Do you guys think $600 is too much for a halfdead ea81 Brat,I was told its been siting 10+ years. I know for sure the engine is shot(busted rod). I can here it clunk when I turn the engine by hand. The Tranny seems to run through all gears fine.4x4 lever too. no rust on the fenders, but a decent amount in the door jamb down to the rockers. Behind the rear bumper is pretty rusted also. tail gate is pretty well gone.(Its got jumpers) .the dash pad is all cracked out and almost looks like its swelled up. its pretty dirty from sitting so I cant tell its condition 100%.anyway I really want the damed thing for some reason but im not sure if i want to spent my hard earned money on it, and i dont even know where to find a good engine for it if i were to get it. Do I really need another project? But Its A BRAT, I almost can deny it. Please help me decide. Thanks

Edited May 22, 201114 yr by 81EA81

i got my brat with a massive amount of rust to repair and it barely ran, actually, getting on the trailer was the last time it moved under power, for $350 back in 07.

Pass on it if it's a rust bucket IMHO. There will be another Subaru for you fix up.

Youre on the west coast... people drool over our rust free cars... if I were you, I would pass on it, find something with minimal rust, fix that up and make people jealous

Pass on it if it's a rust bucket IMHO. There will be another Subaru for you fix up.

 

This is actually an option for you. sometimes, you have to just take what you can get, if the pickin's are slim, like they are here in my side of the usa

Pass on it. I have a rust free '84 with 117K on it that runs just fine with a $6000 valuation letter from my insurance company dated in 2007 before the economy tanked. I'd be fortunate to get $4000 for it today. IMHO A non running gen1 Brat is worth $1000 in today's market if it's rust free.

I guess it also depends on what your intentions are for it. If they want $600.00 for it and you can get it for a little less, have most of the parts to make it run, and just want to drive it around and beat it until it falls apart then maybe.

 

On the other hand if you actually want dry carpet in it and have hopes of making it nice someday then I would start with something else. If you really have the tools, space, time, equipment, money, and experience to take on rust repair then do it. Just be careful you don't end up with 5K in it and 6 months work only to find out you still need another body. Have someone else look at it with you BEFORE you buy it. Just my opinions - Good Luck and have have fun with what ever you decide.

Originally the guy wanted $1000 which is way to much.Before I had even seen it I got all excited and foolishly offered $600 cash.

I suck a bartering and he kinda played me:mad:

He also told me that hes not hurting for money and in no hurry to sell.

I found My brother an 86 thats 94% rust free that I picked up about a year ago with a bad clutch for $500.(the 2nd baru in the family) It sat for a bit while waiting for a new clutch and I detailed that Mofo from end to end,looked like new,I was to scared to drive it in traffic,i still am. I Basicly treated it like it was my baby:)Then it ended up getting driven way too much by my mom when her 76 F-250 and the Dodge Spirit died. She kinda trashed it goiing up and down the dirt roads, Thankfully I just put a timing belt on her Spirit, and it all worked out good.Now that the Brat will stay still for more then ten minutes at a time I will order the "six pack" of POR15 and make it 94%rust free forever........Anyway back to the other Brat, Ive got an 81 wagon that I was going to fix up to MoB around in but I have no title for it. I beleve it has most of the little parts i need for the Brat. leaving me in need of a good ea81, unless i can rebuild the one in it.Keep in mind I do most work outside in the gravel. oh yea both the wagon I have and the Brat I want have the Passing lamp:). I really just need something that I can truly call my own.

I just picked up a 1984 BRAT with 62,000 miles, very very little rust and all it needed was a fuel pump. I bought it for $600.

 

$600 seems to me too much for a BRAT with a rough body and a shot engine.

It seems like it all about the right time, right place, and LOTS of patients. Oh, and a fair amount of luck doesn't help either:grin:

Too much... I paid $500 for each of my EA81 brats, both ran one was pretty rusty the other just had rust on a fender. Sitting for 10 years and rusty too?? Uhhhh $200 at most to me or just wait for another.

if they run, on their own power, yes 600 is a good deal.

 

I will buy unlimited running BRATS, any year, if they are 600 with title.

Yes, as many as are available and complete i offer that for them.

 

Must have titles.

 

I think i have it down how many more BRATS exist within a 450 mile circle around me. There are not more than 15 available.

Weird. I can't believe I mis-read the original title at a $6000 price. Sorry about that. But even $600 for a rusty gen1 model with a non-running motor is too much. Bide your time, you'll find a more worthwhile project if you wait a while.

around here, we cannot simply wait it out, BRATS are extinct, when they come up, they are all asking 1800 and rotted. Any 600 Dollar BRAT is a great deal. Any BRAT for less than 1g is a deal, even if rotted. They are extinct.

around here, we cannot simply wait it out, BRATS are extinct, when they come up, they are all asking 1800 and rotted. Any 600 Dollar BRAT is a great deal. Any BRAT for less than 1g is a deal, even if rotted. They are extinct.

 

Thats the way I see it, BRATS are pretty much extinct. I have a smashed up 85 Brat that hit a truck, got parted out then I got it for free, Its basicly just the body but I couldnt stand to see it go to the Junk yard. Right now its between a 4in lift kit or the Brat, I honestly dont need either but it sounds fun.

 

I CANT POST PICS:mad: