89 Targa Brumby

[Suby Spanner]

I've got a Dual Range ej 5speed and rear diff, with 3.9 diff ratios. Thing is, I've found another 5 speed with the 3.9 ratio, but the rear diff is already gone: Does anyone know if any of the auto's or single range 5speed Subaru's have 3.9's so I can grab a matching diff for it?

Restoring/building this 89 Targa is sort of on hold, I'm patching up a cream one first: I bought two 'parts' brumbies many years ago: but it turns out, this cream one will scrub up ok! I've got some lower 'A" pillar rust repairs to do, I've pull the windscreen out, and blow me down: The windscreen channels are fantastic: The drivers side isn't even rusty. But the drain holes are blocked, and I suspect this has cause the A pillar rust issues: I'm guessing I'm going to need to pull the dash to patch the firewall properly? Anyone got a link to a walk through for dash removal? Most of the links are dead since the host move sadly.

And finally: It appears the original vinyl flooring shrinks: Has anyone ever bothered reusing/stretching it some how? Or we all just jumping to carpet these days?

[El_Freddo]

Subi Spanner, the auto L series were all 3.9 diff ratio and I believe many of the early Imprezas were 3.9 ratio too.

Good news about that beige brumby! I’ve not heard of rusting out at the base of the A pillar without a hole in the corner above it but I guess anything is possible.

Vinyl floor - live with it or convert to carpet. My L series floor has the worst shrinkage that I’ve seen. My brumby is ok and seems to have faired well.

Cheers

Bennie

[Suby Spanner]

Thanks Bennie! That makes it an easy decision: Next spare day, get that box then

Yes, interesting about the rust: Surprising how bad the a pillars are. Oh well, it's well worth saving, it's the best EA81 I've owned too!

[Bantum]

Re rust in A pillar, As I've found out on mine & seen on others - that the Targa roof leaks, consequently rust has spread throughout the top & down the pillars, so it seams to be a common problem with the Targa model. We will need to figure out a way to fix it so it does'nt happen again.

Ciao, Bantum ...

[Suby Spanner]

Any form of roof mod is a nightmare for rust: Targa, moon, sun etc they all encourage rust

Doing a big QOL (quality of life) update on mine: seats, amp, bluetooth stereo, alarm, kill switch, repairing fog/spot and work light wiring etc etc and it's been a grind: Nothing worse than repairing wiring that's been tampered with by someone who doesn't know what they're doing (Pete, no it's not yours, I suspect the guy who had it between us had a play).

Tonight I did a good one: I'm probing for the indicators to hook the alarm into: Found them, no problems: I haven't wired into them yet: But now I've got no oil idiot light or alternator charge light... Quick check of the fuses says they're ok.. So I"m not real sure where to go to from here. Any ideas before I bust out the repair manual?

[Suby Spanner]

Well, got a manual, checked the wiring diagram.... Went to brumby, turned on ignition switch.... and have lights again.

It appears my ignition switch is on the blink, and was purely coincidental to occur when I'm messing around

[El_Freddo]

Well that’s an easier fix I reckon!

Good to see you still playing with your Brumby since the thread started in 2013!

Re: targa roof rust - possibly one of the hinges leaking allowing moisture into the roof cavity where it begins rusting from the inside. Possibility but I’m not 100% sure.

I’ve seen rust in non targa roof Brumby’s too. Luck of the draw?

Cheers

Bennie