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Everything posted by bratman2
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Fuel Injection vs Weber
bratman2 replied to wagondragon's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
The original EPA rating was 24 city and 26 highway if my memory is correct. I live in the deep sticks, have to drive pretty far to find a stop light. Keep my Brat tuned and know what the speedometer error is. I consistently average around 29.5 mpg running 60 or less. I think that is pretty outstanding for a carbureted, no computerized vehicle that turns 2700 rpm at 55 mph. I have gotten as high as 31 mpg but that was driving super careful for maximum mpg. Wind and load will make a decent dent in the mpg. Short of dropping a fuel injected EJ18 in I don't see much room for improvement in mine. -
I have never seen an air shock for an EA81.
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New suspension and bearings for my 87 Brat.
bratman2 replied to bratman2's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
Individually, some off Ebay, some of Rock Auto. Forget the company I found the Gas Adjust shocks but I got them for $66.00 shipped. -
New suspension and bearings for my 87 Brat.
bratman2 replied to bratman2's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
Yes it is, and was really nice my middle daughter came over, jumped right end and gave a helping hand. I was past ready to be finished. Plus the Brat was filthy from four snows!!! We popped the halo tops and went for a nice cruise to dump old stuff at the garbage dump, lol! -
Well, this evening I finally finished!! Took my brat down a couple of weeks ago to do a bunch of work underneath. Some down time was waiting for new brake lines to come in plus I work 12 hr rotating shift. The front end had started feeling kind of loose over some bumps and overall rode like poop, even though it passed the bounce test. Anything approaching 60 mph caused considerable shimming also. I replaced the original struts and shock some 15 or more years ago. I installed new Sachs front struts and mounts, KYB Gas adjust rear shocks, new strut rod bushings, new control arm bushings, wheel bearings front and rear. Also replaced right front ball joint, busted boot, and left front outer tie rod end, busted boot. Noticed my brake lines looked like poop too so ordered and installed all four new brake lines. The rear were aggravating. also changed the oil and changed the Redline MT90 in my transmission. My 28 year old daughter dropped by this evening and helped me install the shocks and reinstall my nearly new 185/75-14 Uniroyal, rotated them even though they only have 2k miles. We gave her a bath and tested drove it on the crappiest country roads we could find, we didn't have to look hard around here! Even she was impressed with the new ride quality, it surpassed my hopes!!! Ran it up to near 70 mph and the old Brat was smooth as glass. The strut rod bushings were severely compressed and cracked up. The control arm bushings center hole appeared to be pulled off center allowing the control arm to flex and excess amount to the rear. My rear wheel bearings truly looked pretty good for nearly 240000 miles and had a decent smear of black grease left. But since I had new ones in they went! The new brake lines allowed me the opportunity to flush the old brake fluid out a second time. I had done it maybe 5 years ago and was surprised how dark it was already. Just thought I would share all this hard work, busted knuckles, swearing, grit in my eye and etc.
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The Gabriels on Auto Parts Warehouse are the correct number. They are the same as the ones I just took off my Brat. Had them for about 15-16 years. They did pretty good.
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Fuel Injection vs Weber
bratman2 replied to wagondragon's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
Pretty sure the fuel injection would by a small margin, maybe 1-mpg! Should gain a few horses too, maybe 3 or so over a good tuned Weber. -
Name sounds familiar. May take month for them to get to England regardless of who you get them from. Make sure to cross reference the part number you are buying!!! You don't want to have to ship them back because they don't fit. I usually buy online parts as if I was buying for a 84 Brat. Helps to reduce the confusion between EA82 parts and EA81 parts.
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Weber would be number 1. Two inch exhaust from Y pipe back with a Magnaflow muffler or similar. Also change your thermostat out for a 180 degree, lower if you don't need the heater much. Coolant runs through the intake and heats the air charge. Probably gets you into the high 70's!!!
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Don't forget to search for a discount code also!!!! Looks like the Monroe for the 4whl drives has sold out and they list a two wheel drive strut, don't know why they list that under a Brat. So it looks like your choices are A.C. Delco or Sachs. I just finished one side of my Brat and will fore warn you if you buy the Sachs they are ever so slightly bigger in diameter and a bugger bear to install. You may want to consider replacing your strut rod bushings also. Mine were pretty compressed and cracked up. This allows your control arm to flex rearward a little. They are not that expensive or hard to install. Your Brat being 7 years newer maybe fine just the same though. Good luck!!
