General Brat questions.

[ricku]

I am new to Subarus, bought an 82 Brat GL 4x4 a few months ago then bought another 82 GL last week for parts. (Found both on Craigslist). Both run well, but need some repairs.

 

White one: Has 180k miles, needs AC recharged/fixed, door handle on pass side, dashboard is severely cracked, dent in DS door right on the door handle, exhaust bolt holes are stripped on pass side.

 

Questions: How far in can I drill to retap the exhaust bolt holes? (I assume I will need to get a special bottoming tap.) Has anyone stripped and recovered a dash? I tried charging AC with no success, is there anything I should know or look for before I take it in to have it evac-ed and recharged? Compressor seems to work well and I can see liquid and bubbles flowing through the small glass examination port.

 

 

Red One: has 90k miles, left rear wheel trailing arm bent causing bottom of wheel to be bent in a few degrees, came with replacement hood and left front fender to replace existing damaged ones, needs new left tail light assembly.

 

Questions: What is best way to straighten rear wheel/trailing arm? (I have a hydraulic ram and chains.) What other damage should I look for in the drive train that could have resulted from the wheel damage? Will a tail light from an early 80s Loyale fit in the Brat?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice/help. Expecting many years of fun driving.

 

Rick

[skishop69]

You don't want to 're-tap' the exhaust stud holes. You want to use a helicoil. Drill down as far as the original hole and use the tap from the kit. The coils are way stronger than the aluminum. What do you mean charging it (AC) didn't do anything? Didn't take the charge? Compressor doesn't come on? Not cold? You shouldn't see bubbles in a properly evac'd and charged system. At least not a lot. As for the trailing arm, replace it if you can. If not, any straightening method will weaken it. Probably not enough to be an issue. Heat and bend is the easiest. As far as I know, Brat tail lights are unique and not interchangeable with other rigs.

[ricku]

Thanks, I'll try to straighten the wheel/trailing arm this weekend. I have access to a junkyard that has a few older Subaru GL 4x4 station wagons, would one from an 88 GL 4x4 wagon fit on the 82 Brat?

 

As for the AC it took a charge (about 20 oz. can) and the pressure was bordering on high so I stopped filling it. The air cooled off slightly, I will just take it in and have it checked out, I've never had much luck fixing AC systems.

 

As for the helicoil thanks I didn't even think of that, temporary brain damage.

 

Do you know of a web site that has a parts cross-reference list to find out which parts are interchangeable? For example, seats, dashboards, engines, trannies.

 

Thanks again.

[Flowmastered87GL]

No promises on parts fitting the brat, but if you want to put GL wagon or sedan parts on it try to get 1980-1984 parts. Or hatchback up to 88ish. Basically it should look like your body style. I think the parts on the newer models are different. Though you would be amazed how many parts ARE interchangable.