Project Brat: Not an Impreza!

[Dynapar]

Well I know it isnt an Impreza, but its still a Subaru and I am building it to be dirty ;-)

Now that it is a year after I wanted to have this project on the road (or rather off road) it is time to show some progress.

Lets start off with Day 1, trailering the Brat home.

http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmJyqikhI/AAAAAAAAAEE/LY9NvyRVyIs/s800/1.JPG

The topper is perhaps the ugliest thing I have ever seen...

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmfSqikiI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/N_tWg_hz7so/s800/2.JPG

This pretty much sums up the all of the progress I made during the winter months.
http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmfSqikjI/AAAAAAAAAEY/0CnEM__9MZ4/s800/3.JPG

Early spring activity! Brat is moving to a good place to be worked on.

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmfSqikkI/AAAAAAAAAEg/6wZ9Ab6ynEI/s800/4.JPG

Chux doing some actual work while I take some pics. Brat looks 10x better without the topper. Amazing how much stuff can fit in the back of it. (5x wheels/tire, extra motor, 2 exhaust systems, bunch of brake stuff, extra windshield, rear window, and much much more)

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmfSqiklI/AAAAAAAAAEo/4i1nh7Azqnc/s800/5.JPG

Working on replacing the gas tank.

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmfSqikmI/AAAAAAAAAEw/yNUNO83RMDw/s800/6.JPG

Part 2

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmmCqiknI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Yt18FojjJEM/s800/7.JPG

The old gas tank. probably not visible in the picture is the crank which runs the entire length of it. good thing there was a new gas tank in the bed of the Brat when I got it. (happens to be the last OEM subaru gas tank for a brat /possibly EA81)

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmmCqikpI/AAAAAAAAAFI/a4IxoAba0aA/s800/8.JPG

I dont know what this thing is but it was in my way so it is gone now.

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmmCqikqI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/DJpkYBugaLI/s800/9.JPG

Brat works amazingly well at storing tires. IIRC there are 12 wheels/tires and an engine in there. I love how the Nokians for the Impreza are way wider than the Brat tires...

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmmCqikrI/AAAAAAAAAFY/-aWBQYFjuqA/s800/12.JPG

Short shifter? Yeah right. Changing out some bushings to try and help the weak sauce shifter play.

http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmryqiksI/AAAAAAAAAFg/soMvRviUAdg/s800/13.JPG

New shocks for the rear. I think these are for a 2.5" lifted TJ Jeep. they will bolt right up and when this are compressed all the way they are the same length as the stockers at normal ride height.

http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmryqiktI/AAAAAAAAAFo/XIIwMQWY7PU/s800/14.JPG

Got some goodies from 83projectbrat. Prepare for domination.

http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmryqikuI/AAAAAAAAAFw/ChF8kSyuPcQ/s800/15.JPG

EA81 Power. 1.8l of gear driven, push rod fury.

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmsCqikvI/AAAAAAAAAF4/WaRfa0Zf1Qo/s800/16.JPG

Bye bye tailgate. NorthUrsalia is the proud owner of this beauty. Oh and FYI the topper was given away to a good home.

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmsCqikwI/AAAAAAAAAGA/_Ps25qtVY-I/s800/17.JPG

[Dynapar]

Got the exhaust fabbed up. Now to start in on the rust in the bed.

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmxSqikxI/AAAAAAAAAGI/HUGnuI3rRbQ/s800/18.JPG

Video of the exhaust: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4228646805196052491&hl=en

Spare motor

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmxSqikyI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/z0dnJ-rqybs/s800/19.JPG

What could this 2"x2" 3/16 tube be used for?

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/Rwlm6Cqik5I/AAAAAAAAAHI/CrXdFp27Y-8/s800/26.JPG

Hmm....

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/Rwlm6Cqik4I/AAAAAAAAAHA/xyHiy9n3z_Q/s800/25.JPG

And some 1 7/8" schedule 80 pipe? A statue of some sort perhaps?

