Subaru Brumbys

Joined: 27 Oct 2002

Can anyone tell me what these are like, NOT as a 4x4... but as a fuel efficiant dirt road driving get around car?

looking for somthing to travel around 150kms of dirt road daily and dont really wanna trash my good car doing it..

was thinking old holden ute, however the 4wd would be helpful when the road gets really wet as it can bog up easily.

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2003 8:00 pm

they are a good reliable car but they are only part time 4x4 and as far as i know no diff locks are avaliable allthough the wrx lsd diffs fit without alot of modification.

Matt

Joined: 25 Oct 2002 Location: Wollongong

They are great little cars chadd, they are normally front wheel drive but have a simply pull up lever to shift into high range 4wd, then up another notch into low range [which is fairly crap]. Some detroits are available but are rare as, lsd's are more common, they came out of the rx leone turbo. You wouldn't need them though for dirt road running, i would just wind up the suspension, it'll give you an inch and a half or so, and fit some 14inch sunrasias with dirt orientated tyres.... and go and have fun !! Very Happy

Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Location: Shepparton Vic

i bought a 83 suby touring wagon for same reason it was so bad on fuel you could just not comprehend there must have been something wrong but merchanics said no apart from that it was a good car.

Joined: 07 Aug 2003 Location: Townsville

DAZ wrote:

i bought a 83 suby touring wagon for same reason it was so bad on fuel you could just not comprehend there must have been something wrong but merchanics said no apart from that it was a good car.

The EA81 motor should give about 9l/100km (31mpg) with DGV

Weber DGV 36/32 carbies will bolt to an adaptor and improve performance, the OE carbie was well known for its midrange flat spot.

Exhaust header linking behind the gearbox improves low end (getting rid of the "boom box" resonator up front). Not much to be gained from going up in exhaust dia, only good for hight revs when you need the flow rate.

Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Location: Camden, N.S.W.

A mate of mine had one for 2 years and sold it to buy a spankers Mazda Bravo. No he wants i back coz he misses it. they are a great thin, cost nothing to run, and are good for around 300,000kms. They can tend todo CVs if you relly give them a flooging in reverse (extended bouts of front-wheel-drive-reverse-circle-work for example) but that was the only thing I could fault it on.
Don't worry if it doesn't have power steering They are so light to steer without it that it just becomes a pain.
For what it sounds like you want t do with it, I woul highly recomend one.
Cheers
BrEnDo?!?

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 8:50 am

Only problem with lifting them up is the CV's go in about 10,000kms im told, other than that you can shift to 4WD on the fly.... =]

Finding decent dirt tyres could be about your only problem, along with the CV's.

Good all around workhorse otherwise!

Joined: 07 Aug 2003 Location: Townsville

+dj_hansen+ wrote:

Only problem with lifting them up is the CV's go in about 10,000kms im told...

I had the 2" lift and replaced the driveshafts once (complete units), and popped 3-4 of DOJ's (inners) in about 180 000 km of mostly abuse. It's the DOJ's that usually cop the abuse, cracking along the grooves from the top of the cup. The CV boots (outers) usually cop a beating. I tore about 5-6 of them in total.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 6:46 pm

Spose its gonna be like anycar... much modification past stock and somethings gotta give Smile

Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Location: Melbourne

GaryInOz wrote:

+dj_hansen+ wrote:

Only problem with lifting them up is the CV's go in about 10,000kms im told...

I had the 2" lift and replaced the driveshafts once (complete units), and popped 3-4 of DOJ's (inners) in about 180 000 km of mostly abuse. It's the DOJ's that usually cop the abuse, cracking along the grooves from the top of the cup. The CV boots (outers) usually cop a beating. I tore about 5-6 of them in total.

Gary, would you get another one for light offroading? How do you think a brumby or leone would handle 29" centipede ETs? ... how much work do you think would be involved in making them fit?

Do you remember the size of the original wheels? do you know any other cars using the same stud/pcd pattern? Hmmmmmm Idea

Joined: 07 Aug 2003 Location: Townsville

WaveCult wrote:

GaryInOz wrote:

+dj_hansen+ wrote:

Only problem with lifting them up is the CV's go in about 10,000kms im told...

