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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT: I want Subaru!
Posted by: kkid Jul 23 2014, 10:45 PM
Hey guys!
I'm not sure where else I can go and ask about this unique vehicle. I am fallen in love with Subaru Brat after watching this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnolzTQ1zXI
Does anyone here own one? Has anybody owned before?
Please share your experience with that car if you own one or have a friend who has one. I've been searching through CL and ebay lately. But most of the cars for sale look to have seen good days already.
I personally have not seen the car in real life. If you or your neighbor have one for sale you can let me know!! 
Thanks in advance,
kkid 
Posted by: Dave_Darling Jul 23 2014, 10:58 PM
A buddy of mine got one when they were... Well, they were newer at that point than now. It was one of his series of $250 cars.
He drove it from South SF to Sunnyvale to hang out with me and my roommie. It didn't make it past Mountain View on his way home. The distributor drive shaft broke its bore, leaving the distributor to flop around and not turn. Wasn't worth even trying to fix, so we pushed it off the freeway and abandoned it.
The title wasn't even in his name yet...
--DD
Posted by: mgp4591 Jul 23 2014, 11:02 PM
I've worked on many of them and one of my friends had 3 of em. Not bad for an early 80s car, really good at off road stuff unless you're gonna Rubicon or something because ground clearance is less than a newer Outback. 1.8 liter 4 cylinder and lower gears work together well on this package and the 4 wheel drive (not AWD) has a transfer case so you're 2 wheelin' it on the street. Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well. Other than that, they're lots of fun and being a Subaru, it should run forever with proper maintenance. Get one in really good shape tho and save some headaches down the road. Sounds like a teener, don't it?!
Posted by: kkid Jul 23 2014, 11:14 PM
A buddy of mine got one when they were... Well, they were newer at that point than now. It was one of his series of $250 cars.
He drove it from South SF to Sunnyvale to hang out with me and my roommie. It didn't make it past Mountain View on his way home. The distributor drive shaft broke its bore, leaving the distributor to flop around and not turn. Wasn't worth even trying to fix, so we pushed it off the freeway and abandoned it.
The title wasn't even in his name yet...
--DD
Posted by: kkid Jul 23 2014, 11:51 PM
I've worked on many of them and one of my friends had 3 of em. Not bad for an early 80s car, really good at off road stuff unless you're gonna Rubicon or something because ground clearance is less than a newer Outback. 1.8 liter 4 cylinder and lower gears work together well on this package and the 4 wheel drive (not AWD) has a transfer case so you're 2 wheelin' it on the street. Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well. Other than that, they're lots of fun and being a Subaru, it should run forever with proper maintenance. Get one in really good shape tho and save some headaches down the road. Sounds like a teener, don't it?!
Yeah, it sounds like a teener! There you go! - rust, Rust RUST!
Thanks for all the info BTW! That's very informative!
I'll look around my area first but have never seen one in the bay area so far. Maybe as DD told in his story it's not worth fixing and became extinct even in sunny CA. Maybe I should just look around the sides of freeway? hahahaha...
Things are getting more interesting....
Posted by: Cuda911 Jul 24 2014, 02:14 AM
I've owned about 10 Subaru's over the years. My '88 GL104WDTurbo was basically the sedan version of the BRAT. Loved that car.
I did some pretty heavy off-roading in it... Anza Borrego Badlands, etc. The car was fantastic. Guys in Broncos were always amazed to see me cruising out there in a sedan! Of course, ground clearance was limited, but my car had the air-adjustable suspension option to give a bit more clearance.
Yes, rust is a big problem for the older ones.
An extremely fun car. I highly recommend it. Just looked on Ebay and saw a couple BRATS that looked good.
Posted by: Mark Henry Jul 24 2014, 03:19 PM
Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well.
Good buddy had one, he beat the living shit out of it, couldn't kill it.
But it rusted so bad the bottom 12" of all the panels was gone, cops finally made him take it off the road as unsafe.
Posted by: rhodyguy Jul 24 2014, 05:52 PM
like driving a regular old fwd subaru if you're not on something other than pavement. riding in the back while off road wasn't very much fun. not a jeep or land cruiser. the 4wd in the station wagon flavor was more practical.
Posted by: Dr Evil Jul 24 2014, 06:34 PM
Get one and throw an H6 in it 
Posted by: mgp4591 Jul 24 2014, 07:17 PM
Get one and throw an H6 in it
Don't think it would fit, possibly not even bolt to the tranny but you'd be the expert on that one. I don't even think an EJ22 would fit cuz it's such an older model. Buy an Impreza wagon, cut the top off the load area and make yer own! Or an even bigger version, get an Outback H6 wagon, do the same and have a 4 seater Brat!