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You need front struts, not shocks. They list them for 1987 and down. Should be the same for a 1994. I don't believe anything changed did it? That is were I got my Sachs struts from and they still show 4 in stock. They are cheaper options also, Monroe and A.C. Delco.
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Ironic that you asked about suspensions as I started on my 87 Brat yesterday. I have Sachs struts and KYB Gas Adjust rear shocks to mount. Also strut rod bushings and control arm bushings. Seems the control arm bushings are being a bit of a pain in the butt. I bought my 87 back in 1997 and have grown rather fond of it! Good luck on your search! They are rare in North Carolina also. Most were in the mountains and road salt ate them away. I have not seen another on the road here in at least 3 or 4 years. Another option is Rock Auto in the USA. They show shipping to the UK. Will cost you I am sure but may be your only option for new!! You can also look up discount codes for 10% off and such.
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Nice Brat, looks like a solid top. Is it dark blue or black?
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You can try Sachs if you can find them in the UK. They make front struts for a Brat. Loyal struts are not inner changeable with a Brat to my knowledge.
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Tires
bratman2 replied to nipper's topic in 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX
I replaced Hankook tires on the Brat and that is why I got the quote on the CS4 tires. I had about the last set of 185/80-13 tires I believe at the time left in the country. Took my dealer over 3 months to find them several years ago. The left front blew out when I hit some railroad tracks a few months ago with 20k miles on them. They had maybe 1/3 the tread left but they couldn't find any 185/80 tires so I busted my 14" Peugeot steel rims back out. I passed on the CS4 tires because they had ordered (4)185/75-14 Uniroyal tires for a person that never came and picked them up, so they were kind of stuck with them. I guess 185/75-14 is getting to be a kind of odd size too, they had them for nearly 6 months. I took them off their hands. -
Tires
bratman2 replied to nipper's topic in 1990 to Present Legacy, Impreza, Outback, Forester, Baja, WRX&WrxSTI, SVX
We run Michelins on about everything we own. But on the other hand I was looking at the Cooper CS4 tires for my 14" equipped Brat. I have owned and used Coopers many times over the years and always had good luck with their upper tier tires. The CS4 tires have outstanding reviews. Even if they are a few dollars above your budget I believe they would pay you back in the long run. Long mileage, good ride and handling. My local and only tire dealer quoted me $79.00 a tire for CS4s in 195/70-14 which I thought was pretty cheap for the reviews. Your local dealer may want much more, hard to say. They always give me outstanding prices that pretty much match Tirerack on Michelins. Comes from 33 years of dealing with their father and now his boys!!! -
05 forester front seats into an 85 gl wagon
bratman2 replied to shoebee2's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
I installed 03 RS seats in my Brat. Did not switch rails, I just tabbed it over 1-inch with a 1/4" piece of flat steel for the outside bolt holes. The seat sets maybe an inch higher than stock. At 5' 10" I clear the ceiling by a couple of inches. The inside bolt holes lined up inside my Brat. Been maybe 9 years ago I installed them but that is how I did mine to the best of my memory. On an EA82 car it might be different. Good luck on your restore. I have owned my 87 Brat going on 17 years now and don't see it going for sale ever! -
"BOUGHT" A 1983 GL Brat
bratman2 replied to buckkiller's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
You stole it! -
how to value/price my 1984 turbo wagon?
bratman2 replied to lastchance's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
A picture is worth a thousand words! -
voltage regulator on an ea81 / '86 brat
bratman2 replied to belacane's topic in Old Gen.: 80's GL/DL/XT/Loyales...
It is inside the alternator and you are pretty much on the mark. -
I average around 29-30 mpg but I do live in the country. That makes a big difference. Sounds like your close to getting it right.
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I think mine is 10 but have not checked it in years!
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The secondary filter under the hood should have three hook ups. Incoming fuel, out going to carb and return to gas tank. The primary fuel filter is underneath your Brat. Located underneath the front driver's side of your bed. Replace that filter and make sure you have the right filter under the hood with three hook ups. Seems like a good place to start and see if that eliminates your problem. You may be flooding instead of lean.