August 24, 200520 yr Yesterday a 79 Brat followed me home... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=7693 Well, actually, it had to be pushed kicking and screaming, 'cuz it had sat for 2 years with its parking brake on. The engine kind of starts, but pukes chocolate milkshake out of the passengerside PCV breather hose. Some cancer on both front fenders, and surface rust elsewhere. Suspension was "exciting" coming down the hill from its previous repose to my place... really unbalanced diagonally. Still got to work out the title (abandoned by property owner's friend over 2 years ago). But only cost $50 so far... So, recommendations? "Restore" with its EA71 engine? Put in an EA81 with the EA71's bell housing? EA81 with D/R 4 or 5 speed? Or maybe an EJ22? My wife is interested in this one, so it may end up with an... *gasp!* ... automatic. If I go through that much work, might just go EJ22 and 4EAT.
August 24, 200520 yr Looks like a keeper to me! I cast one vote for restoration! Glenn 82 SubaruHummer 84 GL Mad Max 01 Forester
August 24, 200520 yr I vote KEEP IT!!!! Poor thing kind of looks like a mistreated Junk-Yard-Dog!!!! So Give it lots of TLC and then turn it over to Mrs.NorthWet.... Vicky
August 24, 200520 yr As for engines, I'd take a quick inventory of what you have on hand and make a decision based off that. From the pics, it seems like you may have a spare Subie motor hanging around. I'd go for whatever is the least work to install and get running.
August 25, 200520 yr well you should most definately keep it.... ea22 will work but your gonna have to stuff it, my buddy just ripped apart a gen 1 brat and threw in a dual range with a limited slip diff three of four inch custom lift disc brakes and rewired the 22 clip to the brat with a leg comp and electronic ignition. after 3 days he had the entire thing runnin w/ no exaust and it sounded like a g o d d a m n tractor......custom 3 inch exaust - no muffler and apparently it romps like nobody's buisness in lolo mont.
August 25, 200520 yr Author As for engines, I'd take a quick inventory of what you have on hand and make a decision based off that.From the pics, it seems like you may have a spare Subie motor hanging around. I'd go for whatever is the least work to install and get running. Let's see: 2 EA81s 2 EA82 SPFIs (one known good, one known blown HG) 2 EA82Ts (one rebuildable, and one, in the pic, with a ventilated case ) 2 EJ22s (both blown HGs and missing a few belt-area parts) Plus I have an EA71s engine-side bellhousing. EA82s are too wide to fit between frame rails, and Mrs. Northwet isn't "in" to lifts.
August 25, 200520 yr Keep it! Restore it! It can't possibly need as much work as mine did! Since the motor transplant, I made the car show 2 weeks in a row! It was worth it in the end... the little kids were thrilled to be allowed to climb in the bed and sit in the jump seats while the other owners were telling them "Don't Touch!" One little boy came back 3 times!
August 25, 200520 yr Author Hey Pat, give me a call. I may have another alternative for you. Ken What do you have in mind? Pm'd you, as my time near a phone will be spotty and antisocial until Monday.
August 25, 200520 yr Author How about a Honda engine? I have a line on a late '70s CIVIC engine with Hondamatic. How hard would this be to put in? What would I need to change? Because the Honda engine is about the same age, this would still make it Historic, right?
August 27, 200520 yr I think your being shunned because you mentioned using a honda civic engine. But really, I think the mid 90's civic motors a good, specialy the B16's and D16z6's Both have VTEC and a fair bit of punch.
August 27, 200520 yr i think he`s talkin a 70`s cvcc motor for its simplicity.i used a 78 cvcc as a fields vehicle for the longest time, and the drive train was bullet proof.sadly, i let it sit during the winter, and when i started it, the timing belt broke.an early 80`s toyota 1.8 wouldn`t be a bad choice either, it would be rwd, and there are tons and tons of mods available for them.my friend has one that will pop the front wheels of the ground on hard takeoffs:) whats wrong with using a stock 1600 ea71, or another sube motor so you can keep the 4wd??they aren`t power houses, but neither were the old cvcc`s.
August 28, 200520 yr Author I guess I should have checked the view count to see if I was being shunned or simply ignored. I was just kidding about the CVCC engine, et al. I was fishing for some weird responses from those that know me. I guess that they don't really care after all... In the short term, I will probably drop a spare EA81 into it and go from there. Seriously considering an EJxx engine for my wife, though. She really wants/needs an automatic tranny, and the EA71 would be a little to little... at least without some "goodies".
August 28, 200520 yr I guess I should have checked the view count to see if I was being shunned or simply ignored. I was just kidding about the CVCC engine, et al. I was fishing for some weird responses from those that know me. I guess that they don't really care after all... ohh.....whoops, disregard my last post
August 28, 200520 yr Author ohh.....whoops, disregard my last post No worries. It was I who was trying to be the smarta... er, smartalec. I tried to shock people like moosens (Hi Paul!), but instead got people who were really trying to help. I'm a BAD boy... :-p
August 29, 200520 yr No worries. It was I who was trying to be the smarta... er, smartalec. I tried to shock people like moosens (Hi Paul!), but instead got people who were really trying to help. I'm a BAD boy... :-p nyuk nyuk nyuk...... Just rip it apart and start taking pictures already!!!
August 29, 200520 yr Author nyuk nyuk nyuk...... Just rip it apart and start taking pictures already!!! First, I have got to finish the double-HG/reseal on an XT that I have been working on for 3 weeks too long.
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now