Since the "kit" I paid for, was not exactly what it should have been, I'm having to modify things a bit. While lifting the Brat 4", I am also swapping in an EA82 front end. To make up for the change in width, I opted to weld the lift blocks to the crossmember, fully commiting myself to a 3" lift at the xmember.

 

3" at the cross member... how much drop at the trans xmember/radius rod mounts? 3"? 4"?

Edited May 12, 201213 yr by Speedwagon

I would drop the Trans xmember 3" and 3" on the Radius rods. This way you are keeping everything within the stock specs (Just 3" lower)

 

Since the "kit" I paid for, was not exactly what it should have been, I'm having to modify things a bit. While lifting the Brat 4", I am also swapping in an EA82 front end. To make up for the change in width, I opted to weld the lift blocks to the crossmember, fully commiting myself to a 3" lift at the xmember.

 

3" at the cross member... how much drop at the trans xmember/radius rod mounts? 3"? 4"?

Thanks.

 

Just hit a snag... '87 Brat and '88 GL: Ball joints are the same, hubs are the same, brake pads are the same... rotors and bracket are NOT the same. Are the calipers the same? I appear to have made too many assumptions, and tossed the brackets and rotors a long time ago. Stupid me.

EA81 Calipers/brackets are different (Bigger) than the EA82 Calipers. So if you are trying to run your original EA81 wheels, they won't clear the caliper.

 

What issue are you running in to?

EA81 Calipers/brackets are different (Bigger) than the EA82 Calipers. So if you are trying to run your original EA81 wheels, they won't clear the caliper.

 

What issue are you running in to?

 

I'm running 15" wheels (6 lug). The Brat brackets do NOT fit the EA82 knuckles. The holes spacing where the bracket bolts to the knuckle is very different. So I need to get EA82 brackets. But will the caliper from the Brat bolt onto the EA82 bracket?

I'm running 15" wheels (6 lug). The Brat brackets do NOT fit the EA82 knuckles. The holes spacing where the bracket bolts to the knuckle is very different. So I need to get EA82 brackets. But will the caliper from the Brat bolt onto the EA82 bracket?

 

Ah, gotcha. I'm not sure about the Brat Caliper working on the EA82 Bracket. I have both demonstrations outside, and will take a gander of them both.

 

What Rotors are you using? Brat or EA82? The EA82 rotors are about 1/2" larger in diameter, so the Brat caliper might not work anyway. I will check asap.

Looking at both Calipers, it looks as if those would swap between models, and work with the EA82 bracket. The distance between the two slide pins looks the same.

 

So perhaps the only real difference is indeed the bracket.

If there is a wrong way to put strut lift blocks on, I seem to have done it. I have serious positive camber now.

If there is a wrong way to put strut lift blocks on, I seem to have done it. I have serious positive camber now.

 

You have the sides backwards. Put the Driver side on the Passenger and the Passenger side on the Driver side

 

Or, since you have an EA81 chassis. The lift blocks are oval, right? Just spin them around 180* and rebolt them up, that should solve it.

Edited May 14, 201213 yr by TheLoyale

You have the sides backwards. Put the Driver side on the Passenger and the Passenger side on the Driver side

 

Or, since you have an EA81 chassis. The lift blocks are oval, right? Just spin them around 180* and rebolt them up, that should solve it.

 

Well, it's oval to triangle. I had him make the blocks switch over to EA82 tops. So yeah, I need to swap sides.

The strut tops should be moved inwards (compaired to stock position) when lift blocks are installed correctly.

 

Front tires will be at odd angle if you didn't move the vehicle after setting it back down on it's tires.

This is a good possibility. With the car on the ground, turn the steering lock to lock, that will make everything settle down to where it should be.

 

If you still have wild camber after that, then yep, swap the blocks around. You will have a little positive camber anyway, I know mine does, you can see it more with larger tires.

 

Front tires will be at odd angle if you didn't move the vehicle after setting it back down on it's tires.

Well... the lift blocks are identical, and they only fit one way. However, I discovered that they were about 4.5" tall, whereas I only dropped the cross member 3 inches. So I shortened the strut blocks to around 3.75 inches, which should correct some of that camber.

 

I am entirely not happy with this lift "kit" I paid money for. I certainly won't be recommending M.Appel anytime soon.

Got it done! I still need to extend the radius rods a bit, as my right front tire hits the fender wall. And I need to mount the EA82 PS pump(I looped the lines for now). This thing rides so smooth now! Huge difference from having the front stock struts cranked up all the way. Although the rear is a bit soft, since I loosened up the torsion bar adjustment. Going to slowly crank that back in until I get it where I like it.

Post some pictures! :banana:

Need to get some tomorrow.

I need to fix my phone's camera lens...

 

Bumpers are not done yet, which is why they are still bare.

 

Edited May 31, 201213 yr by Speedwagon

Definitely looking good!!