October 18, 201213 yr Author So the days are short which means less time after work outside. After work I decided to tackle the grille and started with the "4WD" emblem. I spent about three hours scratching/scraping/removing the odd paint/resin that filled the badge. I noticed that it has an almost Cherry Blossom Red (STI) color and a bit of brown. More on that later. Here is a pic that shows why I love where I live in Colorado. Here is the badge with one letter left. And here with no resin/paint. Proper prep is removal of grease and wax. Sanded down the piece with 600 grit.
October 18, 201213 yr Author In the last pic above you can see what I am planning. Enamel model paints are great for exterior details. I got flat white, red and brown. Primed after alcohol wipe. Mixed what I felt to be a close color and it definitely looks like Cherry Blossom. And some patience and a couple mistakes we have a winner. Based on what I removed and some research it looks pretty close. I am thrilled and when this all dries I will be doing the white border again. Next is the full grille. Should be easy. Leaving the center emblem alone to retain some stock/vintage look.
October 18, 201213 yr you going to paint the subaru emblem? hope you dont go tape crazy like i did when i did it
October 18, 201213 yr Author you going to paint the subaru emblem? hope you dont go tape crazy like i did when i did it Thinking no on the main emblem. But I might as the 4WD looks great.
October 18, 201213 yr Great work! After all that hard work you'll be pleased to hear I don't have a NOS 4WD badge! (I do have 2 brand-new-in-packet grilles, and 2 centre badges still in their shrink-wrap, though)... Keep up the good work!
October 18, 201213 yr Author While I am at it I have another issue that I seek help on. For the love of Pete can I get some responses, lol. Rewired new turnsignal units into the Squirrel the other night and there are no blinkers? As see in the picture below the passenger side running light is on. Well, that is still the case. Side marker lights are dead too. My wiring is right but as I am learning this vehicle I wanted to ask you all if you have a quick idea where to start looking. Thanks.
October 18, 201213 yr Great tip on the model paint. I've been toying with the idea of touching up my emblem as well and your's looks really good!
October 19, 201213 yr Author The grille was less than fun but I have it completed as well. Spent about 3 hours sanding it with 400 and simple green water. Here is the metal bar I put under the front lip to bend it back straight. JB Weld took care of it. Bad pictures but all I could do with no good light and being inside. Primed it up after an alcohol cleaning. Then I did flat black like every other thing that is black on the Brat. It was too dark outside so it has a few runs but I can live with it.
October 19, 201213 yr Author I finally got to something I have wanted to do since I started this project - polish the steel on the grille/hood. My trusty Dremel and some Brasso to the rescue as usual. I love this combo. By by 33 years of crud. I even did the chromed plastic on the hood lip and the center badge. Thankfully no burn through on the plastic. And of course I finished the "4WD" from the other night. This was tricky and just a few screw ups but I am very happy with it overall. I'll touch up the little white bleeds and call it a day. Tonight I will reassemble it all and she is ready to go back on the Squirrel. Edited October 19, 201213 yr by O.C.D.
November 17, 201213 yr What an excellent display of patient and thoughtful metalwork. You are an inspiration. Your photo play by play is super informative. Congradulations. Please don't stop, I have a 79 BRAT and you are showing just what to expect in different areas of concern. Jim
November 19, 201213 yr Author Kind of doing something different for a bit. Bought a 2005 Legacy GT Wagon with a manual. SO now all of my time and money is going to that. Soooo glad to be back in a turbo, so glad. I am tuning it right now, did a short shifter, tinting it, uppipe, etc.... She is exactly what I wanted. I am debating selling the Brat actually. I get this way though and like to bounce around with projects.
November 21, 201213 yr That Legacy is a pretty rare car. Subaru sold a very limited amount of Legacy GT wagons, let alone one with a manual. Hope you got a good deal, they command a premium for someone looking for that specific model.
