I'm contemplating dropping a brat body onto a toyota pickup frame and then putting a 350 chevy engine in it. Does anybody have any suggestions or thoughts on this. I've talked to a few people and they're not sure about a 350 fitting under a brat hood, but I've measured a toyota pu and the hood size matched. Have a friend who has a 350 in his toyota; he had to put the radiator in his bed but it worked. I'm wanting a pulling/snow/rockcrawler that will have very eccentric looks. My question is - will the 350 actually physically fit in this specifications? Any professional advice would be appreciated.

go to the junkyard and take a tape measure...........

Anything will fit.....zzz

 

 

Consider the body will be higher up Re the frame because you'll have 2 frames. So you'll have more vertical clearance.

 

Also, due to how far forward the transmission is with the subaru drivetrain. By using a divorced tcase and front axle, you'll be able to move the whole drivetrain back quite a bit.

 

Yea, you'll have to get creative with the radiator and stuff, but I'm sure it could be done.

Hi This is Jerry, use a sammy frame it sits along side of the subie unibody frame. You will have to strech the sammy frame because it is to short. Thanks Jerry

Does anyone know if this has ever been done to a subaru before? How would you recommend going about lengthening the samari frame? I was thinking that maybe a frame from a 4x4 Toyota, an s10 pu, or a jeep wrangler would be more readily accessible than a samari; but I'll have to do some looking around. You might be right about the samari being closest to matching the spec dementions of the undercarrage of a Brat. If only someone could tell me if a 350 would fit and the best route for a transmission hookup.

Nathan, just some ideas, there are several companies (Hooker Headers s one) that make SBC adapter kits, motor mounts, headers etc. to work with a S-10 based truck whether it is a pickup or a blazer or the GMC versions of either one (s-15 or Jimmy). Transmission and transfer case choices that will mate with the small block chevy are diverse based on your anticipated needs and not too hard to find. Lockers, spools and LSD units are widely available and some of the least expensive available aftermarket due to mass production. Wheels to fit are easy to come by and available in many sizes and styles, both oem and aftermarket.

 

S series frames are also available in different lengths, ex. Blazer/Jimmy, S10/15 shortbed reg cab, reg cab longbed... you get the idea. You might be able to find the exact length without cutting or lengthening.

 

+1 measuring tape and junkyard, and pull some measurements. S series frame may be an economical choice. They are plentiful!

It's been done. There was a Brat on a Yota frame at Reiter awhile back. It had a 4.3 in it as I recall. It was full a exo-skeleton trailer queen trail rig.

 

If a 4.3 will fit side to side; so will a sbc. Exhaust will be tight, but doable.

 

As for your buddy having to put his radiator in the bed; no he didn't. I've sbc'd or been part of sbc'ing 4 different gens of Toyotas. We didn't have to relocate the radiator on any of them, and in all cases they were replaced with Ron Davis 4 cores to cool the sbcs. Much thicker than a stock Yota radiator. Most of them required trimming to the core support, and beefing the support up to hold the weight of a much larger radiator, but, in none of them did we have to relocate the radiator to the bed, and all of them retained stock grilles/headlight assemblies.

 

No matter what you decide, Yota, S10, Samurai. It is all going to take fabrication work. If you have to ask these questions; you should probably ask yourself if you are up to any of that first.

v8 BRAT done

here is just one

v8 BRAT done

here is just one

 

 

And that's a first gen. Even narrower.

Hi This is Jerry, if you look at my avatar you will see me standing by my 86 hatchbrat that has a sammy frame and running gear under it. The reason i chose the sammy is that the wheel width is the same as the subie has. I didn't want the wheels sticking way out past the fenders. It is just spring over no lift and yes it's that tall i am 6 feet tall. Oh by the way it's for sale all the fab work is done. Thanks Jerry

gen2

 

v8 BRAT done

here is just one

 

I have been wanting to do that with Gen I BRAT for like 3 years now..but use a STI motor and make it a DD.

Jerry what kind of motor did you put in that thing? So you didn't have to lenghthen or shorten the frame in anyway before you bolted the body to it? How much are you asking for the brat? I tried to enlarge your pic but it wouldn't let me. Thanks.

Hi This is Jerry, the car is a 86 hatch that i cut the roof off of and put the roof from a gen 2 brat also use the back wall. I had to lengthen the frame 13 inches. It is set up so i can pull the frame and install subie running gear back into it. The engine is not in it but it is set up for the 2.2 with the 5 speed dual range tranny with a short center drive line to the transfore case. I have way to much money into this project but i would like to get 3000.00 i also have another complete front end and it has rear disc brakes. Let me know Thanks Jerry

 

 

Early Bronco (68-77) frame and running gear with a 302. It was built by a member on here, but I can't remember his username.

