Subaru BRAT rescue
Discussion
Hello.
After lurking on here for some time, attempting to buy a classic Peugeot, I’ve gone and bought a Subaru Brat Pickup.
Growing up in Mid Wales, Subarus were part of my extended family. GLF’s, Leones and pickups all featured in the 80/90’s, and my first car was a Justy mk1.
Some years later I stumbled upon a Forester Sport, and the passion was rekindled.
Why a Brat? I love the looks, the sound, and the dashboard.
Why this one? Under and hour from home, ten minutes from a mate with a trailer and the same money I happened to have spare.
What’s the plan?
Drop the back axle, get a fabricator mate to do the tricky parts, reassemble and enjoy. Eventually cosmetics will follow, with branding for my business.
I’ve followed a few Brat posts on here, so hope to meet fellow enthusiasts and hopefully learn along the way.
Cheers
Dave
After lurking on here for some time, attempting to buy a classic Peugeot, I’ve gone and bought a Subaru Brat Pickup.
Growing up in Mid Wales, Subarus were part of my extended family. GLF’s, Leones and pickups all featured in the 80/90’s, and my first car was a Justy mk1.
Some years later I stumbled upon a Forester Sport, and the passion was rekindled.
Why a Brat? I love the looks, the sound, and the dashboard.
Why this one? Under and hour from home, ten minutes from a mate with a trailer and the same money I happened to have spare.
What’s the plan?
Drop the back axle, get a fabricator mate to do the tricky parts, reassemble and enjoy. Eventually cosmetics will follow, with branding for my business.
I’ve followed a few Brat posts on here, so hope to meet fellow enthusiasts and hopefully learn along the way.
Cheers
Dave
Love these. Had one a few years ago and got the metalwork done, full respray, and a set of 15" steels.
Then a few weeks after I'd started using it, the insurance company called to tell me it was a Cat B on their register, even though it was clear with DVLA and HPI. Turned out it was written off in the 90s before DVLA got notified as a matter of course.
They couldn't cover it, and specialist insurance was so high it was madness to try and run it: all I could do was offload it at a significant loss.
It was slow but had loads of character and got heaps of attention. Needed lowering at the back didn't it?
Then a few weeks after I'd started using it, the insurance company called to tell me it was a Cat B on their register, even though it was clear with DVLA and HPI. Turned out it was written off in the 90s before DVLA got notified as a matter of course.
They couldn't cover it, and specialist insurance was so high it was madness to try and run it: all I could do was offload it at a significant loss.
It was slow but had loads of character and got heaps of attention. Needed lowering at the back didn't it?
Wow yeah you could do with a clearout!
From memory, if you end up putting fibreglass front wings on, make sure your painter knows what he's doing with GRP. Mine didn't - in fact he couldn't even get a skim of filler straight - and I ended up with blisters under the paint after it had been sat in the sun a few weeks.
One of the biggies is the fuel tank rots where the filler joins the tank - guess who found out by getting wet feet when filling the tank to drive it home?
If you're going to modify it:
Everyone, but everyone will say "just" bung the EJ20 turbo engine from an Impreza in, but it doesn't fit unless you notch the front legs. And if you do that, you definitely don't wanna crash it as the engine will come backwards and take your left leg off! I think the non-turbo fits without notching, although don't quote me on that, which would give you 150bhp or so if you feel the need.
My steels were off a Hilux and 2 studs bolted straight on, I then used the unused 4 holes in the wheels to drill the 4x139 Brat hubs to 6x139 and put new studs in - yeah ropey but it worked. Wheels were 15x7J ET25 and 185/55R15 tyres and it was on the limit.
Looks like it was beige before it became Starsky n Hutch'd - any thoughts on colour?
From memory, if you end up putting fibreglass front wings on, make sure your painter knows what he's doing with GRP. Mine didn't - in fact he couldn't even get a skim of filler straight - and I ended up with blisters under the paint after it had been sat in the sun a few weeks.
One of the biggies is the fuel tank rots where the filler joins the tank - guess who found out by getting wet feet when filling the tank to drive it home?
