I love my 82 gl wagon to death and its been the best car I've ever owned. Since i got it I've been wanting to make it into an awesome wheeling wagon. I've got a lift lined up for it and i have wheels and tires for it and i made a beefy front bumper for it.

But heres the thing...i think i decided i want a hatch or a brat. I want something a little lighter. I love the wagon but i don't know if i want to continue with my project:confused: And i definitely can't have 2 cause i already have a 75 ford pickup, a 77 ford pickup, and a 1980 bronco. Anyone have any input? And Im not selling the fords. They are my babies and ones just for parts anyway. Maybe someone's got a brat or hatch and is interested in part trade for a great little wagon or some 70's ford parts:grin: Let me know

thanks,

Ryan

keep it and wheel it.

 

You won't be disappointed.

 

Finding a good brat is getting hard, and if you find a good one it'd be a shame to beat it up wheeling.

 

you got the wagon.......roll with it.

 

If you need more power put a EJ in it and you won't have any issues.......the little wagons are pretty light compared to any other type of wheeler.

keep it and wheel it.

 

You won't be disappointed.

 

Finding a good brat is getting hard, and if you find a good one it'd be a shame to beat it up wheeling.

 

you got the wagon.......roll with it.

 

If you need more power put a EJ in it and you won't have any issues.......the little wagons are pretty light compared to any other type of wheeler.

 

agreed - seems like you are almost there. stick it out and have fun with it! Sometimes it's that last bit or "hump" to get over that's the toughest.

 

GL!

 

rob

in my opinion, having a car youve owned for awhile allows you to know its quirks/past problems/tendencies etc which i believe is more valuable than getting something a little lighter/rarer that you have limited knowledge of. ea81 wags are billy goats man......you should keep it

 

 

 

RV

Finish it. Wheel it. Find said Hatch or BRAT and buy it too.

I love my 82 wagon! Webered, 2" lift on 235 14s, 5spd dr, rear disks w/ ea82 rear springs, outback seats w/ no rear seats, just a plyed deck w/ storage and sound and a wood rack. Its just as much fun as my ej-ed brat, just way different. Going from one to the other is a trip though! One is for fun(brat) and one is for work/snow/off road/getting dirty/work and work! One is like a lounge chair and the other is like a bar stool.

 

If you have that many trucks you can put up another subie........If one is for parts...I'd bet you could find boxes to put them all in:grin:

I like my wagon, because I can haul more than 2 people... can't take both my wife and son in the Brat, and while you do have a back seat in a hatch, it's not quite the same....

I think the extra weight is worth it. A hatch might have a smaller wheel base or be lighter but thats just the way it is. It isn't necessarily an advantage. Sometimes an obsticle is X distance apart and sometimes its not maybe you would have both tires on solid and the hatch wouldn't or vice versa. You just have to take what comes and adapt to it.

 

I personally love having a 4 door. The speaker locations are better, cargo space is better, roof rack can hold more, parts swap from more vehicles and you aren't stuck with having a hatch only driveshaft, gas tank, etc so often.

Alright, well it looks like everyone agrees that i should keep the wagon. I guess ill just have as much fun in it as i can for now and when that perfect BRAT or hatch comes along ill just snatch it up so i have it for when the wagon quits. But i really don't have the money for an ej swap even tho that would be savage. I do plan on doing a 5 speed d/r swap soon. I have aquired the clutch and flywheel i need for it already.

I dont see the big deal with Having the disc Brakes. I dont have them and my car stops on a dime everytime. Thanks for all your input,

Ryan

I dont see the big deal with Having the disc Brakes. I dont have them and my car stops on a dime everytime.

 

 

Yeah........try the brakes after you:lol:have big Mud tires on there...........might be more like a quarter.

I guess i never really thought about that. Lol. How much does that swap usually run and what all does it entail?

Thanks,

Ryan

Do a search on turbo brake swap, should get lots of hits. The turbo cars came with the rear disc brakes, and they literally just swap on with hardly any modification, at least on an ea82 car, might be different for your wagon, but not terribly. You might need a proportioning valve, something like that. A search should yield you plenty of answers, as its been done tons of times, by many members.

 

I believe you can get everything you need for about $100. The PAP might be cheaper, but every now and again they come up for sale on here as a kit. Just keep an eye out

Alright thanks!! Ill just search the forum for the whole how to and post an ad in the classifieds when Im ready to buy:banana:

thanks,

Ryan

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=54

 

Try off road mods...