advise on buying a brumby

savage · Post by **savage** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:55 pm

Appreciate any advise on the above, ie. what year is best if any, what problems to look for. Always had patrols but travelling one up these days when fishing and hunting thought the little blokes might be a good unit.

Any thoughts on making them a little better in scrub would be handy also

thanks
Savage

INEEDABEER · Post by **INEEDABEER** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:22 pm

The very first thing to do is to go for 14" wheels and then 2" lift.After that it's mild or wild.
Don't worry you will get plenty of posts for this one.

dfoyl · Post by **dfoyl** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:50 am

There is really no difference between the years - obviously a newer unit should have less k's on it but the engine should handle around 350,000+ without any major work.

Rust is a common problem - almost always found at the bottom of either corner of the front windscreen. CV's of course will need to be checked, especially if it's already lifted.

The stock 4 speed is pretty average and a later-model "L" series 5 speed is a common upgrade.

Dean.

savage · Post by **savage** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:40 am

thanks for that fellas, hoping a few more chip in as these are all new to me.

Johno

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:39 am

And also rusts on the front of the tray and tailgate door, new tailgate door is approx $600 from Subaru.
Cheers
AP

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:50 am

The Brumby was sold in Aust. from 1976 to 1993.
The L88 ran from 1978 to 1979. They had the 1600 & single range. The MY started in 1980. I think some had the L88 drivetrain but were soon upgraded to the 1800 & dual range. In about 1985 there was a minor interior upgrade and the bedsides got chrome cover strips and the diff ratio was changed from 3.9 to 3.7:1. The Brumby Sport was added in 1987 and had white wheels, dual headlights and the moonroof (sunroof) but is otherwise the same as the std. model. In 1989 the single headlight front was dropped and both models used the dual. Performance was dropping off with all the polution gear hanging off them too. I think the last Sport was in 1991 and the std. ran until 1993.
Contrary to popular myth, all Brumbys left the factory with an EA81 (apart from a few early EA71), a single Hitachi carb, drum brake rear & a 4-speed gearbox. If you see one advertised with anything else it has been changed (or more likely the ad is wrong). The only factory options were aircon and 13" white wheels. The std. 4 speed gearbox has a 4th gear overdrive and no direct (1:1) unlike nearly every other gearbox ever made. It also has the low (for Subaru) 1.59 low range.
As with most Subarus, the Brumby accepts upgrades from other higher spec'ed models fairly easily. The EA81T (turbo), 5-speed 'box, rear discs, rear LSD, twin carbs, aircon, power steering, full guage dash, electric windows, auto trans etc all bolt in.
More serious upgrades from the the EJ powered cars are engines, auto and manual 'boxes, seats, dashboards, hubs, brakes, wheels, you name it and you can probably get it to fit.
Aftermarket options are body lifts, lager diameter rims, bullbars & canopies.

Thats about all off the top of my head. If anyone has more acurate info, please post it up.

SUBANOOB · Post by **SUBANOOB** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:01 pm

g'day mate, go the 90 brumby they are sweeeet...ater a few minor tweeks and bruises my Ruby is on the road good luck finding the right car oh...and spares are hard to come by so if yeh need somethin give us a shout.

dfoyl · Post by **dfoyl** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:01 pm

Couple of minor corrections to the above:

>>The MY started in 1980 - I think this applies to 2wd only, and possibly JDM only. The earliest MY Brumby I've seen is 1982 and the earliest MY sedan (local delivery) I've seen here is 1981.

>>the diff ratio was changed from 3.9 to 3.7:1 - I have not seen a stock Brumby with a 3.7:1 diff, the 3.7:1 was introduced for the L Turbo's. My 1989 is definitely a 3.9:1.

>>1989 the single headlight front was dropped - Single headlight might have disappeared after 1989, but it was definitely still around in 1989 (again, mine has it). I believe Subaru started to run out stocks on the various MY-specific parts from 1990 onwards, hence the mix of different tailgates (different pressings with badges in changed locations), front clips, and so on.

Dean.

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:08 pm

dfoyl wrote:Couple of minor corrections to the above:

>>The MY started in 1980 - I think this applies to 2wd only, and possibly JDM only. The earliest MY Brumby I've seen is 1982 and the earliest MY sedan (local delivery) I've seen here is 1981.

>>the diff ratio was changed from 3.9 to 3.7:1 - I have not seen a stock Brumby with a 3.7:1 diff, the 3.7:1 was introduced for the L Turbo's. My 1989 is definitely a 3.9:1.

