Jack in Norfolk

I knew a girl in high school with a tan 4wd turbo coupe with alloy wagon wheels and the luggage rack on the back. I was just thinking about the last time I saw one of those. How rare are they?

I always liked my old 86 gl 4wd d/r wagon because there was metal where it counted and not plastic. I drove my wagon on the beach, in the mud and on trails in the mountains. If I had done some of the stuff I did in my sube in an imprezza or legacy, I would have busted up the plastic molding under the bumpers. Also, real 4wd with a real shifter. Must suvs don't even have this. I don't like pushbuttons. Oh, and how could I forget, my wagon had lots of glass and lots of flat surfaces for posting all of my "look at me I'm liberal" stickers

Very very cool! Its about time someone tricked out a Justy. With the rise of off-road golf carts (like the Honda Mule) as an alternative to ATVs, I see the Justy as a bigger version. Rock on. And what the hell is under the hood?

Oh you could do that without any amphibious capabilities right off of the beach at Oregon Inlet, or any of the other beaches on the Outer Banks where its legal to drive. I have heard stories of people hooking up with blue fin tuna and using thier trucks to land it. But then again, this is not really a fish story forum is it?

While sitting in traffic, waiting to get through the downtown tunnel here in Norfolk, I have seriously considered amphibious transport on many occasions. There are boat ramps on either side of the river, each less than 5 min out of the way. Not to mention that my ofice is on the water so I could just leave it at the dock all day! I can dream can't I?!

I wasn't sure where exactly to post this. http://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/amphi/S_S.html This is the best page I could find, which is not very good, but appearantly a guy in New Zealand makes an amphibious car with fold up wheels and jet propulsion (in the water) based on a 1.8 subaru. To me, the wheels even look like painted subie wagon wheels. Its called the Sealander.

If I'm not mistaken, you said that the short block was from an 82. So I'm wondering how you got an ea81 short block to go where an ea 82 had been so easily....

Dude, not to beat a dead horse, but did you ask for Sergio? This guy that you have been in contact with is obviously a jerk and you aren't going to get anywhere with him. You know the old saying about arguing with fools, from a distance its hard to tell who is who.... Good luck. Don't give up!

Very cool! Thanks for posting the pics! That hatch looks sweet! -Jack

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41135&page=1&pp=10&highlight=turbo+brat

Have you got any pictures of JDM EA 81 or 82 cars with washers/squirters?

Bob, I don't know much about the Justy but I have always thought they were neat little cars with lots of potential. My impression is that on this board the Justy is sort of a black sheep because it is different in many ways from some of the more common subarus. Don't let that deter you. Good luck. -Jack

I called the place yesterday. I said that I was in VA and unable to come to the yard in person, but that I was very interested in buying the brat that a friend told me was in this yard. I said that I understood that it was not thier policy to discuss what parts they had over the phone and asked if they might make an exception in this case because I was calling form the East Coast. I talked to a guy named Sergio. He had a Mexican accent and was very patient, considerate, and nice. He said that he would go and check about the Brat if I could call him back in 10 minutes. As luck would have it I got swamped at work and never got back to him. There are enough Subaru guys in Colorado that you guys should be able to handle this. No offense, but there is only so much I can do from VA. If this thing were in VA, NC, DC, MD I would be all over it. Not be a jerk, but just get the damned thing and quit making excuses. You'll be glad you did, and my comments won't seem as harsh and presumptuous when you are looking at your new turbo brat in the driveway. Your mission is clear! Do or do not, there is no try! Use the force! You can do it (to be read with William Hung accent)!!!!

Is this the pull-n-save in Aurora?

Oh, almost forgot. If the guy that you talked to was just some guy working the counter, find a way to talk to the boss. I would have to imagine if the person in charge knew that there was a buyer interested in paying a sum of cash for a car and that no labor would be required on the part of the yard he might find a way to sell it to you. from a business perspective, the yard boss would not have to pay the counter guy's hourly wage while he "blew it up". rather, the money to pay the guy's wage could be paid while he actually did some work. Just an idea.

Unbelievable! You have to get that Brat! Every man has a price, and this guy is in business, you just have to find the right angle. Just how much do you have to dismantle the Brat to justify that you are not buying a brat, but "a large quantity of Brat parts"? I mean if they pull the motor and tranny, can you buy those and then come back and buy the rest as the "rolling chassis"? There has to be a way to get that thing out of there. Keep asking, if need be, get a bunchof people to ask. If you want, I'll call them and ask them a bunch of questions. Not that I am going to buy the thing, but just in the interest of saving it from the crusher.

Has anyone done a retro fit on a Loyale with parts from a Canadian car?

That is very interesting. The fact that my money won't be going to overseas oil is very appealing. This might be just the thing for my 93 grand cherokee. When I was going to James Madison University, there were quite a few University vehicles that were running on LPG. Is LPG any less stable than gasoline? Is the risk of explosion in a wreck any greater?

What are the pros and cons of this conversion? Is the fuel cheaper (I can't remember the last time I bought propane) here in the states? Is the emmision any easier on the environment? I am always interested in alternative fuels. So far, Willie Fuel is my favorite http://www.wnbiodiesel.com/ But I haven't heard of any viable methods of converting subes to diesel.

What is the EDM L series?

Just wondering if anyone had seen a sube with headlight washers. It seems like when I go up north, more of the "economy" cars have headlight sprayers, and sometimes wipers. Down here its just the usural, mercedes, saabs etc....

If nothing else, the picture of the car in this article is worth looking at http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/article.html?&A=0899 Does anyone have the article in its entirety? What was the Vortex, was the XT down under? This has got to be one of the nicest looking coupes I've ever seen.

First of all let me repeat what everyone else has said, Thank God that you are ok. That must have been absolutely heartbreaking having to witness them cutting into your brat that you put so much work into. That really, really sucks and I am sorry that anyone had to go through that. On the other hand, your brat died a valiant death. It died so that you would not. All cars eventually come to the end of thier line, at least yours went out looking its best and doing the best thing it could in the situation; saving its owner. So many old subes die of rust and neglect in crushing yards at least yours was fully appreciated for what it was while it was alive. I hope that your physical and emotional recovery is swift. -Jack

I am so jealous! I wish I were still in Seattle!! I was planning to go back out west and visit friends, maybe I'll have to make it the weekend of the 15th!

I've seen 'em lifted. Try BYB or the other guys on the board?