maximumBRAT

i'm in CO! i've got 3 scoobies, brat is being restored, i estimate a lift w/in 6 months for some rally fun. until then, it's the semi-stock-but-mostly-fabricated/frankenstein RX. Or the legacy. i've drowned that thing a few times. mud. mmmm.... can't 4 wheel worth anything in the legacy, and the RX has no clearance. those ain't mine anymore, so i put effort into the BRAT

heck. i'm at school now.. :/

'88 RX Sedan ftFWD dR DifLk w/ 120k miles. 4-wheeling (the mountain kind, not the asphalt/tarmac kind ) i get 20, commuting to school- tank a month at 25 mpg if it has the muffler on, 21-23 if not (folks like the way it sounds). but my results are going to be lower than anyone at sea level- altitude and hilly terrain. i've gotten 27 cruizing nebraska (anyone with a spare bullet before i do it again?)

Yeah, has the fT4wd dual range diff lock, but i know it was replaced before, not by me. My father (re)built the engine, i'm not sure if maybe the diff came off the '87 turbo wagon (5 spd d/r- no difflock). all i know is that the car runs like a champ, sitll wish i had a bolt-on o/d gear or something, but the diff is stamped w/ 3.9. We have no other history as to the car, it was inches away from the crusher, so if a 3.9 doesn't make sense, it's probably a frankenstein part.

Nice car! Bet that thing is a kick to drive! would look identical to mine if i had the scoop and spoiler. and a coupe. so it's better than mine.. i like the white rage..

On my '88 RX i have the 14", however, i have 13" on my brat around some spoker rims. The best tire i could find for the brat for what i was doing- crusing, racing, commuting, and little off roading (i have to wait for my mods before i do a lot of that), i bought the yokohama 13" variation. These are NOT touring tires. Hama's varieties are extremely grippy, a softer compound, and therefore are only actually good for 30-40k miles. I don't know how you drive it, but seeing as you have the same car i do, you know that, unless you have an o/d gear (non-stock) or a faster 5th speed, the RXs are not super for road trips. in that case, i'd go for the Yokohamas. Once you know what you want, buy tires at samsclub. i hate walmart and big corperations to pieces, but i put that aside if i can save $10-30 on each tire. I don't know how theor internet sales work, but i bet there's a local outlet near you (wink!) Good luck learning the manual... like riding a bike... you're lucky to have an RX to learn on, if maintained, they shift like my friend's saab.

my '88 RX sedan has 3.9 printed on the diff...yeah. they do exist (scary music)

mine did the same type of thing where it only worked in one selection, only in that instance it was the temp select (knew it was heating, it just wasn't blowing) turned out to be the switch wiring problem. those slanted consoles have a lot of problems, go out quick and whatnot. however i am not sure about the knob... i think you should go for the swap out, i don't have any better pictures, but you could get one cheap, and that will likely solve your problem. if it doesn't, look into it being a wiring problem.

GO FOR IT! Those are so rad. rad being a word of choice!!! I love your scoop.. jealous! Definately keep them, you'll stand out like mad if you take to any shows or anything, i like the tire fill in idea, if budget allows, that would be awesome.

i just can't believe you're calling an 87 old !!!!!!!! As for verification if it matters, yeah they're right, most others are better than Chilton, i got one along w/ the manufacturer's manual w/ my brat a year ago. BAD.

just like to say: the rodent sroies: priceless. I'm glad you told me about the virus- don't those things carry rabies and stuff too? in other words.. don't eat the french fry, haha. When we got my brother's legacy, there were moths in the wheel well. along w/ about a quart of water. had been garaged for 3 years and the whole spare (was donut now full size) was coated in cacoons and nesting and fun stuff like that... least they didn't smell.. Knew a kid w/ a swallow porblem..

s'ko- that is awesome, and also going on my x-mas card, hope you don't mind (my brother and i with the brat for a picture). This is my subaru, don't touch the leather (ha! i wish..) ver rad song

(loveland, Alright!) Yeah, i think you're a little optimistic. if the seals are leaking, few things outside of jb weld are going to help you. even then, you can't put that on moving parts. as for your gear oil viscosity, i'll ask my father if he knows, but even then, if you have a low (heavy) viscosity, once it heats up, it will still likely leak.