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/Rwlm6Cqik6I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/UnVSqKPE0g0/s800/27.JPG

Ah some frame reinforcement. Brat definitely needs that.

http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnBiqik7I/AAAAAAAAAHY/nj8pfyWwPLQ/s800/28.JPG

These pieces of tube are 22" long...

http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnBiqik8I/AAAAAAAAAHg/P4abmghXMKM/s800/29.JPG

I wouldnt want to rear end this

http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnBiqik9I/AAAAAAAAAHo/jqCFV6zh1i8/s800/30.JPG

After some welding

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmxSqik0I/AAAAAAAAAGg/cmXsE7RCtBw/s800/21.JPG

Pretty beefy stuff

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmxSqikzI/AAAAAAAAAGY/KUJsOw0ShcA/s800/20.JPG

It moves under its own power for the first time in.... along time. Of course it ran out of gas right there. Had to push it back in w/ the Impreza.

http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnBiqik-I/AAAAAAAAAHw/8RlosFdBHnM/s800/31.JPG

Way cooler w/o topper.

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/RwlmxSqik1I/AAAAAAAAAGo/uk_keF-DKdk/s800/22.JPG

My two subies

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/Rwlm6Cqik2I/AAAAAAAAAGw/wP742G7JD-g/s800/23.JPG

More to come later

[Dynapar]

whoa double post.

[Dynapar]

(Current Brat Status: wont go into reverse!)

A few miles on the clock.
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnBiqik_I/AAAAAAAAAH4/ij2AYU6foak/s800/a.JPG

Rust is pretty much gone, just need to weld in some patches now
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnHiqilAI/AAAAAAAAAIA/l3dLNxS1OMU/s800/b.JPG

look at that monster. the mountain dew bottle is my coolant reservoir, and yes there are vacuum lines that dont connect to anything.
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnHiqilBI/AAAAAAAAAII/Fkitg6dC4zw/s800/c.JPG

The interior, I already ripped out the carpet. it smells like mice inside. I need to clean out the vents sometime. FYI: the shifter is in 1st gear :-(
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnHiqilCI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/EoILIZ8_NWc/s800/d.JPG

4spd MT, DR 4wd
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnHiqilDI/AAAAAAAAAIY/QMs1e5jpvJE/s800/e.JPG

No AC for me...
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnHyqilEI/AAAAAAAAAIg/_SaWHWsWnk0/s800/f.JPG

Heres a shot of the engine that will eventually make it into the brat.
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/RwlnKCqilFI/AAAAAAAAAIo/nPqk1WtTMR4/s800/shelf.jpg

[sebhockey]

Looking good, can't wait to see more.

[BlackParis]

I THOUGHT this was an apropraite link ;) http://youtube.com/watch?v=enMDCVKVjUc

[GrimmSpeed]

more progess, more pics STAT!!


looking good martin. cant wait to ride in the fun chairs on the back

[WRR]

nice project!

did Subaru really put a turbo in a BRAT... my lack of BRAT knowledge is embarassing - sorry but I did not know this.


and I don't mean that thing hanging outta the hood on the Brumby, I am referring to the decal on your BRAT??

[Not All There]

props for doing something different! good luck man!

[BlackParis]

nice project!

did Subaru really put a turbo in a BRAT... my lack of BRAT knowledge is embarassing - sorry but I did not know this.


and I don't mean that thing hanging outta the hood on the Brumby, I am referring to the decal on your BRAT??

That is a factory turbo brat decal... Yes they did come with turbos... HOWEVER... This one was confusing me...

All Turbo Brats were AutoMatic...

And he definitely has an NA motor/exhaust .... So maybe someone slapped on the factory decals??? I cant imagine someone swapping out a turbo motor for an NA motor, just to have manual.. however there are 235k miles.. so a motor swap was possible...

[Drew84]

that thing is awsome

[Dynapar]

Thanks for the good words.

The motor is not the original one, however this brat (to my knowledge) was never turbo and the decals were a mix up at the dealership.

I have the reverse issue figured out! however the hardware stores were closed last night so i couldnt get it actually fixed. Progress is going slow since school is taking up 98% of my time.

There is alot more that needs to be done...

[I Like It Sideways]

I love it!! I've ridden in one at a rallyx, they are good stuff. I love the "rear" seats as well. Chicks dig'em!!

I love the covered in snow picture

I can't wait to see what else you will do with this.

[Dynapar]

Update: Brat now moves backward under its own power. This is a large improvement over it only moving forward under its own power.