Posted by: Mark Henry Jul 24 2014, 07:48 PM
Get one and throw an H6 in it
Don't think it would fit, possibly not even bolt to the tranny but you'd be the expert on that one. I don't even think an EJ22 would fit cuz it's such an older model. Buy an Impreza wagon, cut the top off the load area and make yer own! Or an even bigger version, get an Outback H6 wagon, do the same and have a 4 seater Brat!
They are tiny I bet a 914 has a bigger cabin.
Posted by: jmill Jul 24 2014, 07:49 PM
Buddy of mine had one. He was a slacker and hadn't done any engine maintenance for about 75K miles besides topping off the oil. When he finally got around to changing the plugs and oil the car ran horrible. Yes, the plugs were correct and gapped. He poured the old oil back in it along with swapping the old plugs back in and ran it for another 100k miles before he sold it.
True story!
Posted by: Krieger Jul 24 2014, 07:53 PM
I love the Starski and Hutch paint stripe.
Posted by: kkid Jul 26 2014, 01:18 PM
I've owned about 10 Subaru's over the years. My '88 GL104WDTurbo was basically the sedan version of the BRAT. Loved that car.
I did some pretty heavy off-roading in it... Anza Borrego Badlands, etc. The car was fantastic. Guys in Broncos were always amazed to see me cruising out there in a sedan! Of course, ground clearance was limited, but my car had the air-adjustable suspension option to give a bit more clearance.
Yes, rust is a big problem for the older ones.
An extremely fun car. I highly recommend it. Just looked on Ebay and saw a couple BRATS that looked good.
Yours sounds like an awesome car! If I found one I would probably drive daily but the car might not see off road soon.
Since you're in CA, I wanna ask how easy it was to pass the smog inspection? Most of the Brats for sale are 150K miles or more on them. Are they equipped with a cat converter?
Thanks,
kkid
Posted by: kkid Jul 26 2014, 01:21 PM
Biggest problem is one you should be familiar with already- rust, Rust, RUST!!! They came out before Japan started using the galvanized body panels or a decent undercoating so look well.
Good buddy had one, he beat the living shit out of it, couldn't kill it.
But it rusted so bad the bottom 12" of all the panels was gone, cops finally made him take it off the road as unsafe.
Posted by: kkid Jul 26 2014, 01:40 PM
like driving a regular old fwd subaru if you're not on something other than pavement. riding in the back while off road wasn't very much fun. not a jeep or land cruiser. the 4wd in the station wagon flavor was more practical.
like the extreme case of the 2+2 form. Probably not use the jumper seats often except for my kids and her friends.
But if I get a camper shell, now that's my second cave.
Posted by: stugray Jul 27 2014, 12:15 PM
I loved the Brats in the 80s.
Friend of mine had one in HS.
Trivia: Until 2013, what was the ONLY 2WD subaru ever sold?
NOW what is the latest 2WD car that Subaru offers?
(Hint: I couldnt help myself and had to buy one)
Posted by: mgp4591 Jul 27 2014, 04:43 PM
I loved the Brats in the 80s.
Friend of mine had one in HS.
Trivia: Until 2013, what was the ONLY 2WD subaru ever sold?
NOW what is the latest 2WD car that Subaru offers?
(Hint: I couldnt help myself and had to buy one)
My brother and my sister both have had 2wd Legacies, and the BRZ is the newest 2 wd. RWD to be more specific...
Posted by: ThePaintedMan Jul 27 2014, 04:50 PM
I want a BRZ bad..... eventually it'd be nice to have that motor in a 914 as well.
Posted by: stugray Jul 27 2014, 07:19 PM
3X 4 cyl boxer engines in one shot:
One is a couple of generations of technology from the others....
Posted by: bembry Jul 27 2014, 07:20 PM
I loved the Brats in the 80s.
Friend of mine had one in HS.
Trivia: Until 2013, what was the ONLY 2WD subaru ever sold?
NOW what is the latest 2WD car that Subaru offers?
(Hint: I couldnt help myself and had to buy one)
My wife had a 1990 2WD XT coupe, 4 banger, non turbo. Interesting little car.
Sure, they came in AWD, as well as 6 cyl, and turbo 4. Still, hers was 2WD.
Posted by: mgp4591 Jul 27 2014, 09:06 PM
I loved the Brats in the 80s.
Friend of mine had one in HS.
Trivia: Until 2013, what was the ONLY 2WD subaru ever sold?
NOW what is the latest 2WD car that Subaru offers?
(Hint: I couldnt help myself and had to buy one)
My wife had a 1990 2WD XT coupe, 4 banger, non turbo. Interesting little car.
Sure, they came in AWD, as well as 6 cyl, and turbo 4. Still, hers was 2WD.
Oh yeah, I remember those... wedgie little things weren't they?! My brother also had a 2wd DL model, back before the Loyale and Legacy models were developed. And the really goofy lookin' ones around early-mid 70s were 2wd also...
Posted by: kkid Jul 27 2014, 11:21 PM
I loved the Brats in the 80s.
Friend of mine had one in HS.
Trivia: Until 2013, what was the ONLY 2WD subaru ever sold?
NOW what is the latest 2WD car that Subaru offers?
(Hint: I couldnt help myself and had to buy one)
Remember in the '60s, more goofy-looking Subaru 360 came only with RR(air cooled flat twin). Also Subaru 1000-1300 came with FF(water cooled 4 banger) only. They were both 2WD I think.
My dad had 2 Subaru 360s.
Now his son wants a Brat real bad
Posted by: kkid Jul 27 2014, 11:38 PM
3X 4 cyl boxer engines in one shot:
One is a couple of generations of technology from the others....
hey, that's very nice color!
How do you like the driving characteristics of the new Subaru? Why did you go to Subaru but not Scion?
Posted by: mgp4591 Jul 28 2014, 02:53 AM
Why go Scion when you can go Subaru?? 
It's the same car anyway, Toyota and Subaru have been sleeping together for awhile now... 
Posted by: stugray Jul 28 2014, 07:17 AM
I was at the Subaru dealer looking at the new Legacy and this caught my eye.
The Subaru is the nicer of the two options. Push to start, HID head lamps, seat warmers, stiffer suspension.
I love the handling, although I wish you could completely disable the traction/Stability control.
It nearly got me killed in the snow when it was supposed to be disabled....
I will know more this Friday.
Both the silver car and the BRZ get to go have a track day together at HPR.
Posted by: brant Jul 28 2014, 09:02 AM
Are you changing the original color?
A top value car would need to be low original mileage in original paint
A repainted 75 that is very nice is a 10 - 11k car if you can show receipts for the rebuilt motor and trans
Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 5 2014, 01:09 PM
Here you go....
http://bringatrailer.com/2014/08/04/turbo-project-1979-subaru-brat/
--DD
Posted by: Eric_Shea Aug 6 2014, 05:52 AM
I had to double check the original poster. My first thought was... Drevil's at it again.
Posted by: deputydog95 Aug 6 2014, 06:21 AM
My parents had one when I was 10 or 12. It's was a pretty cool
concept. I still can't believe the jump seats with lap belts in the
bed were legal at the time. Although we did love riding back there
as kids.
Posted by: Dr Evil Aug 6 2014, 07:12 AM
I had to double check the original poster. My first thought was... Drevil's at it again.
I know, right?
Posted by: kkid Oct 15 2014, 01:58 PM
Hey so I am back to seek some advise here.
I drove a Brat last week and it was't good. It has a sluggish drive train. But someone bought it on ebay.
This week I found one in great condition but in other state. The truck is a '78 model and has updated 2.1 Legacy motor and tranny.
How hard would it be in order to register the vehicle in CA since it doesn't have an original motor? The owner says FI 2.2 w/ CAT converter should have better smog test result than the original 1.6 carbed motor. Also the new motor is really new with less than 1k miles after rebuilt. First of all, can we register a vehicle with a swapped motor in CA?
Any suggestion will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
kkid
Posted by: Jon H. Oct 15 2014, 07:06 PM
I know from the Vanagon forums on the Samba website, the only CARB compliant Subie swaps into Vanagons (not sure if its only vanagons/subie?) come from Kennedy engineering. I gleaned this while researching my own Subie swap. From this it appears that you might not pass the test using a home brew swap. Of course me being from Canada means jack. But, I'm sure some one else will chime in.
Jon H.
Posted by: Dave_Darling Oct 15 2014, 09:52 PM
Is the Brat considered a car or a truck? There are different standards for each, and you can't officially swap motors between cars and trucks.
--DD
Posted by: kkid Oct 16 2014, 08:57 AM
Is the Brat considered a car or a truck? There are different standards for each, and you can't officially swap motors between cars and trucks.
--DD
Hey DD,
Thanks for the reply. I think the vehicle is registered as a passenger car since it still has original jump seats in the back. And the new motor is from Legacy which I think either a sedan or station wagon.
According to our DMV site, we have to specify engine# when registering. I'm not sure if a newer motor can go with the older body to pass. How hard do they look into it?
Have no idea so far...
kkid
Posted by: DBCooper Oct 16 2014, 11:26 AM
DMV won't look at but the smog tech will and won't pass it. Don't buy it unless you have an out-of-state address where you can register it.
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