Hello:

I've had a ton of Broos, and just got my first Brat. It was sitting in a guys yard - he said it hadn't moved in five years. After seeing the tires were sunk-in about 6 inches I believed him. Anyway, $100 and a new battery later, I was driving it home. 65mph on the interstate. Ran great. When I got home, I was almost sick: the rear differential mount was hanging down at a REALLY unusual angle! The drivers side frame rail was gone. I don't mean just rusty, I mean GONE. Air. Non-exsistant. The car runs so good (only 187k!) and the side view isn't THAT rusty - anyone have any advice? I would hate to shoot it in the head.

Sorry dude that may be too far gone to save. Where in Iowa? If its Coralville/Iowa City or Des Moines we may have an "expert" on here that could tell you whether or not its worth it or even able to be saved. Me, or McBrat.

Yep, Sad but True, it may be to far gone to save. Just don't count it out yet!

 

I sacrificed a rusted-out '86 BRAT to http://www.alfaparts.net . They do custom made body panels for vehicles.

 

Not sure yet as to when panels will be available to us, still waiting for Allen to set a time frame. Think I need to light a fire under his chair or something. Been awhile since I've heard from him.

 

I sent them, the entire Driver's side from firewall back to just beyond the rear cab wall, (tranny tunnel to rocker), both rear wheel wells w/frame rails back to bumper mount area. Didn't have good enough rear quarters to send, but another guy I know has that from an '82 he's parted out. I have a door shell and tailgate to ship to them yet.

 

You didn't say which Generation of BRAT yours is, but if it's a 2nd Gen, ('82-'87), you could be in luck. Just may take a bit to get panels. If, on the otherhand, it's a 1st Gen, ('77-'81), they don't have anything to go by to make panels.

 

Now, if it's deemed that it's to far gone, and it is a 1st Gen, you need to send them peices and parts, so other 1st Gen owners can benefit from the sacrifice of a BRAT.

 

Same goes for the rest of the Subaru body styles out there. If one gets put to rest, panels need to be sent in, so others can benefit. We need to help eachother out here, body panels are plain non-existant for the most part, 'specially on the "older" models.

 

Okay, I'll get off the soap-box now...............

your best bet is to keep it to swap all the goodies to a lesser but nicer soob.

 

being in iowa im sure you can find someone who may be interested in parts from it, especially the 4wd

look for a donor car, blown motor,bad tranny ect..Out here theres a 2wd 2dr gl coupe 83-84 that would be a sweet little swap $125.00 is all he wants.

Just done some rust repairs on my brat today,not as bad as your thankfully.Here in New Zealand series one finished in 1980 and series two started that same year and we continued the brat range until 1992.There were fibreglass panels available for the series one and you could get after market panels from taiwan for the series two models.If you want I can try and locate the supplers of these very important parts.Hate to hear of another Subaru going to subie heaven.