Heres a pic of the linkage: that bolt should be a tight fit, and well it isnt. so there was alot of slop in there which made it so it wouldnt move over far enough to hit reverse.

http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/Rw01sSqilGI/AAAAAAAAAJI/FtENg5gJat8/s800/linkage.jpg

[Dynapar]

Muahahahaha!

http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/Rzi7DTpecpI/AAAAAAAAAWs/NEaZGW61hrM/s800/IMG_6274.JPG

[MetalNeverDies]

nice!

[Blix666]

imagine sittin' in the bed on one of those rear-facing seats during a rally or rallycross...that'd be pretty rad

[Dynapar]

more pics coming this weekend!!!

[409industries]

-car runs out of gas in the driveway
-won't go into reverse
-first gear shifter position???
-"Turbo" decal mixup at the dealership

I was seriously laughing my ass off because these are just the insane obstacles we face when working on old cars.

Ill be checking back up on this thread religiously. Great work so far, im loving it!!!

[Dynapar]

haha... yeah it still has a gas leak which has me baffled. I need to figure that out. I did manage to stop it from leaking gear lube out of the tranny which is good.

Big update time.

I got around to starting the lift kit over my spring break. I am using 2" blocks on the rear diff carrier and mustache bar to lower them so that they are at a kinder axle angle. I will be reclocking the torsion bar to get the actual lift. This is where I am stuck right now the 2 bolts i need to remove are not cooperating.

anyway I made up all of the 3" blocks that i will be using to drop the tranny and engine crossmembers. So the only remaining parts that I will need are some break line extensions for the rear, the front strut extensions and the steering extension.

The rear diff had become one with the DOJ cups on the axles so I had to replace the stub. With Chux's help I was able to get a EA82 DOJ cup to replace the broken one. the EA82 cup will allow for great travel and flexibility before it well explodes...

Pictures!

Milling out the front lift blocks:
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/R_MEfzvjmeI/AAAAAAAAAqU/nRRnyB-5anQ/s800/IMG_7453.JPG.jpg

Completed lift blocks:
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_MEfTvjmdI/AAAAAAAAApE/7O4V8gZnC08/s800/IMG_7451.JPG.jpg

The broken stub on the rear diff:
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/R_MF5zvjmiI/AAAAAAAAApw/aACBsyTnolk/s800/IMG_7459.JPG.jpg

The rest of the stub:
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_MF6TvjmjI/AAAAAAAAAp4/IairMpLFZ_k/s800/IMG_7463.JPG.jpg

The old EA81 cup I broke:
http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/R_MF6jvjmkI/AAAAAAAAAqA/9wIC6J2u6F4/s800/IMG_7466.JPG.jpg

Replacement parts from Chux. note the deep offset inverse torx socket...:
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/R_MEezvjmcI/AAAAAAAAAo8/Kb1wpAjwJTc/s800/IMG_7398.JPG.jpg

I needed to replace the factory captive nuts with new hardware:
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_MEgTvjmfI/AAAAAAAAApU/a4jOi5AQ_CE/s800/IMG_7454.JPG.jpg

2" longer:
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/R_MEgzvjmgI/AAAAAAAAApc/bPSHSZMtV1M/s800/IMG_7455.JPG.jpg

Diff carrier drop w/ bolts and blocks on it:
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/R_MF5DvjmhI/AAAAAAAAAq8/gDSa99rrBnw/s800/IMG_7457.JPG.jpg

New rear shocks. Rough Country shocks for a 2.5" lifted TJ jeep next to the stock brat shocks. both are fully extended.:
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/R_MG4DvjmmI/AAAAAAAAAqY/1IQ2CfKrR2M/s800/IMG_7471.JPG.jpg

Diff reinstalled:
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_MF7TvjmlI/AAAAAAAAAqI/zT71ZMvzMnM/s800/IMG_7470.JPG.jpg

Mustache bar and shocks installed:
http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/R_MG4jvjmnI/AAAAAAAAAqg/8_urXX-fIgA/s800/IMG_7513.JPG.jpg

[MilesFox]

That is a factory turbo brat decal... Yes they did come with turbos... HOWEVER... This one was confusing me...

All Turbo Brats were AutoMatic...

