Just curious with the ease of lifting and what parts are available. Or just sheer size and fortitude. Which is better offroad. Ea81 or ea82 wagons, hatches, brats, sedans. either one.

 

Ben

I believe it is the hatch.

I prefer the ea81 brat.

Any of the EA81 with a lift and welded rearend break axles. I would go with an EA82, that's just me though. My brat has broke a ton of rear axles and I just have got sick of it. EA82 seems to be the way to go.

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff

EA81 Hatch.

I've had 2 and you cant beat the departure angle.

Any of the EA81 with a lift and welded rearend break axles. I would go with an EA82, that's just me though. My brat has broke a ton of rear axles and I just have got sick of it. EA82 seems to be the way to go.

 

Jeff

 

*Points*

 

*SHRIEKS*

 

Blasphemer!!! HOW DARE YOU!

 

Anyways..... my personal preference for a wheeler would be an EA81 hatch. They are the ultimate for so many reasons. Approach, departure, smaller=nicer on trail, better engine, and they actually have some character in the looks department!! I could go on...

 

I wheel an EA81 wagon, and I am looking at making an EA82 wheeler for the ONLY reason that I won't feel bad when I beat the snot out of an ugly vehicle that the world has plenty of.

 

The EA82 does have a few advantages like better axles, and more plentiful power steering components, but that BARELY makes up for their looks.

 

I know people are gonna be all pissy about that.

 

The final straw for me is that the EA81 has so many cooler choices for making a wheeler. You have the Brat, the Hatchback, the Wagon, The Sedan, and the Coupe. The EA82 has the Wagon, the Sedan, The Hatch/3door/RX.

 

I'll always have an EA81 with a lift, just because they are so cool. But I definitely need to build an EA82 trail rig to make my EA81s life a little longer. But the EA82 is coming out in favor of a built EA81... :-p

EA81, hands down. tougher, simpler motor. the torsion bar allows substantially more travel in the back (and simpler to lift!).

 

the downfall is the axles. BUT, all EA81s use dual DOJ rear axles. Swap some EA82 inner rear DOJs on both ends of the EA81 shafts, and you've got some pretty good travel (although, the torsion bar + longer shocks means you'll still have more travel than the axles can take.....limiting straps would probably still be a good idea).

 

also, the 3 bolts on the leading rod/tranny xmember bracket are further apart. this was the main downfall on both my EA82s, was those captive nuts pulling out, and the EA81s have more leverage on the frame rail.

 

 

 

 

And the body styles are superior. The wagons, sedans and coupes are pretty comparable.....no preference here. but the Brat is just awesome, and the short wheelbase and non-existent rear overhang of the hatch are unbeatable!

If it'll make you feel any better, we've beat the crap out of this topic in the OFF ROAD section of this almighty USMB.

 

It's a sub forum of Motorsports.

 

I wheel an EA81 wagon, and I am looking at making an EA82 wheeler for the ONLY reason that I won't feel bad when I beat the snot out of an ugly vehicle that the world has plenty of.

 

 

 

That was the attitude for years with the EA81s. And now they are getting harder to find.

Just curious with the ease of lifting Well, ea82s are a little easier to lift in the rear and what parts are available I see tons of EA82s in the junkyards and on craigslist. Or just sheer size Hatches have a smaller wheel base and fortitude Power wise? Negligible, seems like the EA81 is a more stable platform. Which is better offroad. Ea81 or ea82 wagons, hatches If you don't mind the dwindling of parts for these, I'd pick the hatch., brats, sedans. either one.

 

Ben

 

Read the red.

i think ill wait until whoever bought mountain griz sells it again.

Thats the only ea81 ive even seen in this state. But you never know what will pop up.

 

Ben

i think ill wait until whoever bought mountain griz sells it again.

Thats the only ea81 ive even seen in this state. But you never know what will pop up.

 

Ben

 

he's in the process of putting a bigger lift and transfer case under it.......

 

there's another guy in western Iowa that has a lifted ea81 wagon too... but he's not on this board....

 

and I think you meant this.....

 

i think ill wait until whoever bought mountain griz sells it again.

Thats the only lifted, non-brat ea81 ive even seen in this state. But you never know what will pop up.

 

Ben

EA81 Hatch. There's really no comparison.

 

GD

That was the attitude for years with the EA81s. And now they are getting harder to find.

 

True. The writing has been on the wall for awhile.

 

But the production numbers of 3rd gens over 2nd gens has to be astronomical...

 

There's a Loyale within rock distance of my driveway that I can have whenever I want it.... so for now my plan is to beat the bejeebus outta 3rd gens.

 

IF we ever start to run out of them..... that's a bridge I'll burn when I come to it!

^ EA82s are already extremely rare here in MN. and I haven't seen an EA81 (except the ones whose owners I know) in years.

 

 

in fact, first gen legacies are already all rotting away. good news there is that EJ-swap donors are a dime a dozen! if only there were any EA cars worth swapping (my buddy has been looking to copy my wagon for almost 6 months, and we haven't found anything)

he's in the process of putting a bigger lift and transfer case under it.......

 

there's another guy in western Iowa that has a lifted ea81 wagon too... but he's not on this board....

 

and I think you meant this.....

 

my mistake i have seen a couple ea81 brats around.

^ EA82s are already extremely rare here in MN. and I haven't seen an EA81 (except the ones whose owners I know) in years.

)

 

I understand that in other parts of the country, older cars are rare. I have already made the mistake of buying a van, and a Blazer from your part of the country.

 

So, I am fully aware of the problems you guys face. I honestly can't believe that the midwestern states haven't invested in finding something better than salt as a means of controlling winter ice problems.

 

BUT, I don't live there. SO, I'm gonna keep enjoying our plethera of EA82s, and beat them like they owe me money!

I prefer the Brat. I like the longer wheel base. As for departure, doesn't really matter, cuz they all have crappy approach.