Subaru BRAT rescue

[DaveEvs]

First two days of welding have gone well. Neil addressed one of the crucial MOT fail points - the rear axle mounting point had dissolved due to water entry into the chassis rail from above. As the inner arches needed replacing anyway, he cut through to gain access then remade the rusted section.

Amazingly, the rear axle locating bolt actually came undone!


Before



After

I’ve been sticking to my skill level and sourced a new pair of seats (thank you Geoff Jones Motorsport).

[DaveEvs]

Firing away on the updates now!

Found a useful “how to” on YouTube showing Impreza seats going into a Brat. Followed it with minor differences as Forester seats have slightly different brackets to give the higher hip point in that car.

2.5 hours later, we have comfort!

[Krikkit]

Looking really well considering, good you have a tame welder prepared for the horror

[Cambs_Stuart]

Good progress. Any estimate from the fabricatior how many hours will be needed?

[Spinakerr]

This is heartening to see - keep going, its goign to be fantastic!

[DaveEvs]

Hello again.

The welder and I are comfortably talking in days of work, rather than hours! I realise this could be a money pit, but have a budget in mind… (cue Grand Designs “so, what did it really cost you?” later).

While the metalwork has been subbed out, I’ve sourced some window winders and an ashtray. The ashtray will be modified to house the modern electronics (Bluetooth phone link and USB sockets) without spoiling the retro interior.

New cylinder head gaskets have also arrived and my father has been persuaded to dust off his British Leyland apprentice skills and help me set the valve clearances.

[DaveEvs]

A selection of images of the amazing instrument panel.



FIVE layers of plastic…




Gets you this magnificent display!

The car is worth restoring for the dash alone.

[skeeterm5]

Brilliant.

Please tell me that you are keeping the Starsky and Hutch paint…..

[spoodler]

I wish you all the best with this.
We had one (sold about six years back), probably one of the best in the country at the time (after a front end rebuild and half respray!), but sold it as spares were becoming more difficult to source and it was our daily driver. Bonnet, wings and tailgate were brought over from Australia. Bought with about thirty thousand on it and sold with nearer one hundred thousand. I think about all I replaced in that time were consumables...
Absolutely loved it, slow, but full of character (even my drag racing mates liked it) and surprisingly economical, despite its reputation. Carried all manner of stuff in it, including building kit, a couple of motorcycle restoration projects, a couple of complete Jag' 4.2 engines and transmissions for my hot rod, and many, many tons of wood for the logburner. Replaced it with a Jumbuck which was undoubtedly superior to drive, but felt like a Fischer Price toy in comparison.
Pretty sure I recognise yours from when we had a fairly active forum.

[Cambs_Stuart]

That display is brilliant. Makes all the displays in cars I've owned look really dull by comparison.

[DaveEvs]

Hi Spoodler -

Lovely truck you had there. Mine came via DW in Llanfyllyn, who seems well known in the scene. It’s clearly been loved (engine is great), but run on a “one more MOT” budget for the last few years. Hopefully I can put that right and make it a good classic.

Last week’s welding was cancelled due to snow and ice. Our 2014 Forester (on Cross Climates) didn’t bat and eyelid, but no one else wanted to brave our lane!

Undeterred, I settled by the fire and made serious decisions on audio. Modern Blaupunt? Too costly. Period Alpine? Not appropriate. A vehicle like this would have had audio from the market, or at best, Tandy. So to eBay…



Great example of a Goodmans tape deck…



With perfect night Time colour match!

Next step is to hide a Bluetooth FM adaptor in the ashtray.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Bluetooth adapter? Surely you need one of these:
https://www.discogs.com/release/3668728-Various-No...

[DaveEvs]

I’ll have a look in my parent’s attic!

[Ritchie335is]

Great little trucks, unfortunately they do like to dissolve pretty rapidly.
If you need parts try Rockauto in the states, they still seem to carry a lot and are reasonably priced.
Here's my WRX converted beastie.

[spoodler]

Ritchie335is said:

That is lovely... There used to be a left drive, t-top in our owner's group. Being a lover of convertibles, I always liked the idea.

[Ritchie335is]

spoodler said:

Ritchie335is said:

That is lovely... There used to be a left drive, t-top in our owner's group. Being a lover of convertibles, I always liked the idea.

Thanks, mine was originally, I imported it from Texas and converted it.

[bstark]

I had that exact same Goodmans tape deck in my first car!

Ran it through 4 speakers to prove I knew what I was doing

It used to stretch the tapes, and just about drowned out the mighty 1289cc engine in my Renault 5, but I still look back on it fondly

[Insert Coin]

Ritchie335is said:

Great little trucks, unfortunately they do like to dissolve pretty rapidly.
If you need parts try Rockauto in the states, they still seem to carry a lot and are reasonably priced.
Here's my WRX converted beastie.

One of the coolest cars I’ve ever seen on here, love it

[DaveEvs]

Ritchie - I salute you!

I had an EJ20 Forester Sport (mk1). Although not a turbo, it was the most fluid and compose car I’ve driven over rough Welsh roads.

Quick question on the steering wheel: is that a Momo, and if so, does the Brat use the same adaptor kit as for later EJ Subarus?

Thanks.

[Ritchie335is]

DaveEvs said:

Ritchie - I salute you!

I had an EJ20 Forester Sport (mk1). Although not a turbo, it was the most fluid and compose car I’ve driven over rough Welsh roads.

Quick question on the steering wheel: is that a Momo, and if so, does the Brat use the same adaptor kit as for later EJ Subarus?

Thanks.

Thanks, it's a Sparco wheel.
The adaptor is different from later subarus.
I used this one - https://www.ebay.com/itm/150971133353?hash=item232...