And he definitely has an NA motor/exhaust .... So maybe someone slapped on the factory decals??? I cant imagine someone swapping out a turbo motor for an NA motor, just to have manual.. however there are 235k miles.. so a motor swap was possible...


i was going to point this out but you beat me to it! unless they were going full backward compatible, the battery is in the proper location for n/a. for the ea81t the MAF would be sitting there.

so... with all the lift and suspension goodies, will you be doing a 5spd?

[Dynapar]

so... with all the lift and suspension goodies, will you be doing a 5spd?

I am not sure yet. The 5 speed has a lower first gear which is a good thing, but the 4 speed has a better gear reduction / crawl ratio. I need to research it alittle more. I would be surprised if I ended up with a hybrid gear box...

[Dynapar]

Update:

Worked on the brat all of saturday. The rear end is now lifted. This means that the lift is now 50% done, not almost 50% like it used to be ;-)

This is a picture of the old top strut bracket in the new strut. if you look closely one side is has been ground down to allow for easier insertion.
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/R_pPyTvjmpI/AAAAAAAAArI/g0k-1uhFtho/s800/IMG_7565.JPG.jpg

Here we have mlgez and fishbiker15 working on getting the torsion bar out so that it can be re-clocked.
http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/R_pPyzvjmqI/AAAAAAAAArQ/qMEaavjMfVk/s800/IMG_7567.JPG.jpg

The drivers side has now been finished and we are working on the passenger side.
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/R_pPzTvjmrI/AAAAAAAAArY/VCFsLH_ddFk/s800/IMG_7571.JPG.jpg

mlgez is using the mill to make a bolt the right size.
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/R_pP0DvjmsI/AAAAAAAAArg/qGttAMAQxVs/s800/IMG_7572.JPG.jpg

This is the torsion bar on the passenger side. Both of the splined ends were kinda of rusty but the middle was in prime shape as you can see.
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_pP0jvjmtI/AAAAAAAAAro/z008UKgOkCA/s800/IMG_7573.JPG.jpg

Full downflex on the drivers side.
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/R_pRWTvjmuI/AAAAAAAAAr0/ADPyGdt0M_g/s800/IMG_7578.JPG.jpg

Had to drill out the outer bushing retainer bolt (do I need this if my bushing has become one with the housing?) so this is a temporary measure so that I could move it.
http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/R_pRWzvjmvI/AAAAAAAAAr8/gJBpKRc_Ha8/s800/IMG_7579.JPG.jpg

dundundun.....
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/R_pRXTvjmwI/AAAAAAAAAsE/p0AlOd82Drc/s800/IMG_7587.JPG.jpg
http://lh5.google.com/Dynapar/R_pUNzvjm4I/AAAAAAAAAtM/5dzZH0YU6SU/s800/IMG_7590.JPG.jpg

Check out the awesome positive camber on the rear wheels.
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_pRYjvjmyI/AAAAAAAAAsU/AZI3oFEFauQ/s800/IMG_7591.JPG.jpg

My fix for the exhaust leak at the heads...
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_pSojvjmzI/AAAAAAAAAsg/jhb_443SbBc/s800/IMG_7592.JPG.jpg

Jacked up the front so that it sits level. front wheels are about 3" off the ground.
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/R_pSpDvjm0I/AAAAAAAAAso/D_TfEuzRwRc/s800/IMG_7593.JPG.jpg

lined up in ascending order according to production date.
http://lh4.google.com/Dynapar/R_pSpjvjm1I/AAAAAAAAAsw/8DcyaVT0nek/s800/IMG_7598.JPG.jpg

maybe....?
http://lh6.google.com/Dynapar/R_pSqDvjm2I/AAAAAAAAAtU/JUqQa7JvuR0/s800/IMG_7609.JPG.jpg
http://lh3.google.com/Dynapar/R_pSqTvjm3I/AAAAAAAAAtY/_YOvWWzG8XI/s800/IMG_7611.JPG.jpg

[BlackParis]

Head leak? are the studs stripped out? I had this same problem with my first loyale... Hit a rock to hard, and completely ripped the studs out of the head...

Drilled out the stud holes in the heads a bit, and inserted these:
http://www.jergensinc.com/infodir/catalog.asp?GroupNum=3017

Had no problems for about 30k miles :-P then I lost compression (187k) and scrapped the car...

[Dynapar]

I broke off the studs while removing the remnants of the original exhaust manifold. I am planning on just welding a nut to whats left of the studs to get them out, then I can put new ones in. shouldnt be too bad just need the time to do it.

