Isaac

Hey everyone, Just hoping that maybe someone out there has had the same kind of problem and can recommend a course of action. I have a 1980 Brat that has been my project for about a year now. I drive it just about daily and have slowly been trying to restore it to as close to original condition as possible. Ever since I bought it, I have been fighting an ongoing overheating battle. To make a long story short, I tried all the usual suspects and it appears that the overheating problem was due to the radiator. I replaced it with a new one and, having already removed the thermostat, the engine doesn't even get up to normal operating temperature now. Obviously I have put the thermostat back in, but here's my problem: it would appear that I didn't figure out the problem soon enough and it had one to many overheating spells. Now since I've replaced the radiator, I've noticed that every couple of days the radiator is missing a lot of it's coolant and I've started noticing small light brown puddles on the ground under my engine. Checked the oil and it's the same light brown, cloudy color. So looks like I got either a blown head gasket or a cracked head. I bought some Bars Leak Block seal and head gasket repair, but has anybody out there ever had any success with this stuff. I'm skeptical. I'm affraid of plugging up the new radiator. Any suggestions on fixes and how to go about getting the water out of my engine? Or, am I just going to have to face the fact that I'm looking at a spendy repair bill from a Subaru mechanic. Thanks A Lot!

Thanks for the help and advice guys. I've got 4 of the 80-84 wheels sitting here waiting to be sandblasted and then powder coated... hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for the help and advice guys, I sure appreciate it. I prefer the look of the deeper 80-84 wheels. Got four of them sitting here waiting to be sandblasted and then powdercoated.

Thanks a lot. I have several of the ones that I like and a few of the 82-88 ones that I've been collecting here and there since I bought it (I've learned that you can never have enough spare parts! for the older Subarus). As a matter of fact, when I bought it, it looked almost identical to the one you have. I took the topper, the roll bar, and the jump seats out of it so that I can use the bed (i've been amazed at what kind of a load these little trucks will haul). I hope to eventually Rhino line the bed and the cab. I kept the carriage and the jump seats so that I can bolt them in if I ever want to. It's the same color, spark blue, with the white wagon wheels. I love it! It's a great little truck.

Looks like they're the 4WD wagon wheels. The one's on the back look like the very first one and the one's on the front look like the one just below it in the description, just without the chrome ring. Oh... is that the difference? One's designed for a chrome ring, and the other is not? Thanks for your help!

Hi Everyone, I'm new to the USMB. I'm glad to see that there's a place where all us Subaru people can get together to chat and share knowledge & advice about our cars. I have a 1980 Brat DL that I purchased about a year ago. I drive it just about everyday and, as money and time dictate, I've slowly been trying to restore it to close to it's original condition. I've gotten to the point where I'm going to have the original white mag wheels sand blasted and repainted. I have a question though... The white mag wheels appear to come in two styles. My Brat came with white wheels on the back, the mid-part of which, is deeper or more recessed then the white ones on the front, which appear to have a mid-part that is flatter and sticks out further. I like the look of the "deeper" wheels on the back, but is it possible to put these wheels on the front as well without the rotor or caliper rubbing? I've seen pictures of of other Brats that appear to have these deeper wheels on the front, which leads me to believe that they're interchangable. I guess I could just put one on and see, but I figure it's just as easy to ask someone who already knows. Thanks!