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Brat Lift Kit
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:02 am
by kellyray
Im a new proud owner of a 1981 Subaru Brat, I have done many searches online trying to find someone who sells a lift kit for my brat.
Im gettin pretty desperate so any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for your time.
Kelly O.
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:53 am
by AndrewT
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:30 am
by Phizinza
First page of google shows Hi-Rise and SJR. Now you being in the USA you'd probably want to get in contact with SJR, they make a range of lifts for your Brat (look for EA81 lift kits in there). Shipping shouldn't be much as well seems they are in the USA too.
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:13 am
by AndrewT
Note that HiRise havn't made kits for a very long time now (yet the website remains).
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:47 pm
by Fatz
i think your best bet would be SJR or AA in the states
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:57 pm
by Fang
AndrewT wrote:Note that HiRise havn't made kits for a very long time now (yet the website remains).
I thought SJR and AA were defunct now as well?
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:40 pm
by Outback bloke
From the amount of emails we are getting from the states I think the others might be gone too.
Thanks
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:08 pm
by kellyray
Thanks for all of the posts! I looked on the SJR website and cant find anything for the Brat. There is EA82,EA ,EJ25, EJ22, EJ20, EJ18. But nothing for the Brat. Is there any chance that the lifts for these cars would fit my Brat? Also how hard would it be for me to make/build my own 3 inch lift kit. When lifting it do you have to replace or lengthen any axles? I really like this brat but the only thing it has agianst it is its very low ground clearance.
Thanks again, any info would help.
Kelly O.
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:59 am
by Fatz
try on the usmb.org
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:20 am
by AndrewT
Looks like plenty of EA81 products to me - ie;
http://www.sjrlift.com/catalog/product_ ... ucts_id=84
Axels remain the same with body lifts.
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:29 am
by Phizinza
Is your Brat this style or older rounder style?
No company I know of makes the EA71 style lift kits. And I think SJR is the only US company in business atm for Subaru Lift kits.
heres the scoop
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:28 am
by kellyray
I have learned alot on another forum, I have a 1981 Subaru Brat, EA81, with a Gen1 Chassi! Ok is there anyone who makes a lift kit for the Gen1? SJR doenst have one. They have one for the gen2. Can anyone find me a lift for a Gen1 chassi?
Thanks
Kelly
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:10 am
by Outback bloke
What you have learnt on the other forum is incorrect. You can not have an EA81 1981 Brat with a Gen one chassis. They simply were not made. If it is an EA81 1981 model then the body shape will be the same as the pic above. It may not have 4 headlights and it won't have black bumpers (they will be chrome) like that one but it will be that shape. If it is not that shape then it is not a 1981 model.
That shape is the gen 2 if you want to call it that.
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:28 am
by brumbyrunner
Like Phizina said, no-one has sold bodylifts for the L88 and I doubt they ever will. The problem is the rear torsion bar mounting point which is not horizontal like all the other block positions on every other model. To build a block for here would be quite difficult as the leverage to shear the bolts off would be very high. I looked into it once and found it easier to cut and extend the trailing arms to the position I wanted. That was for a 4" lift that I made myself and I used two set of arms to build the longer ones. If you only want a small lift, you can clock the torsion bar spline. From memory you get about an inch and a half from each tooth. I ran mine on 3 clicks (4.5") for a while but the torsion bar actually sticks out so far that you are limited to a 26" tyre (tire for you). Extending the trailing arm cures this problem as well. Strangely I don't have any pics of the arms. It was before digital cameras made it so easy to post pics on the web. I think it was before the web too.

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:36 am
by brumbyrunner
One other thing, if you clock the torsion bar it brings the rear wheel forward quite dramatically.
[Brett you beat me while I was looking for that pic]
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:04 am
by AndrewT
Kellray maybe post a photo of your car...
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:53 am
by Phizinza
Brett, I think you are incorrect. In the US (at least) I'm am 99% sure they got the EA81 motor in the older 70's style body in 1980 and 1981. Although I think it may of been an option.
You'll have to get someone to make you a lift kit or you'll need to make one yourself. Thats the only options you have. But like I said, ask Scott at SJR he might be willing to make one I dunno.
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:29 am
by Outback bloke
I find that very hard to believe. You could get the EA71 in an MY but not the other way around.
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:03 am
by kellyray
EA71 = 1600 engine
EA81 = 1800 engine OHV
EA82 = 1800 Engine OHC
in the '81 Brats, you could get both the ea71 and ea81
This is what someone posted on the other forum. my brat looks the same as the orange black one above except mine has the 4 head lights that are oval. not square. and chrome bumpers. Im know it has a gen1 chassi and a 1.8 liter (1800cc) EA81 motor. are you suggesting i got this wrong??
Thanks
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:49 am
by Outback bloke
The orange and black one is the gen 2 body style with an ea81. From what I can recall the Gen 2 Brat (MY Brumby) was never released with an EA71. They had stopped production of that motor by the time the ute was released.
What do you mean oval lights? I think we need to see some pics of your car.