Seahag1978

I spoke to him a while back about fenders for my '86. He seemed very personable, talked my ear off... but I do know one thing... he knows the worth of his inventory to the "right buyers" and is in no particular hurry to sell it off. You can tell by the dust on the fenders Yuck! I would be leery of anything... he could have at least dusted the thing... presentation matters. Now, Paulie, I did find the fender from Russ Hill the night before "showcars" called me back and I stayed with Russ' deal. He was great to do business with, he's a real gentleman! So ya-huh... there is SO cohesion with the vintage crowd (in my best teeny-bopper voice)

Alright Bucky! Now, when are you going to come up and let him give my little slugs a pep talk? Man, they need it I can't complain too loudly, they can outmaneuver every high dollar car on snowy, icy roads, even my Baja

Well, now I have the seats (took me 4 hours to clean them) and other components, we started the interior. Today, the interior got gutted and new sound deadening material and carpeting was installed. Hope it helps with the Brat noises... I got a new CD/radio that was salvaged from another car. I have been experimenting with several different "replenishers" for tired, old, sunbaked plastics. So far mink oil and Pledge furniture polish massaged with your fingers into the plastics have produced incredible results. I have posted some pictures of before and after shots. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5798 I love detailing cars... I think I would enjoy doing it for a living... it's rather zen-like... especially when you take something old and tired and make it nice again. This Brat is not for the purist, it's for my personal pleasure and comfort. I hope this post doesn't get bounced over into the Older forum. Although they have been about restoration techniques, seems my posts regarding this '86 Brat always get booted over there?

I agree with Jerry, and be sure to present the pics and current eBay/craigslist pricing. Just go to the past auctions sections and find a recent sale that is comparable. Also, if there were personal injuries never sign off on them. Ever. Your medical insurance company can't recover from a settlement. I never condone suing people, but I am against insurance companies short-changing people on their coverage by pressuring them intoto take less than they are entitled to. Best wishes. Mary

This is the '86 that I got from nsantos23. We painted it and added the roll bar and seats from the '84 "parts car" (pics to follow later). My "bud" has been strapped into the seat during the "season". He rode in the '78 til the salt trucks came out and she got parked, and moved to the '86, a daily driver. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=9505&sort=1&cat=500&page=1 He sure brought a lot of smiles!

Welcome to the board! We just completed an '86 Brat. We stripped it back to bare metal using a chemical stripper and primed with 2 coats. Then 3 coats of Viper red paint. We then wet sanded it and buffed up to a softer shine. The car still has some bumps and bruises so the effect makes it look like it was original, not a diamond-hard shine that a new clear coat paint job has. The decals were made by Ed Dahl. The chrome bed trim is actually polished aluminum, so a lot of elbow grease and chrome/aluminum wheel polish will bring back the original shine which again, is a softer shine than real chrome. We used aftermarket trim until I can find a full set of original trim. I used silver leaf to re-silver the badges. You can see the finished car and some of the progress shots in my gallery (link below). The car before the restoration is the grey one on the trailer. We have since added the roll bar and jump seats.

Northguy, I had hoped to have an extra tailgate piece for you. I didn't, but I do have some of the plastic clips if you need them.

Andrew and Matt we keep crossing paths... I have met Moosens, Bucky92, subafreak, Hocrest, Leaking Oil, nsantos23, breaffyaviation and son, and there was someone else there that day, I don't recall his name. Andrew, did Andrew email you about the wagon?

All this time I thought WE were the more corrupt state... saying we would not legalize casinos if you gave us a cut... FOR SHAME on MA. After paying $29.00, we have to pass a safety inspection every year, regardless of age... lights, wipers, horn, glass, body rust, brakes, tire tread depth, e-brake, front suspension (ball joints, control arms, etc.) and then emissions on even/odd years. Apparently this was an even year and my '86 was subjected to emissions at age 19. It passed by the grace of God! We have 60 or 90 days (I forget) to repair the vehicle and return to the same station to re-inspect for free. If the repairs aren't completed within that time, or we choose to go to a different station, then we have to pay all over for a re-inspection.