November 24, 201213 yr Ok, my 1980 Brat GL which I affectionately call "The Squirrel". I was rocking a 2011 WRX that I was modding the heck out of when I started working on my Brothers '81 GL Wagon one night. I enjoyed the old car so much I realized that it was the right time to buy a Subaru I have always wanted. I located the Brat about 5 hours away in Colbran Colorado. After some negotiation she was mine. Not the prettiest nor the best candidate for a runner but she was what I had to have. Snagged her up for $500 and never looked back. Day I picked her up. Ran and moved under her own power. Looked a mess and had me wondering if I should have bought a different one. But, it was too late and she was mine. Word of advice, don't use a Jeep Wrangler to tow, lol. But my truck fell through and that was all I could do. So I towed her the three hours home. Right on! I think the squirrel might have been mine about 8-10 yrs. ago... It looks like it, with the 1600-sing range trans and faded stripes,it was a pretty good for a ranch trk. except IT DID NOT LIKE THE RIVERBED[sand] sing rang trans don"t like sand!!! Anyway nice job on the redo-I bet the GF or wife just love the grille in the tub-HAHA!
November 24, 201213 yr While I am at it I have another issue that I seek help on. For the love of Pete can I get some responses, lol. Rewired new turnsignal units into the Squirrel the other night and there are no blinkers? As see in the picture below the passenger side running light is on. Well, that is still the case. Side marker lights are dead too. My wiring is right but as I am learning this vehicle I wanted to ask you all if you have a quick idea where to start looking. Thanks. The old school subie"s had fuse box issues if u did not know, they got hot......so ******.that,flasher? The frt. mark light is on with the lights so that looks ok. Side mark light hmmm
November 26, 201213 yr Author Right on! I think the squirrel might have been mine about 8-10 yrs. ago... It looks like it, with the 1600-sing range trans and faded stripes,it was a pretty good for a ranch trk. except IT DID NOT LIKE THE RIVERBED[sand] sing rang trans don"t like sand!!! Anyway nice job on the redo-I bet the GF or wife just love the grille in the tub-HAHA! So you are part of the reason she was that bad, huh?! J/K. You are the second person to say that they owned this Brat. I wonder how much she got around?
November 28, 201213 yr So you are part of the reason she was that bad, huh?! J/K. You are the second person to say that they owned this Brat. I wonder how much she got around? Whoa here!! When I had it it was pretty straight...It had the lft. rear amber part of the taillight broke but everything else was good...cracked windshield....I just used it for checking the fence I did not work it-I had a D/R wgn. I used for ranch work-I was already using it for my ranch trk. so the brat WAS spared from the ABUSE of working for it"s keep!!! I don"t do single ranges for the simple reason being I don"t see why! They are good for commuting that"s all! It didn"t have that Frt.bump.on it when I had it...It"s not my style + that thing probably WEIGHS a TON!! It had the stock bumper on it when I had it soooo.....It came with two other cars I got at the time so that"s how I got it!! I"m glad it has a happy home now if it was my old 1, I prefer wgn"s.-I can sleep in them camping if the weather is crappy!! It kills me to see them at the JY:(!!!
November 29, 201213 yr Author I did put the J/K in there, lol. I wasn't mad, she is old and used and abused. I still love her. And yes, that bumper honestly weighed 65 plus pounds!
February 6, 201313 yr I love what you have done to her!!!!! it has given me a few ideas on what to do with mine once i go and get her
February 6, 201313 yr Author New updates? No. She has become a trash receptacle as of late and getting buried with other "life" stuff. I also attribute this to the weather and my new Son. I just have no time. But I am not giving up on her and I may have a new sibling for her (1979 Wagon) soon. Then I get to swap some much needed parts. Time and money are not my friends this winter..
February 7, 201313 yr New updates? No. She has become a trash receptacle as of late and getting buried with other "life" stuff. I also attribute this to the weather and my new Son. I just have no time. But I am not giving up on her and I may have a new sibling for her (1979 Wagon) soon. Then I get to swap some much needed parts. Time and money are not my friends this winter.. Well congrats on the son! And I do understand the no money and weather haha
February 7, 201313 yr She has become a trash receptacle as of late... I know THAT feeling! LOL. The bed of my Brat is the "temporary storage" place for all things that don't want to be put away right now by all members of the family. It takes me a 1/2 hour to put it all away anytime I want to drive her! -Ben
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