Mugs

Ya even if the kid did manage to get the car up and running, I seriously doubt it would have made it around the block, let alone out of the drive way.

Well to quench some of your fears. I have a cross member complete with hub assemblies, rotors, tie rods, and radius arms. Interior wire harness, and engine bay harness, another complete interior of the same color, and a tunnel section. So putting it back together is not going to be as daunting as one may think, Just some time and effort, and a welder for some parts. As far as the much discussed EJ vs EA81, It will be less expensive (right now) to put back in another EA81. I have one lined up, its just a matter of getting it to my house. So I think we will go with that for now. And I agree having him doing all the work is going to make him a lot more respectful and responsible then the kids that mommy and daddy just gave him a car...sometimes a very nice on at that. But even I as his dad can't stay out of the gas. Its not that I am a crazy driver who street races and takes unnecessary risks or even speeds, its just that I get up to speed real quick and I maintain it. I can't stand slow movers in the fast lane. Even when I had my EJ wagon I was always in the throttle running it through the gears, heck I am like that with my daily driver. But its was the shear thrill of acceleration and speed (especially with the EJ wagon) that gets me every time. I loved just romping on the wagon, especially if another suby of its gen or even new gen was next to me, or behind me. So I know he will more then likely be the same. We are just a family of racers, always have been. I just don't want him to be an idiot about it. Like I was when I was his age. I think what I might do is EA81 for now, then at 18 when he finishes high school and is off to college the graduation present will be the EJ. But who knows, it will play out how it plays out. I am trying to make very far off plans and not looking at the here and now (I have a bad habit of doing that.) So I guess we will just have to see what happens. Thanks for all the replies, more to come as work progresses.

Both the EA81 and EJ's are reliable, its the added power and thrill of the EJ that concerns me.

Your brave, brave, brave people. I haven't built a tranny since tech school, and hope and never want to again. But the old wallet may say otherwise at some point.

The Justy had a cvt tranny. I have two co workers who both own 2010 OTB and they both really like the CVT tranny. And from what I have read it seem to be a winner for suby....too bad this years styling wasn't :-\

So my son and I got started on his BRAT this past weekend. First thing on the docket was take out the "new" EA82 turbo and turbo auto tranny and both wire harnesses. Then we took out the jerry rigged center tunnel. I tell ya some people should never be allowed to touch a car. First why the kid wanted to put in his "brand new" rebuilt EA82 turbo is beyond me. In order to do that he had to make custom motor mounts to raise the engine up beyond the frame rails. Well in order for the tranny to mate to the engine he cuts out the center tunnel to raise it up and sheet metal screws a different one in, and then uses plumbers putty to seal it. Well when he did that the heater core box is now in the way of the "new" center tunnel so he cuts the heater box in half and the main air tube was just taped to the heater box with about two rolls of duct tape. On top of that he takes out the 4psd D/R and puts in the auto tranny that came with the turbo loyale. In the mean time he cuts the crap out of every else, the wire harness, parts of the dash (he was trying to put in the loyale gauge cluster) and the engine cross member. So we had to yank all this crap out in order to get it to a base configuration so we can actually start building it. Oh well its a good learning project for him and he had two years to get it done before he starts driving. Now we (I) have to make the decision of whether or not we EJ it or put it back to stock EA81....I know how I am and was, and he has too much "dad" in him. So do I really want a 16 year old with an EJ'd BRAT. But then again maybe if he is putting all the work, money, time and effort into it (which he is) maybe he will be more responsible with it, then I was at his age. Chase starting in on the engine coming out custom welded motor mounts Yah That will hold real good and fine :eek: starting in on the wire harness all gone except the EA81 harness, ya he hacked that up too. center tunnel removed Fred Flintsone style looking in from the engine bay Tranny, we had to pull the wire harness and ecu for it as well.

Subaru actually makes an update kit for this. It is a metal separator plate and allen head bolts. Can't remember the cost but I think it was around 20-30 bucks. I have done them in the past... on the plastic plates. If there metal I just re-seal them.

90's 15 Isuzu trooper rims are almost a direct suby offset as well. That is what I had on my wheeler and they fit perfectly on them. I had 235/75/15 on them.

so very true, I love my auto cars. I hate shifting in town. I love shifting in the mountains though, or on a winding road. However I have noticed with the wrx auto's I have driven they have a lack-luster performance feel compared to the 5 and 6 speed ones I have driven. Not to mention some serious lag time. So that is why I want a stick in the turbo.

