Haven't done much to the Brat at this point. Still looking for a good way to get a pic of the exhaust. Kept the Y pipe in there and ran a pipe out the back with two chambers on it. Sounds real quiet now, which is kinda nice, considering I have gotten fix it tickets for quieter vehicles. Then a day later or so went to the junkyard to try and find some matching window cranks. Couldn't find something from a Brat, but I did find a matching set of these beauties:

Which we managed to pull off this:

It's possible I might be going back for the seats again this coming week.

 

Next on the list is to install some of the EMPI axles I just got in the mail and figuring out the issue of replacing the fuel tank. Any suggestions on that would be amazing. I have heard of using universal tanks but those look like a pain in the rump roast. Are these repairable? And what other kind of old subaru tank would work. Do I need specifically a Brat tank, or would something else work? 

Also, took it on its maiden offroad voyage to the Muskegon River. For those of you not from Michigan, its a river by Muskegon. Real nice one too. 

Were the 280ZX cranks a plug n' play, or was modification needed? Those things are readily available new and if they're a direct drop-in, that is really good to know.

some of the old chevys are the same too you just have to see what fits and looks good.

Bendecker: Yea, they fit on real easy. There was a bigger ring piece that was also supposed to be on there, but I did not have clearance for. But yea, both cranks just snapped right on. Will forever be contemplating those seats that were in it as well. REAL comfy to sit in, nice high racer back.

Also, took it on its maiden offroad voyage to the Muskegon River. For those of you not from Michigan, its a river by Muskegon. Real nice one too. 

Epic picture!  Could pass for a 1985 Polaroid - good job.

Question: If I don't currently have the capitol to invest in new stripes, what is the best thing to go over the old stripes with to get them to have some color again, and stay with that color? Permanent marker? Spray paint? Auto paint? Huh?

I guess you could try masking up & painting over them. You have the outline there already, so if ya careful it should turn out good.

@Rodeo4jake Yea I think thats what we are going to do. Get some of the rustoleum. Also going to get a white paint marker and do the subaru badges up real nice.

Yesterday we changed the two front axles. Now there is a little bit of knocking in the front end when turning and going low speeds. Going to take a closer look later today and see if maybe I forgot to tighten something up, or maybe over tightened something. Who knows, it was my first time, so I am sure there is a myriad of things I could have done wrong. Also gave it an oil change and topped off all the fluids.

 

Also put some tires on the front end. Did 150/70/13 seeing that it is impossible to find a size I actually need, which is 185/70/13. Probably going to try and have these get me through summer and buy a new set in the fall. I have some back and forth in my wheel now though which wasn't there before the change. So now I am real lost on what the problem is. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

I've been busting my butt to get a set of wheels powder coated for this rig. I should be spraying them tomorrow morning, provided Tdodge brings some beer over and helps me finish stripping them.

So we did this today. Brand spankin new powder coating on some 1986 wagon wheels. Running 185/80/13. Big tires. Awesome rims. Could not be happier.

 

Edited May 3, 201312 yr by tdodge41

Definitely shines her up some.

The white 13s are my favorite on Brats that aren't raised. That's looking real good now, you guys are gonna be the kings of cool 13" tires.

Oh man, yea we are going through 13 in tires like you wouldn't believe. And these wheels look amazing. For real. Like... maybe the best work mechanical_misfit has ever done. Powder coating is really the best way to go for any of that stuff. I am going to try and finish up some front end stuff (already did axles, now inner and outter rods, and a wheel bearing) and then just enjoy driving it for a month or so before I tackle more work.

 

Here's a pic of one of the wheels after it came out of the oven, Im actually planning on doing quite a few of these!

Been doing work recently, just not too much I have taken the time to write about. Have heard a funny knocking noise while accelerating in 1st and 2nd ever since I did my axle swap on the passenger side. Changed the wheel bearing this past weekend, and it didnt seem to help at all. I am thinking I am going to throw my old axle on there and see if rockauto sold me a bad one. Have shocks and new inner/outter tie rods to figure out how to do sometime soon here. 

 

Oh, and also, thanks to TomRhere, I have THIS trim piece:

 

 

It really brings the brat together. Going out to the car show tomorrow night, will try and get it nice and cleaned up and a picture taken with those new wheels on as well. 

Edited June 10, 201312 yr by tdodge41

New axle I am betting - same thing happened after we swapped my brothers EA81 axles.  Pain in the butt.  I am guessing they are remans?

Dang It !!!

 

I want my BRAT back...........................................

 

 

J/K.

Nope, these axles were brand new EMPI axles from Rock Auto. Makes me real glad I saved one of my old ones. They had ripped boots, but the joints were fine on em. Might just reboot the old ones and return the new one I bought. Does anyone have any experience warrenty-ing things from rock auto, or EMPI?

Nope, these axles were brand new EMPI axles from Rock Auto. Makes me real glad I saved one of my old ones. They had ripped boots, but the joints were fine on em. Might just reboot the old ones and return the new one I bought. Does anyone have any experience warrenty-ing things from rock auto, or EMPI?

Can't say "Warrantying" anything but returned "open/used" product was no issue.  I believe they even payed for return shipping.

This past weekend was a busy one for working on the Brat. And with the nice weather, playing with the Brat too  

 

Finally put on those Monroe shocks from rock auto. Man do they make a difference. Gonna have to do the struts someday too, as those look pretty shot as well. 

 

 

Also I got my new candy apple red powder coated skid plate from Mechanical_Misfit, finally put that on there too. Looks real nice. 

 

And then without looking somehow THIS ended up on the tailgate. Not going to complain I guess... now people will be REAL confused.

 

Unpictured: I rebooted an old axle, one that wasn't giving me problems, swapped it out with that 3 month old EMPI and boom, no more clicking sounds when accelerating. I still cant believe it. I am going to be going for a refund from Rock Auto today on that old axle. 

 

One more weekend worth of work, then I have almost all the front end stuff done! Next up, tie rods. Any and all advice would be super helpful. Do you actually need a tie rod puller? I am doing outer and inner rods, Which to me makes things easier? Hopefully? 

So, Travis is a really rad dude you guys. 

 

When he let me use that sweet rig, my friend Jord came along for the ride. 

 

 

Very VERY nice Brat, awesome deal, I so want to get the seats in the back of mine.

What is the distance between outer edges of the seats?
Just wondering if I have enough room under my roll bar.

 

Bump for a rad BRAT, I had this pick on my phone from when I borrowed it to haul an old XR75 and to drive around with Metallica cranking on the tape deck!