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More rust repair 81 Brat

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Big hole behind drivers seat

passenger seat small areas 

rear cab to bed panel

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Edited by TXJayhawk

  • Author

Only one that really is concerning is the drivers side but clean metal is available for welding -not cleaned yet in this photo 

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  • 2 months later...

I got some in the same spots between cab and bed... what a pain

  • Author

my first crappy welds but will get better with practice (got a little better but not much)

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Edited by TXJayhawk

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

Passenger side 

due to brake and fuel lines

riveted/glued in patches

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Edited by TXJayhawk

  • Author

Door panels and tailgate done using brazing technique 

 

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Edited by TXJayhawk

Feel good about it man ! Enjoy !

Think protection once you’ve made your repairs. Good luck with it. 

  • 4 weeks later...

Here is a nickels worth of advice. When welding sheet metal use a spot weld and random places to keep the heat from warping the patch. It will be a stronger weld in the end. Great project 

cheers, Shane

  • Author

Lots done 

cab and bed welded/riveted with POR 15 on cab side and seam sealer outside over self etching and regular primer

bed will get a truck bed liner eventually

quarter panels and rear cross welded and finished with fiberglass-putty to cover 

floorpans welded/riveted with POR 15

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Edited by TXJayhawk
Update

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

 Bed is done

Brushguard repainted

wheel well hole filled and sealed

rocker panels sprayed

 

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Edited by TXJayhawk
Reassembling

  • 5 months later...
  • Author

Currently at the mechanic (just waiting on a new fuse box), all new brakes front and rear, including calipers, brake hoses, brake pads, hardware, rear wheel cylinders, drum linings, master cylinder),  new suspension bushings (sway bar, lower control arm to rear cross member), new rubber coupler, new steering rack, alignment; rewire the fuel pump properly, bypass the broken hazard switch with a rocker switch, and new modern style fuse box in place of the old glass style. 

Was it expensive? Yes, but having owned it for 22 years, hopefully another 22 will make it all worth it!

 

Next up, filling in all the little scratches and a home done paint job (Eastwood Mulsanne Blue flake), original Brat decals, and original aftermarket chrome side rails to be installed. 

Todd in Dallas has wheels, stripe kit, and seats that I need to pick up soon and then it will be done for now. 

Awesome list there !! 
Good for you man, doing it right not minding the $$

 

Personally in 22 years I’ll be 80 as of tomorrow. So if it were me I’d be set for my driving life which old Subarus aren’t totally compromising my orthopedics. And there’s no promise I’ll be comfy in a Brat during my 60’s and 70’s ! Something I do contemplate since my intentions are to wait out a while as I get back into my motorcycles and figure in a good 8 years maybe I’ll search for my gen one Brat. 
 

By then some of the folks buffing them out now will be tired and thinking of retirement, paying for kids college , etc etc

how did you attach the roof rack on the roof? curious, hard to see in the pictures currently.

Looks like the old rain gutter style like my old Thule 1050 series. 

  • Author

Yes it’s a very old Thule rack which I bought originally for my 87 GL wagon , mounts to the rain gutters

 

 

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