the chain gears tensioner and guides. Cost me over $200. and 10 hours of my life I'll never get back. As far as power the most powerful perfomance engine out there is an OHV. They dont have any longevity but what engine would making in the area of 7000 HP.

I paid $1000. for my 84 Turbo Brat. Its got some cancer in one rear fender lip and a little (for this area) in the rockers. It also has twice the miles as yours and faded paint.

This Board rules. Thanks to all once again for helping me.I'm pretty good with a wrench but I have a vacuum between my ears. Saturday I'm gonna disconnect the P/S pump (if it makes it till then) and hopefully pick up a few M.P.G. crossing my fingers. McBrat what are you gonna be asking for the Turbo Brat I've got one but two would be better.

Hey GD I think he was talking about stripping the threads on the drain plug and pan not the head of the bolt.

Avoid Pennzoil filters they are made by Fram. Just my 2 cents

Any body out there ever swap from P/S to manual steering. I dont have the cash for a new power steering pump and the one that is on the Brat is still working it just sounds like a coffee grinder.Do I need to swap to a manual box or will I be alright just ditching the pump and finding a smaller belt. I figured I would get a little more power and economy with one less accesory and it would be good exercise delivering pizza with armstrong steering. Any help, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. USMB for life

does anyone know if an EA82 P/S pump will interchange with an EA81T.

50/50 should be good to -36 F.I had a bad mix in my Brat and had no heat going to work yesterday morning. Te ambient air temp was -6 F that was the longest ride to work I've ever had. I got it to work and parked it in the shop for an hour partially drained the rad filled it with straight antifreeze. This morning it was -9 F and the Brat was nice and toasty.

Hey MDJDC I just e-mailed you so if you could get back to me and let me know what you wanted for it that and how you wanted to be paid (check or money order) I would get it to you ASAP.Thanks. USMB for life:D

Does anyone out there have a power steering pump theyed be willing to sell. Mine was making quite a loud whining sound which turned to a chattering grinding noise and with the temps here being so low I think it is rapidly deteriorating.It was -10 this morning and is currently -15. The cheapest one I can find is $175. None to be found in the salvage yards called the local dealership and for the part alone they want $635. Right after Christmas and am totally strapped for cash. Oh yeah its for an 84 Turbo Brat.any help would be appreciated.If you do have one I will pay for it and shipping. thanks. USMB for life

Thanks GD that makes a lot of sense. Do you know of any additives that you could use to help get rid of the buildup in the cylinders or at least lessen it a bit. As far as the last part of your reply I said you know more about Subarus than I do not anyone.Ive read your replys to peoples questions most of which I have no answers for. It was a compliment.USMB for life

Take your time. I hastily installed a cheapo oil pressure gauge in an 84 wagon I had and it always leaked.Maybe have a line made using JIC fittings.

Well I guess I could save a few more pennys per fillup than I already do. I buy all of my gas from Sams club here in Rapid and the last time I filled up the 91 was 8 cents per gallon cheaper than the 87 at any station here. You mentioned buildup causing the compression to increase could be the reason I get better MPG with 91 and the cause of the buildup could be poor maintenece. Were you talking about general maintenence like oil changes or a typical tuneup like cap rotor plugs wires fuel and air filters Ive always kept up on those am I missing something that should be done at regular intervals. I am not trying to be a smart rump roast here I do not doubt that you know a whole bunch more about Subarus than I do but if one of us newbies such as myself were missing something you find obvious why not just give us a little help.

I am not some mind numbed robot here. I run the 91 because I get the best fuel economy from it. I have run 85,87and 91. I figured that if Im getting the best fuel economy with 91 that it is running as eficiently as possible which I would think would be a good thing.I may be wrong but thats the logic Im runnin with. As far as photos of the Brat I dont have a digital camera or a scanner Im thinking of taking some pictures and having them put on a disk at the photolab and trying to post them.Perhaps someone on the board could give advice.But not now Ill ask on a sperate thread.

A buddy of mine lost heat in his CJ so he went to the junk yard and got a bus heater.Even with the crappy soft top on that thing it was never cold ever.He just ran the hoses underneath along the frame cut a hole for each hose into the back where he mounted the core and fan asembly siliconed the snot out of them ran power to the fan under the carpet. Im sure youre hatch would have enough in the back for one.

My EA81T in my 84 Brat gets a combined average of 18-21mpg. I always run 91 through her and have never thought to much about this as a problem since the 84 EA81 Wagon I had never got over 20.Put a manual in it and you should see some improvements. These slushboxes suck!

Posi Trac was the name G.M. gave to there limited slip differentials.Ford used traction lock and Chryslers were called Sure Grip. I think.

I've read in this post and in others "top end"or"bottm end" now on our Sube's wouldnt bottom end be center and top end be outers.

Yes intercooler as much talk as there is on this board I should have thought of that.I've seen them on ebay farely often.If I'm not mistaken one end of the intercooler is connected to the air box via ducting and the other end to the throttle body.Should I put it where the spare tire is currently and get a hood scoop placed directly over it to supply the cold air through the intercooler. I know that alot of you are going Duh moron but just want to be sure about it. USMB for life

Thanks guys I appreciate all the help. As for the rust I've found it in the rocker panels the wheel wells and the rear fender well lips.As for the fender rust I was planning on cutting them out and trying to make some fender flare work. The wheel wells I was just going to fab something together and the rockers I've found replacements(thanks to this wonderful board) and will be getting them income tax time. I didnt even think about the bottom end power problem though. I'm probably stuck in the position of having coil plugs wires and exhaust being the only performance upgrades(all are coming at income tax time) that wont cost me an arm and a leg. As far as getting a N\A Brat the ones I've seen around here are beloved and not being sold, I completely understand that I really love mine. I think I'll just fix her up and maybe get some 14" Pugs keep her stock height and buy a ea81 hatch or wagon to go the lift route with.Thanks for all the points of view.USMB forever!!!!

Took the topper off of my Brat to clean out all the crap that was in it when I got it and the wheel wells are rusted out badly. The rust is spreading pretty bad back there so I'm thinking about just putting a 3" lift on it and use it to play in the hills. So anyway I'm talking to a guy at work who likes Subes,tell him my plan and he says "man those Turbo Brats are seriously rare only made em 2 years you should fix the rust and restore it". Well as a Mopar guy I have heard the word Rare abused badly. So does this guy have it right would it be worth the time effort and money to restore this 84 Turbo Brat or is he blowing smoke? If not I'm planning on lifting 3" doing the six lug conversion putting a 4 speed D/R and beating the hell out of it lovingly of course. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

I have no idea but you should try the search function and see if there's any help there.

Looks like I'll have to call the dealer and get bent over. We dont have any U-Pull it salvage yards out here anymore and none of the yards I called have what I'm looking for. I liked the idea of rethreading the old one though. Any idea where to get a new length of cable. I'd assume that I should use plastic coated cable for longevity? I cant believe with a thread title that sounds as boring as this one I got so many responses so quickly. This is without a doubt the best sight on the web.Thanks alot Miles and Shawn I'll let you know how everything goes.

Anyone out there know if throttle cables from a different sube will work on my 84 Turbo Brat.It is starting to bind and I really dont want to have to deal with the IDIOTS at the local Sube dealer I'd like to get one from a salvage yard instead. Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks