The Beast I Drive

I'll get some pics today and post them up tonight for ya! -Bill

I just put my front plate up inside my windshield on the drivers side, I have a 12 gauge shotgun shell holding it up against the glass. Never got in trouble for it, as long as it's clearly visible. -Bill

On my 87 GL I had a problem like that, I replaced the starter and it would still do just what you described, turned out that both of the starter cables were corroded throughout the inside. I replaced those with new ones and away we went -Bill

I could use all the access plates in the bed and on the tailgate. I too am interested in the tail lights... Does it have a slanted radio consol? If so I want that... If it has a grey interior I would like the center console section with the shifter boot if its not torn, and the e brake cover, and the 4wd selector lever.... Prolly some more stuff but I cant think of it at the moment -Bill

Right on, now all thats left is the trans mounts? I looked today and it appears the 2wd and 4wd mounts are the same, and that makes sense since they use the same crossmember... -Bill

With the electric choke, the choke butterfly is closed when there is no power to the element. When the element gets power, it begins to open, and when it has warmed up the choke butterfly is fully open. SO, if the electric choke is your problem, then it would be because it is NOT getting power for some reason, but it was probably just old bound up/stuck linkage some where. -Bill

If you want to get fancy with it, in a couple minutes with scrap and a welder you can rig up a pretty sweet axle installer. Mine took about 10 minutes to make out of whatever I had layin around. Basically mine is an 8" piece of 1 7/8" exhaust pipe, about 9" of 3/4" threaded rod, and axle nut, some flat washers and a handle. I spin the nut on the axle, then slip the pipe over the rod, and crank on the nut over the washers on the pipe. -Bill

Im actually quite interested to see this project come to fruition On a side note, why not adapt an H-6 motor to the stock Dodge trans/t case combo? I would love to see a 3.3 or 3.0 with a trifecta of 2bbl carbs on it nothing says hotrod like mulitple carbs and open headers -Bill

Ya'll shouldnt be filing/sanding the races on the axles! they are press-fit and are supposed to be 1-2 thousandths larger diameter than the inside diameter of the bearings. If the axle slid in smoothly it is worn. Still usable, but worn nonetheless. -Bill

thanks! Oh I sent out your parts this morning, look for them in the mail -Bill

I read that there is a bolt back there on the torsion tube that when it wiggles loose your car will make that clunking/popping sound. Aparrently you just have to go back in and tighten it. Ive never done it, but Ive seen the bolts that Im refering to, look where the rear outer control arm attaches to the torsion tube and on the tube there should be 2 bungs with a bolt in one of them. Go to the side that is making the noise and tighten it up and it should go away:banana: -Bill

I think the most important thing to know is that I build lifts for these... Not really but it is an interesting tidbit Just dont overheat it or run it out of oil and it should run forever -Bill

Its a Brat, they never came with a 5 speed. It has a 4 speed -Bill

Still rockin' the Beast, but with about 1/4" of free play on the crank and a gallons per hour oil leak, it doesnt see much wheelin ATM 1987 GL wagon stock 5 speed D/R open rear diff homemade 6" lift came out to 7" in the front and 8" in the rear 31x10.50xR15 Maxxis Bighorn tires (kick rump roast) redrilled Toyota wheels EA81 w/Weber swapped dual exhaust w/Cherry Bombs Custom bumper/roof rack plexiglass rear window first flames I ever painted on a car (did it around midnight at that!) -Bill

Here's a taste of what I have created Thats an EA82 power steering pump mounted on an EA81 with an EA82 manifold and a Weber, so it should also fit the SPFI manifold with no problems. Details to come, but basically I plan to sell this as a swap kit, with the bracket, new hardware, and the proper belt for the swap. Power steering just got a lot easier for anyone swapping a EA81 into a EA82 car or anyone lookin to upgrade to PS in an older EA81 car and cant find a EA81 donor car with PS in the yards. Applause are in order :clap: -Bill

The 390mm is the dumb wheel, the regular 15" is the good one. -Bill

You can run 30" tires. The best combination for this would be a 5 speed dual range swap (5 speed has a lower low range), and a 6" lift kit, and lengthen the radius rods 1", then pound away at the inner fender and cut any unwanted fender interference . For the record, with a 6" lift 27" tires fit with no cutting. I find I have plenty enough power in my wagon with the EA81 and 31" tires, the only things that get me are long, steep hills. I can still go 70 on the freeway if I have to though -Bill

I heard that they are illegal in the woods around hear, mine are pretty loud... Guess Ill just try my luck -Bill

Someday I will have a orange GSR with RX AWD and a 1600 built with 1400 dual port heads, radical cam, and dual carbs. :cool: Ill also have the only 1973 Tailgate wagon with EA81 4wd drivetrain swapped in and completely restorerd body and interior I have big dreams -Bill

I would put at least a 4 point cage in that bad boy just to be safe, other than that I like where this is going -Bill

Looks like Ill be bringing my Brat if it cooperates, with either no lift or a 6" lift and 5 speed swap, depending on if I get any time to work on it or not. Just gotta check one thing though, Im sure all you West siders would know, how big of a fine will I get if a ranger cites me for having glasspack mufflers in the woods? -Bill

I would say use 5 speed 23 spline stubs just to be safe, but I really dont know if the 4 speed stubs are the same or not. As for the rear diffs, yes your brat should have 3.9 ratio, so you would need to swap in the 3.7 diff to match the RX trans, otherwise bad stuff happens -Bill

Awe, you can totally take on Open Class! just put a cage and some extra chassis supports in that beast so you can jump it higher and harder and get more points! -Bill

Just whipped this up a half hour ago: That is the axle puller tool. Works like a charm! made this one with about 9 inches of 3/4" threaded rod, an axle nut, about 8" of 2" exhaust pipe, and a pair of 3/4" flat washers and nuts, then welded a handle on it so it wouldnt turn while I was turning the nut. Shazam! Thats all just crap I had layin around, I did have to do a little lathe turning, but nothing I couldnt have just as well done with a grinder (had to round the points on the axle nut to go into the pipe) -Bill

If it is a Turbo with an RX 5 speed D/R with Diff lock then it should have 3.7 final ratio and 25 spline axles. You can swap the stubsout of the tranny with some 23 spline stubs and then it will work with your EA81 axles. All turbo EA82s with manual transmissions had 25 spline axles while it appears the turbos with automatics had 23 spline axles... About the only things of interest for you to swap to your brat would be the trans, rear disk breaks, and the LSD rear diff if it has one. The power steering can be adapted, but you will need a custom bracket. -Bill