>>1989 the single headlight front was dropped - Single headlight might have disappeared after 1989, but it was definitely still around in 1989 (again, mine has it). I believe Subaru started to run out stocks on the various MY-specific parts from 1990 onwards, hence the mix of different tailgates (different pressings with badges in changed locations), front clips, and so on.

Dean.

Thanks Dean. I've seen MY Brumbys as early as 1980 and all Brumbys were 4WD.
I can't understand the methodology behind the diff ratios. Both my 1987s and both my 1990s are (were) 3.7:1
I should have said the single headlight finished in 1989 and the dual headlight started in 1990.

savage · Post by **savage** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:37 pm

Many thanks fellas, those last posts were a great help. Keep em coming, want to hear about upgrades for in the bush and just how well they pull out of steep stuff.

If I go this way I think i'll try for a post 1990 model and hopefully low ks

Savage

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:24 pm

Are you able to upgrade the headlights to twin (from single headlights) from MY wagons?
Cheers
AP

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:43 pm

i know of one getting done using the front cut of a tourer.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:08 pm

stamp_licker wrote:i know of one getting done using the front cut of a tourer.

So you will need the guards and lights/grill yeah.... How abt the body?
Cheers
AP

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:23 pm

has to be cut and shut.

SUBYDAZZ · Post by **SUBYDAZZ** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:55 am

dfoyl wrote:V's of course will need to be checked, especially if it's already lifted.

Body lift should have no ill-effect on CVs as geometry remains the same. Spring lift does.

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:12 am

With regards to making it better in the scrub, a lift kit, 14 or 15" wheels with offroad tyres, rear LSD and a bullbar should get you started.

savage · Post by **savage** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:54 pm

Many thanks for all the tips, now to sit back and digest it all.

Savage

carn955 · Post by **carn955** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:11 pm

I bought myself a '90 model Brumby 2 days ago and know absolutely nothing about them other than what I have just learnt here.
Mine has 260,000 kms, no rust, 14 inch wheels and has only been owned by two other people.
It has a slight shudder from the clutch (and sometimes a squeal), a slight ticking noise from the motor (tappets?) and I( think the carby could do with an overhaul, revs don't drop off as quickly as I would like.
Other than that, it seems OK.
I bought it from a car yard where it was advertised for $4999. I had just come from another car yard where I drove one advertised for $4500 and it had a 5 speed gearbox. I thought this was normal and got $1200 knocked off this one because it only had 4 gears and the other had 5!

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:30 pm

Brumbyrunner, not meaning to put you wrong as i know you know your brumby's. We just got one with dual head lights that's an 89 model with the targa top - love it!

Dunno what dif ratio is, but will be looking next time i'm near it (currently having rust cut out of it). On the topic of rust, places to check: Tray up against the cab - look for any repair work here, stick your head right up under the car to see if there's any cut and shut or bog work as any dodgy work here will = more rust to come.
Under the windscreen is a given spot for these vehicles (as it is for the MY's and L's too, its a genetic thing i think).
Also check the underside of the doors - the front section here can easily rust out and will not be passed on the roadworthy (well, ours didn't anyway).

There's a brumby sports model you can get - aka the targa top. These have the sun roof's above the driver and passenger. Very nice to have...

There's many different stickers and decals that you can choose from, some are good, some are not (in my opinion).

For 4wdin' i've seen its best to cut under the bumper to the front wheel to avoid getting the 'MY' Dint from bottoming the front of the car out...

Everything from the MY series fits into the brumby minus the obvious rear doors, seats and tailgate...

Keep looking for one that you're happy with. We've been looking for about 9 months for the right one and right oppportunity to pop up... Expect to pay a pretty penny for a clean unit.

Happy hunting.

Bennie

dwayneb · Post by **dwayneb** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:10 pm

El_Freddo wrote:Brumbyrunner, not meaning to put you wrong as i know you know your brumby's. We just got one with dual head lights that's an 89 model with the targa top - love it!

For 4wdin' i've seen its best to cut under the bumper to the front wheel to avoid getting the 'MY' Dint from bottoming the front of the car out...

Everything from the MY series fits into the brumby minus the obvious rear doors, seats and tailgate...

Keep looking for one that you're happy with. We've been looking for about 9 months for the right one and right oppportunity to pop up... Expect to pay a pretty penny for a clean unit.

Happy hunting.

Bennie

Doors from an MY coupe will fit a Brumby, but wagon and sedan doors won't. Coupes also had side impact protection whereas Brumby's didn't, I beleive.

The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

advise on buying a brumby

advise on buying a brumby

a new convert as well