[chief2000]

looking nice, its been awhile since I last saw one of these. But looking at your pics gave me the idea on how to lift the zuk up some more. Very easy to do and should try it out later.

[SReitsma]

that thing is so bad ass...nice work!

[fattie92]

Thats bad ass! Good luck with the build!

[I Like It Sideways]

The lift looks BA. I can't wait to see the entire thing lifted

[my01rs-t]

Are ya gonna swap it? I want one now.

[Dynapar]

^ yeah it will be getting swapped eventually. I want to finish the lift before I do teh swap. I dont think I would be able to have both projects going at the same time.

The original motor plan was to drop in a phase 1 EJ22 for about double the stock EA81 HP/TQ and extra reliability. Now I have a line on a EJ25 block, so I am thinking a EJ22/EJ25 hybrid for uber tq.

[saturn]

I know a kid who bought one of these a few weeks back

he killed the rear diff trying to do "AWD burnouts" (idiot!)

and then he REFUSED to sell it to me (I offered him a used PC and $300 cash) -- he sold it to a junk yard for $25 and a 6 pack of beer.

[409industries]

So are you going to put some big super swampers on there?

[Dynapar]

Well ideally I would be putting some swampers on it. Actually that fantasy isnt as far fetched as one would think. I could most likely get a set of Swamper TSLs in a 29" that would set me on the path to world domination. Pretty much with those tires I would have to try (hard) to get stuck. The one issue that arises from using these tires is that they are pretty dang soft and the tread pattern is not the greatest for on road driving. The result is that I would be able to get maybe 20k miles out of the tires before they looked like a set of hoosiers.

The conudrum is do I spend $500 on some decent AT tires that can take the highway miles and are better on rock, but are only ok in mud. Or do I spend $500 on the TSLs and avoid the highway and rocks at all cost (I dont have a trailer, so it cant be a trailer queen).

[saturn]

get a set of used A/Ts from jeep guys maybe, then also get some swampers ...!

[LPXLTT]

I am looking at those swampers for when I lift my legacy (if I do), you have to figure, is this going to be a DD? if not, then I wouldn't worry about it. 20k miles is a few years if you are only taking to the trails. You might see dry rot before they are to worn out. Just my $.02

[SVXT6]

thats an cool brat

[Dynapar]

Here are some more pics of the project.

Grinding down the back of the front hub plates, in prep to weld the lug studs in.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/SVVfRtGa3dI/AAAAAAAABLI/uQy19m243_A/s800/1.jpg

The back done. 12" of ground clearance to the rear diff.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/SVVfRzs560I/AAAAAAAABLQ/4a4If0iCsfE/s800/2.jpg

A look into the future... what it should look like after the front lift is done.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/SVVfSdYucJI/AAAAAAAABLY/l9uQif74Aro/s800/3.jpg

Front tires on.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/SVVfSt_HQrI/AAAAAAAABLg/YEXj6XrrDy4/s800/4.jpg

Looks pretty sweet to me.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/SVVfS00sk7I/AAAAAAAABLo/qq4QQHF8_iQ/s800/5.jpg

Definitely need to finish the lift now.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/SVVfW7UjAOI/AAAAAAAABLw/2WLGvvrjUkg/s800/6.jpg

Hmm... this could be an issue. Gonna have to do some fender trimming.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/SVVfXu1opOI/AAAAAAAABL4/kfSWFqJ4Xqc/s800/7.jpg

So now the 6 lug conversion is done, and with some help we corrected some of the rear alignment issues. Just need to finish the lift and get the front bumper put together. Then it will pretty much only be cosmetic stuff.

FYI: a great write up on the 6 lug conversion can be found here: http://offroadingsubarus.com/6stud_conversion.html

[saturn]

this makes me want to get a brat :(

or a baja and do the same stuff.

[noisycricket]

You're going to need the turbo engine just to get it to move with those big tires on it :)

[Dynapar]

^haha! Turbos dont hold up the greatest for what I am planning. Thats why I am planning on sticking to NA power, but it will be getting a different engine sometime. Most likely an EJ22E which would give it around 2x more hp and tq, so I can turn even bigger tires.