I posted a holiday card on OT, I had hoped like heck to get printed versions mailed out to those that I had an address for. My printer was spitting at me and I only managed to get one out HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

How would we check the u-joints? Sounds like the most likely so far, since I haven't had the joy of experiencing that particular about-to-leave-you-stranded noise yet But would the noise go away under load?

Wow... CT is pretty lenient with the inspections and registration. MA is awful... they get us coming and going.

It sounds like it's coming from the right side. I don't think it's coming from the tranny, I had a ring and pinion go once... that was the same noise regardless of the gears... that sounded like a baseball card stuck in the spokes of a bike then graduated until it sounded like a Subie rolling around in a cement truck.

Nope... it doesn't feel like a CV (I have had a few of those go I do notice a kinda buzzing... no, not really buzzing... kinda more like hissing under my foot while barely resting on the clutch.

When I start out in 1st gear, I get this repetitive noise that gets faster with speed. It makes the noise in 2nd gear too. In 3rd and 4th gears it's gone while I accelerate, but then it reappears randomly for a few seconds when I take my foot of the gas and coast while still in gear. When I coast while in 1st or 2nd it's constant. It doesn't sound metallic at all. It sounds dull, like tapping a drum with a broken skin with a drumstick. It doesn't matter whether I'm driving straight or turning. The car runs, shifts and drives great. Oh, it's a lot louder when it's really cold and quiets down a bit after driving a mile or 2.

That's what the rules on the DMV website states. It's not bad at all... In Mass. if you have Antique plates, you can ony drive the vehicle to and from exhibitions, car club meets, parades and repair facilities. The car also has to pass a safety inspection. They do allow the use of year-of-manufacture plates which carry no restriction on driving time.

I love my Baja. I have not a single regret in getting it. It's awesome, and fits my lifestyle perfectly. Hauling people, dog and things that I couldn't in a car. It's so nice to drive something that gets out of its own way!

I just posted this in Older Gens Forum. Thought I should add it here as well. It's a product boaters use for salt removal and neutralization. Looks like something an old Subie owner should have in their arsenal against deterioration. http://www.saltawayproducts.com/

That was too easy... here's the website: http://www.saltawayproducts.com/

Mostly the places where the tires fling the dirt and salt into. There's a product that boaters use called "Salt Away" it neutralizes salt so it can't do any damage. I had a brochure on it but lost it, so I'm going to check it out again. Seems like a good product to have around old Subies.

Wax! Nothing protects a car's finish better than a good coat of wax. Be sure to wax your chrome/aluminum well too, it will keep it from pitting. I posted a thread in the Historic Forum on how to make an oil formula for spraying the underbody to help prevent new rust. For rubber and plastics I use Pledge furniture polish, works better than Mother's Back-to-Black. I also use Pledge on the plastics inside the car, especially the clear plastic on the instrument gauge... keeps things looking nicer and lasts longer than Armorall. I also use a reflective sunshade in summer, it's the best defense against sun damage to the interior. Tire shine, sprayed in the wheel wells will help reduce those nasty "fenderbergs".

I got a great deal on my Baja from CarMart/Wilmington Subaru. They had it ready and waiting at the front door for my test drive... I drove out with the car in about an hour. I haven't used their service yet, but my buying experience was one of the best I have ever had. No hassles. You may want to go to the NASIOC-New England section. There is a lot of information, both pros and cons of dealerships and independent shops. Good luck! And welcome to New England!

I just had a custom... well... re-work on my '86 Brat. The "y" was toast on one side... he cut it out and bent a new pipe for it and remade some other pipes. I did see a gain in power at the low end (single exhaust). I have a weird noise and haven't taken it on the highway, so I can't help on the high end. I know it's quiet, there's no smell... and it passed emissions. I will say, stay away from the chain shops... if they can't slap it on off-the-shelf they'll charge an arm an a leg ($1400. for the same job that cost $120.) Go for a custom shop, they have a deeper appreciation for their work.

Skip. Is that the same Brat go-kart that was advertised on the postcard "Win a Brat You Lucky Devil??

Locking tonneau. Those carpet mats are gross. The tan one that was on the '78 when I got it was SCREWED on! Like it's going somewhere? Well, the dash did go to a good home. My '78 is my pride and joy. It was a LOT of work mechanically... it still has a nasty noise, but runs and drives fine... when what ever it is falls off then we'll know, I guess <shrug>