Jibs Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 This could be a good post for new members who want to offroad mod their soob, and I have a burning question that I want answered as well: Using only subaru parts, what is the absolute BEST offroad setup? This is an all terrain question, not just one or another. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibs Posted January 22, 2005 Author Share Posted January 22, 2005 I'd say: 1) 1982 Brat 2) Ea81 3) 4" lift kit 4) 27 or 28" tires 5) LSD 6) Custom Bumpers with winch mount 7) Rollbar 8) Back end "bobbed" Hows that for a start? Anyone add more or get into more detail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 Gen II BRAT 8 inches lift 30x12s on 6 lug swap EJ or ER engine swap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasteland Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 '86 hatch 5spd d/r tranny welded diff rear discs 4" lift 505 14" steels w/ 28's custom light bar and bumpers massive skid plate a full tank of gas and a bottomless cooler of Old Mill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudduck Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 ea 81 any modle 4-6" of lift 30" mud terrains locked rear, lsd front custom bumpers w/tow hooks warn 6000 winch front and rear full internall rollcage onboard welder drain plugs in the floor don't know if anyones done this yet, tube doors for better visability on the trail rock sliders to save rocker panles Lots of skidplates tools spare psrts recovey equipment room for the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stngllhm Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 this was done not two long ago http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23552 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezapar Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I say all of the above. But, 1) 1982 Brat2) Ea81 3) 4" lift kit 4) 27 or 28" tires 5) LSD 6) Custom Bumpers with winch mount 7) Rollbar 8) Back end "bobbed" Sounds like a Brat I used to have. Ask everyone who got the "high marks" when I was on the trail with other Soobs. . . open diff too. lol But I think, after as much Soobie offroad experience as anyone on the planet, that big crazy road warrier bumpers just add weight. When I go out, I plan on not crashing into stuff. A skid plate is neccessary to keep the Y-pipes safe, no more. Less weight is a huge advantage offroad. As for big lifts, transfer cases, extra power from motor upgrade, 31+s blah blah blah. . . Last year at the mud pit at WCSS6, my 4/3 PK Davis lifted hatch with 27 inch swampers and a welded rear diff went through three times with no breakage, then I drove it 400 miles home packed full of gear. *edit* Oh yeah, then it drove 1200 miles to CO. from WA. a week later, then it showed up in photos workin it at Moab. *edit* 3 brats with the above lift-transfer case-big tire-set up all broke first time thru. 2 of them went home on trailers, one after fix. (yes Caboobaroo, I did get pulled backwards 3 times to get a better line so I could continue forwards) With all that said, Skills Behind the Wheel make the best Soobie offroader. You should see Austin behind the wheel. Yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I was going to go with anything driven by either Zap or Ken. as far as EA-81 or 82, i guess i'll see next week. but for the real intersting idea, how about all the above, but a hatchback with EA-82 body panels, make it an EA-82 hatch, interesting yes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 ...(yes Caboobaroo, I did get pulled backwards 3 times to get a better line so I could continue forwards)... LOL how did I know that was coming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathHatch Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 i would have to say the driver and the hatchs. smaller wheel base so on and so forth. and it also depends on what kind of offroading your doing.. mud bogging/ rock crawling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanislru Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I personally would like something like Ratty2austin's yellow beast, shorter wheel base, light, and serious go fast power right off the line, a front LSD and maybe 2" more lift would be ultimate IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singletrack Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 Oh yeah, then it drove 1200 miles to CO. from WA. a week later, then it showed up in photos workin it at Moab. The DustyZap Hatch and the Safari Wagon made some new friends today. More pics soon. Lift. Tires. Done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstaru Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 imo i have to agree with the driver comment.i used to 4 wheel at some salt pits outside of fairbanks and did not know how to drive them,got stuck every time and was pulled out by stock vehicles.the rocks on the backside of ft. wainwright were another story.i crawleed them numerous times on different lines and sat and drank beers watching all kinds of full sized trucks flail around and break stuff.i did my wheelin in alaska with an 89 ford ranger that had a 4 inch rancho lift and 32 inch bf goodrich muddies on it.it all depends on your driving skills.my wagon was completely stock and i drove it all over oregon and was able