A couple of recommendations here from someone who has actually built things crazier than what you are considering (honestly).

Chevy fan or otherwise (I know how vicious brand loyalties grow), I would ditch the 350 in favor of something else. I made similar comments in another thread recently. Physical dimensions are the reason. The Chevy small block weighs between 525-575lbs. depending on configuration. A Ford 5.0 runs about 435lbs. and is noticeably shorter, narrower, and has the distributor in the front where it won't have clearance issues with the Brat firewall. The Ford trannies are usually shorter too to help with driveshaft issues that arise with short wheelbase rigs. Other options are the 4.3 Chevy (only 10 lbs. lighter than than the Ford v-8 though), Buick 3.8 v-6 (some came with superchargers!), the Ford 3.8 v-6 (only 300 lbs.), and the 62-64 Buick/Olds. 215 aluminum v-8. For some reason the Buick 215 weighs 318 lbs. and the Olds. weighs in at 350 lbs. All of these engines will fit easier than the 350 and can be built to power levels ranging from good to outstanding. If you want a mud/sand racer and sheer horsepower is a must, guys have got into the 1000+ hp realm with turboed 5.0's running as little as 11 psi. But that gets real spendy and destroys trannies, t-cases, and axles!

I like the idea of a Samurai frame. I currently have a project involving a stretched Samurai frame. If you wish to see photos of the frame modifications and a description I posted it on Pirate 4x4 and Zuwharrie bbs. Search "Project Scrat" on either site. You will need to be in Suzuki section on Pirate though. Just one more project I need to finish if the snow ever lets me finish building a shop!

The early Bronco frame would be great if you go with Ford running gear. You would be looking at very little modification. Mostly a body swap and wiring, the wheelbase may even match (haven't checked). The Ford axles will take much more abuse than the competition too. The front axles had the "reverse cut" ring and pinion. The reverse cut, commonly known as "high pinion", is about 30% stronger as a front axle application. There is a benefit in terms of driveshaft angle too. Ford also spec'ed higher grade alloy in their axle shafts. But beware that early Bronco stuff is getting expensive.

I have done several 4x4's where I either lengthened or shortened the frame and body both. If you have any questions, send me a PM and I will try to answer them in a timely manner. I don't access the internet every day, but do check my messages when I do. I will be glad to help.

Edited February 10, 201115 yr by raging squirrel
clarification

How about a jeep chasis? That Bronco chasis looked a bit long, not sure if a jeep chasis would be too short.

Bronco wheel base was actually lengthened to match the brat body with the big tires.

 

Brat- 97" wheel base

Early Bronco- 92" wheel base

Here's another one:

I'd have to go with something like a built V6, or the Buick or even Rover aluminum V8, and run stock Toyota axles under it. The Samurai axles are tiny, and full width Toyotas aren't much wider while giving about twice the strength.

There are also reports of guys putting built VW TDI engines into Samurais and getting some pretty decent numbers, both for power and mileage.

v8 BRAT done

here is just one

 

That's my brat in the video. This wasn't an amatuer's project. The entire center of the car was cut out and a full race chassis was built. Took me about 1000hours to from the time I pulled the car into the garage and the time it left under it's own power. Two things, I would not recommend a build like this unless the builder is a journeyman fabricator and 2. a v8 will not fit in the engine bay of a first gen brat from front to back or side to side with out body mods and a whole lot of skill and inginuity.

 

As for a second gen on a toyata frame with a v-8, you're looking at some really serious modifications and fabrication. Again, a person shoudn't even attempt this without serious skills.

That's my brat in the video. This wasn't an amatuer's project. The entire center of the car was cut out and a full race chassis was built. Took me about 1000hours to from the time I pulled the car into the garage and the time it left under it's own power. Two things, I would not recommend a build like this unless the builder is a journeyman fabricator and 2. a v8 will not fit in the engine bay of a first gen brat from front to back or side to side with out body mods and a whole lot of skill and inginuity.

 

As for a second gen on a toyata frame with a v-8, you're looking at some really serious modifications and fabrication. Again, a person shoudn't even attempt this without serious skills.

 

Thats one quick car!

If you havent yet, would you mind posting up some pics of the build etc?

Thats one quick car!

If you havent yet, would you mind posting up some pics of the build etc?

 

I haven't even touched the nitrous yet so I'm not sure what it will do. This engine ran 8.50's @ 160 in a heavier car so who knows. Here're a few build pics;

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 201114 yr by bowtiewins