I had the 2" lift and replaced the driveshafts once (complete units), and popped 3-4 of DOJ's (inners) in about 180 000 km of mostly abuse. It's the DOJ's that usually cop the abuse, cracking along the grooves from the top of the cup. The CV boots (outers) usually cop a beating. I tore about 5-6 of them in total.

Gary, would you get another one for light offroading? How do you think a brumby or leone would handle 29" centipede ETs? ... how much work do you think would be involved in making them fit?

Do you remember the size of the original wheels? do you know any other cars using the same stud/pcd pattern? Hmmmmmm Idea

From memory 165/70R13 (560 mm) was the original size. I had 175/75R13 (580 mm). A 29" tyre (~725 mm) may be a bit of an ask due to clearance problems at the front of the rear wheel arch (sound familliar??), but by moving the rear axle assy back a bit I guess it could be possible.

The rim PCD isthe same as the 4 stud Peugeot 504/505 which gave access to 14" (and now i would guess 15") rims.

Yes I would get another 20 year old one versus any of the new softroaders. Have a look under the rear of the Subie, semi-trailing arm suspension with no "dangly bits" going to the bottom of the rear hubs (double wishbone). A set of airshockers and wind up the rear torsion bar and off you go.

There was also a lift kit made for them by Scorpion which was a series of 2"square bars to mount the mechanical subframes on (with longer bolts) and a front strut tower extension with screw adjustment of the height. It also combined an offset into the top of the tower to adjust the Subies tendancy for the steering to feel like it has "dropped off the edge", ie no significant return to center at extremes of lock.

Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Location: Adelaide

I was recently discussing off-road carbies with a carburettor specialist, and he specifically mentioned the Subaru Brumby as one of the best carbies for operation on extreme climbs and descents. Apparently Subaru put a bit of thought into the modifications, and they work quite well.

But if angles aren't an issue, go the Weber!

Cheers,

Scott

Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Location: Snowy Mountains

They are a great car, they don't go too badly for a pushrod 1.8 too.

Lift kits are available in Australia from 2 to 6 inches. They work by putting spacers in between the crossmembers, suspension and the body so that all driveline angles remain stock. 2" lift is an owner certified modification in NSW and 100% legal.

Don't wind the suspension up. A: You'll totally screw up your front camber, and B: You won't get 10,000 kms out of a set of front CVs.

With a 2" lift kit and 14" Scorpion Automotive rims you can fit 27" GFGoodrich All Terrains or Cooper STTs legally.

Don't buy 14" Speedy Desert Rats as the spigot size and offset are incorrect. Wheels from a Peugot 504 fit as well.

LSD is NOT from a WRX and is only available in 3.7:1 ratio.

There is no reason that a Brumby with dual-range 4WD, LSD, 2" lift and All-Terrains be 100% reliable.

www.ausubaru.com

Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Location: Tumut, NSW

here's a lifted brumby

Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Location: Tumut, NSW

Barathrum wrote:

here's a lifted brumby

LOOKS FAMILIAR

Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Location: sunshine coast

i had a brumby with a 6" lift and was running 27" duellers on it. I did have a EA82 turbo motor in it though. regrease your cv's every six months and they last a lot longer

Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Location: Snowy Mountains

Who's lift kit was it?

BYB has never made one (I have the biggest kit they've done in my L series), Scorpion will never make one, SubaParts has never done one, HighRise is now marketing them, but that wasn't till late last year....

As far as I'm aware there is only one six inch lifted Brumby in Australia at this stage - and that was made last year as a promo car by HighRise (who are dodgee as hell anyway).

There is one in Tassie with a landcruiser chassis under it, but that's hardly a Subaru anymore is it.

Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Location: sunshine coast

It was actually a my wagon but same thing. i know no one makes them i did it myself copied basically of bretts (byb) design(dont worry brett i only did one and it no longer exists).

Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Location: Snowy Mountains

I honestly don't think Brett would care, he's not in it for the money anyway - in fact he hates the game.

I also think there's a guy in Narranderra who's doing a 6" kit, just a backyard mechanic.

The big lift kits are harder to get right on the MY than they are on the L cos the shifter linkages on the MY are atatched to the gearbox, but with the L series they are off the gearbox and mounted to a plate on the body - sp say you've got a 6" lift kit in your L series you only need to drop the shifter maybe 1.5 to 2 inches. The L series is a way better car off road too with it's coilover rear end.