to reach places my friends dodge 1500 could not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 I personally don't think theres much difference performance wise between all the body styles. They are all nearly identical underneath. The hatch has a shorter wheelbase and rear overhang, but thats all thats really different. Really the only big choice is the ea82 vs ea81. I prefer the ea82 motor, its a bit racier and fuel injection is a plus off-road. I dont like mud much so timing belt worries dont bother me as they would others. I also prefer the ea82 exterior and interior. But to think that an ea82 powered rig could go where an ea81 couldnt or vise versa is wishful thinking. I just enjoy the ea82 more. My ideal rig using only subaru drivetrain would be an ea82 wagon with ej22 power, going to a 5spd DR with a 4-6" lift and 29s. A modded ea82 turbo would be equally awesome (Hey vanislru, I think I just described your rig ) If we're talking bastard creations, it would be a bobbed ea82 wagon with a nissan t-case and fully custom r180 IFS/IRS setup welded front/rear, wearing 33s. The nissan IFS hubs would be used all around, so I could unlock the front for the road. again, ej or ea82 turbo power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanislru Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 My ideal rig using only subaru drivetrain would be an ea82 wagon with ej22 power, going to a 5spd DR with a 4-6" lift and 29s. A modded ea82 turbo would be equally awesome (Hey vanislru, I think I just described your rig ) I love my ru, in 4 lo turbo lag's not much of an issue, but having the power there from idle would be cool. I've got a remote mount oversize oil filter w/ oil cooler, and an LSD [installing tomorrow i hope] too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibs Posted January 23, 2005 Author Share Posted January 23, 2005 What are the details for building the best Offroad rig? What do you do to the engine, body, etc.. to make it stonger/better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudduck Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 The DustyZap Hatch and the Safari Wagon made some new friends today. More pics soon. Lift. Tires. Done. Thats pictures around grand junction, right? Near the bookcliffs and the gj desert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singletrack Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 Thats pictures around grand junction, right? Near the bookcliffs and the gj desert Yeah, it's the 29 RD OHV area. Just north of town, along I-70. You've been through here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 It really depends on what you want to do. For pure offroading, probably a lifted hatch with an EJ18 or EJ22 and a welded rear end would be the most capable. However, there are more things to consider. That model isn't necessarily practical for everyone, and just about any soob with a lift, d/r tranny, and maybe an LSD is a pretty capable machine. Note to moderators: Can we PLEASE either get a version of this thread stickied or summarized and posted in the USRM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 What is the reason so many of you prefer ej's? To me, having a non electronic controlled (ie carb) fuel system seems a huge advantage when it comes to getting home when things go wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stngllhm Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 What is the reason so many of you prefer ej's? To me, having a non electronic controlled (ie carb) fuel system seems a huge advantage when it comes to getting home when things go wrong. more power Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 What is the reason so many of you prefer ej's? To me, having a non electronic controlled (ie carb) fuel system seems a huge advantage when it comes to getting home when things go wrong. A carb won't run as well on steep angles, doesnt give the ideal mixture through the whole rev range. All the EFI connectors on my wagon have rubber gaskets and dielectric grease, and even if a sensor fails, as long as its not the MAF the car can still limp home. The EJ is the best motor subaru has ever made. The ea81 was simple, reliable but not very powerful, the ea82 was their first attempt at OHC, and is not the most reliable, though it has a bit more power. The EJ was when they got pretty much everything right. Excellent power, excellent reliability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 The ej may have more catastrophic failures, if somthing goes wrong it will be hard to fix on the trail. but it will go 10 times farther before anything has to be adjusted or tweaked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudduck Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 Yeah, it's the 29 RD OHV area. Just north of town, along I-70. You've been through here? yeah i used to have an 88 toyota 4x4 pick up when I lived in golden. that was a mandatory stop on every trip to and back from moab. I knew it looked familiar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted January 24, 2005 Share Posted January 24, 2005 I thought Mr. Bracket's solid axle XT6 was pretty damn Ultimate Definatly lots of other good rigs on the site here. The "Ultimate Subaru" is really in the eye of the beholder :cool: 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.