comatosellama Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Do you guys think I's be able to slap leafs on my brat? I can't quite figure out how to 4/3 link and leafs would definitely be cheaper. I'd throw in a transfer case and some lift blocks and some 36ish tires. Sound doable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumoco Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 from what ive recently learned, you have to build a sub frame to add on a transfer case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 will need a subframe of sorts, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagonist Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 By the time you add enough metal to the frame of the body to handle the load points all relocating, you're probably better off mounting the body onto the chassis of another vehicle like a Hilux or some such. Have a look around into the picture section (is there one? ) at the super lifted Brats with huge wheels. Pretty sure there's mention of Nissan 720 transfer case being used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumoco Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/89301-82-brat-solid-axle-build-done/page-19?do=findComment&comment=1248593 Also if I was going to go through all the trouble of putting a Subaru shell on another frame I would rather build a subframe out of new steel that I knew wasn't going to fail. In the long run it's more trustworthy( at least in my eyes ) and it's still a Subaru Edited September 12, 2014 by sumoco 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegablade Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Do you guys think I's be able to slap leafs on my brat? I can't quite figure out how to 4/3 link and leafs would definitely be cheaper. I'd throw in a transfer case and some lift blocks and some 36ish tires. Sound doable? Anything is possible with enough time and money. As everyone said, you will pretty much have to build a custom frame under the body to support all the components. Do you want this to be an offroad capable rig or do you just want it to look cool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Anything is possible with enough time and money. As everyone said, you will pretty much have to build a custom frame under the body to support all the components. Do you want this to be an offroad capable rig or do you just want it to look cool? Definitely a wheeler. Been thinking about just buying a blazer frame and doing it that way but I'm not too sure yet. Was just wondering if this would be an easy way out from a huge subframe like the main sas brat (red one). My fab skills are coming along, but not there yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 You can't put leafs in the front without extending some kind of frame forward. A 3 or 5 link in the back would be easy, and there are several ways to do an upper and lower control arm airbag or strut assembly in the front. With way less hassle that a frame transplant. IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 You can't put leafs in the front without extending some kind of frame forward. A 3 or 5 link in the back would be easy, and there are several ways to do an upper and lower control arm airbag or strut assembly in the front. With way less hassle that a frame transplant. IMO So maybe a 3 link back with coilovers? And then the normal tcase mod front (ifs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam N.D.J. Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I have some pictures of my old frame in my build thread, it is post 7 or 8. Would not be too hard from there to modify so that you use a sold rear instead of the IRS. Rather than post more pics may be easier to go there. I did that route first, but now I am going with the full frame swap, that is also covered in the thread. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/141024-phoenix-my-82-brat/ There are loads of way to doing things, it is just a matter of time money and imagination. Although there are some physics that need to be kept in check, like pinion angles, squat and anti-squat, lateral stability. I would recommend reading up in some of the bigger 4WD pages (pirate, 4wdaction, ect) and checking out their builds, and there are a few suspension calculators out on the net that can help out a lot. Lotsa luck. -Adam- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegablade Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 This is on a bronco frame. Can't say that I like it but to each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 This is on a bronco frame. Can't say that I like it but to each his own. Eek. Not quite into that look. The dream is to have something to compete with this http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PsrSbVXJjmU/maxresdefault.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 The dream is to have something to compete with this http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PsrSbVXJjmU/maxresdefault.jpg You're not gonna come CLOSE to competing with that thing with leafs. But if you look at that thing, it has a truck frame under it. I used the front half of an Isuzu trooper and custom built the back part of the frame for my T-cased XT. on 33's. still all independant. Build threadhttp://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/142045-trooparu/?hl=trooparu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 You're not gonna come CLOSE to competing with that thing with leafs. But if you look at that thing, it has a truck frame under it. I used the front half of an Isuzu trooper and custom built the back part of the frame for my T-cased XT. on 33's. still all independant. Build threadhttp://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/142045-trooparu/?hl=trooparu Oh yeah, I know that's impossible with leafs, but if I can afford to do all that I'll be able to afford someone to to the links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) You're not gonna come CLOSE to