I've had a string on MY series wagons before waking up to the joys of an L.

Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Location: Mt Gambier

A mate of mine had a Brumby with a 4 inch lift kit, to stop tearing up CV joints we used a set of leather CV boots from a 911 and repacked them every 15,000 kms and had no hassles with cv joints. He could put that subey anywhere anything else could go and a lot further. The only thing we ever broke on it was the gearbox, 2nd gear went trying to tow my old hilux out of the dunes after I lunched the gearbox completely. If you want a small utility 4wd that is damn near bullet proof and you can have a lot of fun in, grab a brumby..... the turbo conversion we did 2 yrs later was worht a giggle as well Twisted Evil

Joined: 13 May 2004 Location: Narrandera, NSW

so sad...
My 6" lifted red Brumby lasted for around six weeks before the RTA caught me, and slapped on a red stciker. $600.00 is fines.... I had to take the 6" out and get a blue slip. Sux big time - never even got to get a bunch of decent photos of it.

Reason why I did it? See: http://www.subarubrat.com

and a few pics of my old girl when it was lifted: (bottom left hand corner)
http://www.subey.lookscool.com
http://www.angelfire.com/on4/bushy5550/lift.html

How did it drive? After I finally got the gearstick and transfer lever sorted out, it drove beautifully, except of course lacking the extra 50odd hp that it needed, but other than that, it was beaut. Sure it had a little bit of body roll, but one expects that.
And it got a bit of *wow* from the young blokes around the area - having never seen a Brumby so high.
My only thing which peeves me off is the fact that I didn't do it properly - get it all engineered etc. Would have been real sweet with it all legit and legal, and then perhaps dropping an EJ20 in it.

silly dave.

Joined: 13 May 2004 Location: Narrandera, NSW

...or how about a WRX STi Brumby?

Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Location: brisbane bay side

a friend of mine works at scorpion auto in capalaba brisbane they have a wagon with big weels he took it to di and it beat the crap out of the rest of us nothing wrong with them go for it buddy

Joined: 25 Oct 2002 Location: Wollongong

I've always wanted to build a brumby with an EJ20T and auto, i figure the auto in the turbo is strongest of the lot so would be able to handle the stresses of having no transfer case. Would run a 3 inch body lift, welded rear diff and 29" swampers... mmmm Very Happy

Oh and a bobbed rear for better departure, i used to smash the $hit out of the rear of mine.

Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Location: Bogged @ Cityview 4x4.

The brumbys are an awsome car.
If the site was up I would say go check out www.ausubaru.com then go down to forums. but its not so I cant.
The lift for them is mainly body lift but you can do a small sus. lift thougt it wears out the cvs quicker.
http://www.subarubrat.com/
Try that one.
It is a very EXTREME brat/brumby.

Joined: 13 May 2004 Location: Narrandera, NSW

Any Brumby owners out there that have done the Weber carb swap-over for the EA81? (Weber 36/32)

Joined: 07 Aug 2003 Location: Townsville

bushy555 wrote:

Any Brumby owners out there that have done the Weber carb swap-over for the EA81? (Weber 36/32)

Been there done that years ago. Ideal donor carbie from a Ford Escort (2 litre 36/32 DGV), adapter plates are available from most rally stores. Needed minor rejetting IIRC, too rich on the secondary. Everything else straightforward. More midrange torque and no "flat spot". Used to get 28-29 mpg.

Joined: 13 May 2004 Location: Narrandera, NSW

[quote="DAMKIA More midrange torque and no "flat spot". Used to get 28-29 mpg.[/quote]

cheers!

Joined: 24 Mar 2005

I just finished fitting a '93 1.8l Imprezza engine in my subaru sedan ( same stuff as brumby just sedan version ). Runs great, mated with a 5spd 4wd gearbox from an L series.

Joined: 13 May 2004 Location: Narrandera, NSW

username_taken wrote:

I just finished fitting a '93 1.8l Imprezza engine in my subaru sedan ( same stuff as brumby just sedan version ). Runs great, mated with a 5spd 4wd gearbox from an L series.

Whats that - an EJ18?
How much buggerising around did it involve?