By "lifted" do you mean stolen, or have higher ground clearance?

I'm jealous. I have been wanting one since they came out. But I think the one I want is not even available, so it will have to be a custom build. Blue or silver, or the two tone silver/blue, Turbo, 5 speed, factory bed hard top cover, and roll bars I know they came with turbo's but I think they only offered it in an automatic. Plus I think the turbo's sit a little lower...one of the main reasons I want one is because of the ground clearance. Plus I just really like the looks and its just me and my stuff, so I don't need a big forester, although that is my second choice.

I weberized the BRAT...Never worked with carburetors before. It was pretty straight forward and simple. Got it dialed in fairly well. I just followed the " weber sticky" Now I have a lot of clean up to do. Get rid of all that emission vacuum line crap, the EGR,, evap canister etc. I am totally amazed at what a huge difference that it makes. No more crappy anemic Hitachi.

You need to verify whether or not yours has an EGR valve...that will make the difference. Also in 99 I do believe some of the wire harness connectors (BUS) changed a bit (someone correct me if I am wrong on this.) I would try to find an EJ22 in the 99-2003 range which is in the gen model year for yours. What is wrong with the 2.5 is it toast or is it just the heads?

Personally I wish I had a gen 1 BRAT to lower. There is something about their body style that gives them that nice rounded hot rod look. I think would be sick as hell to lower say a 79 or 80, throw a WRX motor in it, custom build the suspension so that it can also have the 6 speed tranny, and wrx suspension groupo/awd drive train, build a lip kit, and flare the fenders a bit, throw on some low pro shoes and nice rims and have a blast with it. Now my 86...well I am flip flop every day between leaving it stock and doing stock resto on it, or still the resto but add 4in lift to it. I am certain of one thing, it is going to get an OBII EJ conversion. I will of course leave all stock wireing alone so that if I needed to I could go back to EA81 status.

I think one of the first priorities (for me) would be to get a two post lift. You got the space and it will make working on cars a lot easier.

Here in town we have a pawn shop that only deals in tools, and nothing else. And they only deal with the good stuff, not any cheap crap, that's what harbor freight is for. I find they have great deals on most things, and are very willing to negotiate a deal. But that some may not have the luxury of a tool only shop so I would just stick to the yard sales instead, seems to me most pawn shops charge almost retail for their stuff, and a lot of it aint worth a dime.

What is it that you ware trying to do, start a shop, or is this for your own to work on your vehicles. Is it a body shop or repair shop. Also you will find (at least I have) that the purple power cleaner works a ton better then the engine degreaser. Just spray it all over, let it sit for about 5 minutes or so and the use a pressure tip on a garden hose (or even better a pressure washer if you have one) and rinse it off. Also you need to run a moisture catch off the air compressor. Ideally you need to run a line all the way through the shop, and have a speed drop right before the moisture catch then the pressure regulator, and then have outlets through out the line. Other then that looks like your coming along just fine. Next you need to think about tool storage.... I have been thinking about selling my big box, if the final offer is right. PM if interested

sweet man...I bet that will turn a few heads when it leaves the stop lights and there just expecting another old school suby wagon to take off.

Well I think you paid about 1000 too much for it, but then again... is Alaska where milk is 9.50 a gallon and a 5th of whiskey can go for 300 in a dry region. If it was me, I would pull the engine and wire harness, and do an EJ conversion on the BRAT. then I would part out the rest. I have been looking for just the same vintage of subie to EJ my BRAT...I hope to never do an OBI engine conversion again... OBII form here on out for me.

Ya I thought that too, but only to discover it was the relay next to it clicking, and it also made it feel like the ign relay was clicking. I changed it out in just shear frustration and viola...it ran again.

Also check to make sure the coolant temp sensor wire is connected. It is an easy one to miss because it is buried and tucked up under the intake.

Before 85 GL Wagon ... RSTi is the new happy owner :-\ After

I would be totally down for a OBII harness how too. I plan on never using an OBI again. I just want to hook my scanner into and go....plus you can manipulate OBII stuff a little better. I plan on doing and OBII swap in the BRAT so that would be way helpful.