If you're going to modify it:
Everyone, but everyone will say "just" bung the EJ20 turbo engine from an Impreza in, but it doesn't fit unless you notch the front legs. And if you do that, you definitely don't wanna crash it as the engine will come backwards and take your left leg off! I think the non-turbo fits without notching, although don't quote me on that, which would give you 150bhp or so if you feel the need.
My steels were off a Hilux and 2 studs bolted straight on, I then used the unused 4 holes in the wheels to drill the 4x139 Brat hubs to 6x139 and put new studs in - yeah ropey but it worked. Wheels were 15x7J ET25 and 185/55R15 tyres and it was on the limit.
Looks like it was beige before it became Starsky n Hutch'd - any thoughts on colour?
That looks great and very saveable, we go green laning in Wales a lot in our Series Landy, I had to stop for some roadworks near Pontrhydfendigaid (spelling?) and an old boy came out of his house with an absolutely immaculate beige coloured Brat parked outside, we shared our mutual appreciation for each other's trucks and that was that 
must be a rare thing to see in good nick now I imagine
must be a rare thing to see in good nick now I imagine Thanks for all the interest!
I know the EJ20 from a previous Forester ownership, and while I think the non turbo would make a great drive, I’d want to keep the full time 4wd. That needs extensive floor pan mods, so beyond this project.
The EA81 is a popular aviation engine with 100hp being a typical tune. Will have a look down that line and see what crosses over into the road going version.
Colourway will remain red and white, but I’ll complete the stripe to the rear as per the Californian Brat, with company name in the rear panel. There will be yellow KC Daylighter spots on the roll bar.
Wheels are an interesting question. I think the original white 8 spokes make its character, but are too thin. Maybe same style but wider, running mild off-road tyres? Certainly will not be putting 33” swampers on it. They go anywhere stock, ask any farmer over 50.
I’ll update after the jet wash and brush. Let’s see how much is left!
I know the EJ20 from a previous Forester ownership, and while I think the non turbo would make a great drive, I’d want to keep the full time 4wd. That needs extensive floor pan mods, so beyond this project.
The EA81 is a popular aviation engine with 100hp being a typical tune. Will have a look down that line and see what crosses over into the road going version.
Colourway will remain red and white, but I’ll complete the stripe to the rear as per the Californian Brat, with company name in the rear panel. There will be yellow KC Daylighter spots on the roll bar.
Wheels are an interesting question. I think the original white 8 spokes make its character, but are too thin. Maybe same style but wider, running mild off-road tyres? Certainly will not be putting 33” swampers on it. They go anywhere stock, ask any farmer over 50.
I’ll update after the jet wash and brush. Let’s see how much is left!
Brats are so cool.
I was browsing marketplace earlier and stumbled upon a Baja too, which is a pretty rare beast
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/76258976...
I was browsing marketplace earlier and stumbled upon a Baja too, which is a pretty rare beast
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/76258976...
First day with it out of the garage!
Gave it a good jet wash and poke underneath. The job appears as expected - rear arches and inners, front wings, cills.
Also pulled the exhaust off and bodged a plate on the back box to keep the noise sensible while moving it around. I won’t be welding on the rest of the car!
Gave it a good jet wash and poke underneath. The job appears as expected - rear arches and inners, front wings, cills.
Also pulled the exhaust off and bodged a plate on the back box to keep the noise sensible while moving it around. I won’t be welding on the rest of the car!
Love these. Used to see them everywhere around Devon/Somerset and very popular with farmers. Along with these ,Jutsy and Toyaota Tercel, haven’t seen one for ages.
A local farmer had 2 rotting away in field I went to take a look at. Unfortunately where they had sunk into the mud they were rusted through. Way beyond saving. I’ve still got a photo somewhere which I will try and dig out.
A local farmer had 2 rotting away in field I went to take a look at. Unfortunately where they had sunk into the mud they were rusted through. Way beyond saving. I’ve still got a photo somewhere which I will try and dig out.
Edited by ballans on Tuesday 11th October 09:24
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff