4RnrRick Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 As some of you know I'm interested in getting a Subaru but I haven't decided what I want yet. Just curious if anyone has tried (bobbing) cutting the back of their Subie off to make less overhang, thus increasing departure angle..... This is real common with 4x4 trucks to improve departure angle and I've done several vehicles mayself..... What I'm thinking is say a EA82 Wagon with 9-12" removed from behind the rear wheels with plexiglass/lexan windows..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrat Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 a couple of people have done it with Brats. there was some contemplating it a while back from someone who smashed up the rear of their wagon.... there's a 86 wagon for sale in MO right now that would be perfect for that.... it's already lifted, and has a weber carb and bigger tires/wheels... and would make the drive to WA okay.... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22936 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I've only seen it done with brats...wouldn't make much sence, bobbing a hatch (although many have taken the tops off ) As for the front end there is not much to take off lengthwise because of the lights and radiator. I believe Zapar just removed some metal under the bumper of his hatch. You should be able to find the thread. SawZalls and Subarus are not strangers! Saw on Dude Glenn 82 SubauHummer 01 Forester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 Off the top of my head AdamnNJ had bobbed his Brat. I'm not really worried about it tho. My wagon rear end doesnt stick past the rear axles any further than say a Toyota 22R pickup Once youre lifted, big tires, and custom bumpers are snugged upto the body the departure angles are greatly increased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RnrRick Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 Don't mean to keep comparing to my Yota but bear with me.... See my 4runner is bobb'ed 9". You just cut the back off, section the body vertically and then weld the butt back on. So when youre done, you shouldn't notice other than it looks a bit different.... The body work isn't that bad and really goes pretty quick. But heres my curernt project that I'm going to sell probably to fund a Subie build up. Its a 83 sandrad cab Toyota with a 86 xtra cab graphed onto the back. Toyota NEVER made this model!!!! Oh and the bed is bob'd 13 off the fron and 20" off the back since it use to be a LONG bed.....I was going to go all out on this project and make it a REAL preunner with fiberglass and long travel but I've lost intrest so Its time for a project change. So when it comes to body modifcations, I have the skill and the tools to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RnrRick Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 I'm just concerned with all the overhang on the Subarus.... I think I will get hung up on it more than I want too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 Well theres a lip in the front that could be shaved off for a few inches, and in the back of a wagon you could cut diagonally under the hatch and weld new metal in. This would give you a few inches. Also, the area underneath the headlights can be cut out to give room for your tires to get up stumps and rocks. Bobbing a wagon would be tough if you want to keep rear quarter glass. You could just plate that in with sheetmetal though after you move the back end forward. Or make the wagon into a baja by cutting the roof off behind the doors, and bobbing the rear end. ...hey I see 5bolt wheels on that toy. Whats going on there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 If youre gonna hit stuff like that you will be in your 4Runner though right? So will you really need to bob it? Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems like you want the Subaru for lighter wheeling and you have the 4Runner for the extreem crawling terrain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezapar Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 Here's a couple of photos of my Bob'd Brat. I think I was the first to do it like this. http://community.webshots.com/album/37919799NGXlOA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RnrRick Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 For the glass in the rear of a wagon, I was just thinking Lexan or plexy glass....... I've also thought about a baja conversion........ Just like a mini quad cab and then I could chop the rear to just about any length. All 2wd Toyota's (except Tacoma Prerunner's) are 5 Lug. All 4wd Toyota Pickups/4runners, Taco's are 6 lug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezapar Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 The only thing that stopped me was the gas tank. That was as far as I could cut it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RnrRick Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 MorganM - Your right on the 4runner being for 'extreme' stuff and a Subie for 'mild 'stuff but I would like a Subie be set up so I can FIND the extreme stuff. And to do that I might have to get thru some difficult terrain to get there. Does that make since? Oh I'm also thinking about adding a winch to a Subie so I can deal with the rougher stuff.... Zapar - FAWK'N SWEET! <- hope I can say that here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stngllhm Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 y'all are nuts sweet rides but you are still nuts<G> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezapar Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 You can stuff a 4500 lb winch in pretty easy. But I just alwasy use a come-a-long. It's rated at 8000 with its snatch. That and a few straps and a chain for trees and 2 people can get it out of just about anything. That stuff's all lighter too. I can keep it behind my seat and dry and out of the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RnrRick Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 You can stuff a 4500 lb winch in pretty easy. But I just alwasy use a come-a-long. It's rated at 8000 with its snatch. That and a few straps and a chain for trees and 2 people can get it out of just about anything. That stuff's all lighter too. I can keep it behind my seat and dry and out of the way. Yeah, For my 4runner I normally have this for recover gear: HS9500i Winch with 115 ft or 5/16 Dia poly rope (3) 3/4" shackles (1) 2 1/2" hitch shackle mount 6 ft tree strap 30 ft recover strap 3/8" dia snatch block 2000 lbs web come-a-long Axe, folding tree limb saw, shovel, 60" Hi-Lift. For a subie I think I would carry this: 2500 lb ATV Winch <-maybe on a hitch plate for front and rear mounting (2) 5/8" Shackles 6 ft tree saver 2000 lbs web come-a-long 5/16" dia snatch block Axe, folding tree limb saw, shovel End hijack - So has anyone took a EA81 or EA82 and made a quad cab brat/baja? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 How about slanting the rear up some? Instead of cutting it off completely, maybe angle it up. That might save on the body work some unless you were thinking about ditching the rear windows and just sectioning it. I'm think the same for my blazer as I have the same overhang problem there. Even with the rear up tight and the oversize tires, I still drag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 for the quad cab thing, I would cut up the rear hatch and graft it in behind the seats, and then make the back a truck box with a tailgate net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stngllhm Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 i wanted to do something like that with my 84 wagon but i never got around too it. than i finally gave the car away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 MorganM - Your right on the 4runner being for 'extreme' stuff and a Subie for 'mild 'stuff but I would like a Subie be set up so I can FIND the extreme stuff. And to do that I might have to get thru some difficult terrain to get there. Does that make since? Oh I'm also thinking about adding a winch to a Subie so I can deal with the rougher stuff.... You'll get back to the gnarly stuff with out bobing it. Although it's obviouse you have the skills and tools to do it. Also consider structural integrity. These are sheet metal unibodies with pretty small subframes. Hacking away major portions of the unibody will need to be replaced with reinforcment. More so than a vehicle that has a solid frame holding everything together securely. Would definatly be sweet once done; a lot of work though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowmastered87GL Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 My 82 brat is bobbed 9 inches. Had the subframe over the muffler area been in better shape I coulda kept the rear roll pan area and frame rails of the tailgate section, but instead I only salvaged the bed sides and taillight areas and had to rebuild the middle section with heavy angle iron and other scrap steel. Looks ok, but was kind of a pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RnrRick Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 MorganM - I totally understand that reenfocing the unibody will be nessecary. But I'm curious on how the body lines and unibody lines, line up. That would be my only real area of concern. And welding sheetmetal is really pretty easy if its fitted properly before welding and everything is prepped. Oh and you also need rust free metal. So I guess my questions still stands. Has anyone ever done bobb'd a wagon or quad cab'd a wagon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.