Finally posting

[ftwneon]

Been lurking for a long time and I finally picked up a Brat this week and now I'm going through info like crazy trying to figure out what I want to do with it.

It spent most of it's life out in California and the car has barely any rust on it. The rockers, floor boards, wheel wells, all intact.

 

Need to get some more pics tomorrow after work and probably do a better write-up

 

[newsoobdude]

Nice lookin' BRAT you scored there. Everyone's gotta quit taking them away from here even though they are soo clean .

[Turbone]

If they salt the roads during winter in your area, dont drive it.

[idosubaru]

how far did you tow it with the forester?

[ftwneon]

I towed about 2, 2 1/2 hours to get it home, Forester did a fine job with it, no issues what so ever. Right now it's probably not gonna see too much, if any, action this winter, and if it does it gonna get a bath pretty quick.

 

Still trying to figure out what I want my plans for it to be. Not sure if i want to lift it, put big wheels and tires and go off-roading or just clean it up, repaint it and have it be a nice driver or a bit of both. very open to peoples input right now. Right now I'm just combing through the boards looking for info and ideas.

 

She has around 172k on the clock right now with a 4-Speed.

 

Right now there is very little rust on the car and what is there is mainly just surface rust. Passenger fender the paint is completely shot and dented, along with the dent and missing trim on the door. it also doesn't have a window and the crank handle inside it broken. Taillights are cracked and broken and the rear bumper on the drivers side is bashed in. Trim on the tailgate is about to come off as all the clips it is screwed into are broken ( If I can find new plastic clips that'd be awesome!) Needs paint and the Brat letting is cracked pretty bad. Dash pad is cracked pretty bad. Seats are tore up. T-tops are in good shape along with the seals and don't leak. That's most of the cosmetic stuff though.

 

Mechanically it's doing alright, most the suspension stuff needs changed, ball joints, tie rod ends, struts, bushings, etc. Front CV axles are shot. Shifter has alot of play in it and needs new bushings. Water pump is shot and leaking coolant at the shaft and making an awful racket. I think the rear main and crank seals may be leaking some oil but nothing too bad, haven't noticed any on the ground but see it on the trans and oil pan/pump. Exhaust needs replaced just about everywhere. I think the fuel level sender is done, it will only read a 3/4 tank after a fill up. Engine idle is way high, at like 1500 RPM ( First Carb'd motor I'm going to have the pleasure of working on so this should be interesting ) I think that about sums up whats going on with it when I bought it.

 

Right now the only things I really have planned to do until I figure out what direction I want to take are finding a set of Jumpseats for the bed ( may already have this taken care of if SuperBrat finds me worthy of taking my money ) and bed-lining the bed and floor in the cabin ( previous owner took out the old carpet ) Water pump, hoses, and thermostat are probably gonna get done tomorrow. Then either finding a better door with glass or just replacement glass. Then just basic tune up stuff until I can come up with a plan for its future.

 

I got it out at lunchtime today and snapped a few pictures, i have tomorrow off and i plan of taking some better ones with a real camera instead of my cell phone.

 

 

Only had her a few days now but I'm already in love. My 5th Subaru, she needs a name.

Edited September 16, 2011 by ftwneon

[bheinen74]

Nice BRAT in the Midwest. I think we are slowly acquiring some of the better BRATS in the Midwest, one by one.