[saturn]

ew 2.2?

what are you planning, driving under water? lol

get a H6 from a tribeca :) 226+ hp N/A

[Dynapar]

ew 2.2?

what are you planning, driving under water? lol


EJ22 FTMFW!!!! and yes I am planning on driving underwater.

[Dynapar]

Ok here is the brief of it, ok not really. In order to complete the lift, I needed to extend the struts. The traditional way of doing this is to put a large block on the top of the Strut, something like you can get from SJRLift, BYB, or AA. In theory it would be relatively easy to make a block like this, however by lowering the strut from the top it is supposed to mess up your alignment (wicked positive camber, more than usual) unless the piece is made with a certain bolt offset to correct it. I decided, with much input, to lengthen the bottom of the strut. I originally tried using some steel pipe, but that failed because it is impossible to get pipe with the right size OD. So with a a couple posts on the local boards I was set to have something custom made. Here is what I drew up.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oTSM3e6I/AAAAAAAABNw/ifOTj67_UWM/s512/strut%20extension%20dimensions.jpg

It doesnt look like much on paper, frankly I wasnt expecting anything near what I received. I would like to interject here that FastMatt from MNSubaru, is the bomb and this would not have been possible without his hard work and time he put into make these for me. So some time, and a big bar of cold rolled steel later..... I had strut extensions that could hold a 747.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oIBI-TmI/AAAAAAAABM8/ex1DuQSzbqA/s512/IMG_4570_Resized.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oHYSPoAI/AAAAAAAABM0/tqiOQdu18KY/s720/IMG_4566_Resized.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oIRVGYEI/AAAAAAAABNM/BZCGd5gHKis/s720/IMG_4587_Resized.jpg

So here is a before and and after of the strut extensions.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oIak8hqI/AAAAAAAABNE/Zh2i_UBLELM/s512/IMG_4582_Resized.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oISig6JI/AAAAAAAABN4/UoYAh2tSQYs/s512/IMG_4621.JPG

Here is a pic of what it looked like. notice the excessive positive camber. The front drivers side has it the worst. There is a bent trailing arm thinger that I believe is causing this. Probably next time I get the tire off I will try and "straighten" it.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oTO9JF3I/AAAAAAAABOA/uK4xuhP5o6c/s512/IMG_4659.JPG

Here is a closer view of what it looks like.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se0oTFcwsSI/AAAAAAAABOI/OZ1Wd6_vEEU/s512/IMG_4627.JPG

That is it for now, but much more has happened and there will be pics. Things such as extending the steering and intake modifications... Also testing ;-)

[SReitsma]

thats some mighty fine lathe work!

[saturn]

so how are you going to fix the camber?

[Dynapar]

thats some mighty fine lathe work!

I agree 100%!

so how are you going to fix the camber?

Well I was able to tweak the rear back by giving it an "alingment". the factory service manual said to basically loosen some bolts, bend everything where I wanted it and retighten. so that how I got the rear better.

The front is a different story. I know that I have a bent trailing arm on the driver side (side with the worst camber issue). I wil try and bend this back soon. Besides that I will need to check the FSM to see how to align the front. It is very likely that this will be as good as it get (I hope not). I know that this always an issue on older lifted Subarus. although they all have bad positive camber I have heard that it does not really have an adverse effect on tire life (weird if you ask me).

When I figure it out I will let you know.

[saturn]

maybe camber plates?

[Dynapar]

I could try that but I dont know who would make them for a brat. to be honest I am not too concerned about it. I want to deal it in a little bit more than I am fine with it. Most of its life from now on will not be on pavement so it wont really matter ;-)

Took another picture today:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j5COI8WvJaU/Se_iRH92haI/AAAAAAAABOQ/cBRY5AgqtCo/s720/IMG_5067_Editted_Resized.jpg

[409industries]

^^^ flippin cool :)

[Dynapar]

hehe. Yeah it is pretty awesome. I am looking forward to getting alot more awesome photos of it this summer.

[kylelikewhoa]

I came really close last week to buying a Brat for $300. Unfortunoutly I dont have any place to keep it. After looking at that picture up there, I think I might make a place to keep it.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of this.

[Dynapar]

^$300 is a great deal on a brat. I paid $700 for mine a few years ago. Mine is very mechanically sound, but having been in MN for 25yrs.... the body leaves alot to be well fixed.