competing with that thing with leafs. But if you look at that thing, it has a truck frame under it. I used the front half of an Isuzu trooper and custom built the back part of the frame for my T-cased XT. on 33's. still all independant. Build threadhttp://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/142045-trooparu/?hl=trooparu Also I'm pretty sure the rabbit came with a frame Edited September 12, 2014 by comatosellama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Also I'm pretty sure the rabbit came with a frame No they did not. Entirely unibody. That frame is from something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 No they did not. Entirely unibody. That frame is from something else. I stand corrected. Any pics of the front end of your tcase biuld? Only thing thats confusing me about all this is where to put a front diff for ifs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam N.D.J. Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 When you go with the T-case this allows you to move the engine and trans back up to where they would be in relation to the body as in when it is stock. That is why most recommend a 6 inch plus lift. This allows for plenty of room under the transmission to mount the diff. On mine I cut the center out of a mustache bar, then removed the bushing ring from the front mount. I welded the mustache part to the front cross member and the front mount to the transmission cross member. This put the axles in a flat plane when the truck was sitting neutral on flat ground. You can see the center of the mustache bar here and barely two of the four bolts for the, now rear, mounts. One thing that I can say about this method, that I would change if I did it again is that this produced a lot of harmonics with the solid mounts. Especially after the front diff was welded. -Adam- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 When you go with the T-case this allows you to move the engine and trans back up to where they would be in relation to the body as in when it is stock. That is why most recommend a 6 inch plus lift. This allows for plenty of room under the transmission to mount the diff. On mine I cut the center out of a mustache bar, then removed the bushing ring from the front mount. I welded the mustache part to the front cross member and the front mount to the transmission cross member. This put the axles in a flat plane when the truck was sitting neutral on flat ground. You can see the center of the mustache bar here and barely two of the four bolts for the, now rear, mounts. One thing that I can say about this method, that I would change if I did it again is that this produced a lot of harmonics with the solid mounts. Especially after the front diff was welded. -Adam- So you have to make another crossmember for the engine to sit on so you can move the original one down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 And did you have ps for the welded front diff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam N.D.J. Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Yep, the engine needs a new xmember to sit on, it can be seen in the pick right behind the exhaust, I just used square tube that had reliefs cut in them to angle a section to line up with the motor mounts. Then the two ends of the square stock were welded to the lift blocks on either side. At one time I had a ton of pictures of my build, however I have spent the last two days looking through computers and hard drives and can not seem to find them anywhere. If I do I will be sure to post them up. Nope, stock manual rack, one thing that was good, I got high scores in the push-up event of my PT test. LoL. That is another thing that in retro spec I would either go with power steering, a disconnect in the front axle/hub and/or power steering for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comatosellama Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Yep, the engine needs a new xmember to sit on, it can be seen in the pick right behind the exhaust, I just used square tube that had reliefs cut in them to angle a section to line up with the motor mounts. Then the two ends of the square stock were welded to the lift blocks on either side. At one time I had a ton of pictures of my build, however I have spent the last two days looking through computers and hard drives and can not seem to find them anywhere. If I do I will be sure to post them up. Nope, stock manual rack, one thing that was good, I got high scores in the push-up event of my PT test. LoL. That is another thing that in retro spec I would either go with power steering, a disconnect in the front axle/hub and/or power steering for sure. Finally it makes sense, before this I was so confused about where stuff went. Until then, atv tires! And even then, atv tires. Goddamnit I de-railed my own thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Adam...... HOLY SH*T! That is excellent work. Looks well thought through. Sturdy and looks clean. I won't get into my build on my spare Brat until next summer at the earliest, but I've looked at many different suspension options to increase travel and stability but most of that comes down to the dreaded axle fitment. Love the lifted XT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbosubarubrat Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 At one time I had a ton of pictures of my build, however I have spent the last two days looking through computers and hard drives and can not seem to find them anywhere. If I do I will be sure to post them up. I don't know if this helps but heres some old ones http://www.cardomain.com/ride/437378/1982-subaru-brat/page-3/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbosubarubrat Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 You could also build something like this. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2658126/1984-subaru-brat/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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