Those are slick. Very nice, i'd take them. But no, never actually seen anyone w/ them. the more homemade they are, the more hillbilly they are, and therefore the cooler they are!

Here's your second offer to drive out to CO and get it done for a pack of MGD and some swishers.. haha. come on, now, you can definately do it if you just rent a cherry picker (engine hoist) unbolt the engine, and its right there.. i put a clutch in my 88 RX and my dad's hoist gave out (litterally, the hydraulics rusted) just as i was putting it back in. get some gearhead friends and a do-it-yourself book or a knowledgeable friend, won't take you a day. heck, if you've got a big friend, you don't even need a hoist (seriously joking. don't do that).

that is a fine looking brat... wish those stickers had been a month ago when i decided i was going to do lettering... come to think of it, i don't know that i have seen a yellow with red before, ever. looks mightly fine.

You heard the man... hoses and junk replaced every year-year and a half on my turbo RX, never had any problems. if you don't replace them ,the heat/cooling makes them hard, start to crack, and thousands of dollars later, you'll have wished you prevented it.

For those of you who aren't 5'4" i need a ladder once the brat gets a lift. And oh, man, it's coming... Went down to dad's place, the Subie graveyard (nations largest independent subaru repair/resale/used parts). As far as the '83s go, the majority of what you're looking for is compatible 2-4wd. Just look out if you know you have someting not stock or something on there (i seen one switched to the legacy pneumatic, likely ain't yours, but worth looking at before doing anything). Or air bags... haha, just kidding. i know you all are above that.. but a basic lift should be alright. Just don't try to lower it like AJ using a spring compressor. fool. worked for 5 miles and one shot right through his fender.

stuff doesn't rust up here at all, because no, it doesn't rain. my county is listed as "desert terrain," 'cept for snow. they don't even salt the roads. if they did it would be in vain, because it would just snow again tommorow... i seen all the heart-wrenching rust and mold and other pretty stuff up there in WA, and yeah, he's a whole bucket full of pity. just so you know...

Very rad. I like it. and other folks say subies aren't worth your time...american muscle.. what? come one now.. i bet you have some crazy adventures with that thing. be sure and aim for a wombat. i don't even know what that is, but i'm sure it's no match for a 4"

Ha! yeah. i'm just remembering all the BS comp files dad did so he'd have time to race his celicas. you bet they had 2.5 RS engines in them! but still. he WAS working for the government..

my best advice: get out of washington if you want a decent car. if that isn't going to happen, get something like a late 80's loyale or legacy. brat if you can do it. my cousin lives up by olympia, drives her '89 GL (loyale) everywhere. hasn't had a major problem yet. but then again, she's ignorant and wouldn't know... anyway, she's had it for a good 5 years. no power, but if is a commuter, ya'll don't need that up there since it's flat and all. for up there, dad's best advice for surface judging: look for 'not rusty.'

Hey did you do your shopping for that, i am considering a lift for my gen-1.. need some $ first, so i got time, so if it ends up fitting (not mismachined or anything (bad experience on buddy's tacoma)) let me know where you got it

thanks for the advice on the POR- i'll look at it, i'm looking at pricing, don't really need rust protection, the thing ain't going out of colorado... good luck to all restoring brats, lord knows it aint easy, but we'll all make money someday! (cheers!)

Here's a sad story for ya'll: I'm still in high school, and a select (elite/educated) group of my friends can always tell what i've been doing all day come saturday after noon. remarks go like this; "dang, Laura, you smell like crap. you changing gears in the rear again?" It's hard for me not to smile. Why is it that my dad's a subaru used parts man who's now teaching has a son that doesn't even know how many liters his Legacy is? but that his girl can weld to a commercial level? I gave him this as he hurdled the RX spare (!!!) engine block on our front porch. -And about the sound from a mile away. Guilty. Sick. Most of the ones around here i can tell is dad built them, i did, or i never heard them before.