EJ20-Powered Subaru BRAT/Brumby: The Ultimate Ute

[@LarryChenPhoto]

Thank you guys for watching. If you guys want a signed print for your wall I print all of them myself from my large format Canon printer larrychenprints.com/

[@SpeedDemon03]

hi just wondering what car you would recommend using as a donor car for an ej 20?

[@AkinaSpeedStarsAE86]

In an era where exotic cars dominate the yt car scene; builds like this are all the more special.

[@brendannunya77]

What a load of shit!

[@SaveTheManuals]

💯

[@martinburnett3852]

The what

[@PaintflowException]

I don't even care about exotics anymore. They are so far out of what I feel is possible, it's like wanting a plane...

[@thuggernaut1128]

MCM are doing an EJ Brumby swap on their channel ATM if you want to see a bit more of the process

[@GD7LTD]

I love what he did with that front bumper, completely changes the front end.

[@jameshatton4211]

I'm all for subtle nice touches done like that 👌 Respectful to the style of the vehicle but still very unique. But then he totally just shares it to the world 👍 respect. Doesn't hide nothing. That's true Aussie spirit there. Just like the young dudes in their AU Falcons. They just shared that you buy a chaser front bar trim and fit. Share to the would 👌

[@louisbabycos106]

@@jameshatton4211 The front end looks Chevy-esque

[@jameshatton4211]

@@louisbabycos106 reminds me a bit of the Buick Grand National front as well🤔

[@dyIanVII]

Your GD though 🥵

[@GD7LTD]

@@dyIanVII Thanks man, looks a little different now but I appreciate it 🙏🏼

[@tuckerbunch9553]

I hope the guys from MCM are paying attention for their Brumby restoration.

[@delta3eight]

You can probably bet they were in contact with him lol

[@raynman6466]

Oh they've already got subie experts, some of the most knowledgeable in the scene helping them in person😂

[@joshthomas2536]

What for? If they use a sohc ej engine they pretty much go straight in. This has been common knowledge across Brumby/Brat swaps for the last 20 years. It's a tighter fit however on the first gen models.

[@davidstevenson9633]

This guy is so humble it is sooo hard to do this in Australia and get it registered

[@AndyQuinton]

Owner seems like a bloody nice bloke. Love the build, so cool.

[@petercole2339]

There is a guy near where I grew up in South Carolina who had 10-15 brats.. he would go 4 wheeling with us in broncos and blazers,jeeps and keep up..saw him skip across a mud hole going 40+mph once, life was epic in the mid 90s.

[@9002alex]

Builds like this are so much more special to watch and see their owners have a genuine passion for them, rather than some cashed up wanker showing off his brand new lambo etc. thanks very much Larry for showcasing these types of cars, and the Aussie car scene. We are a passionate little bunch!

[@thetruth1862]

The thing about the folks from down under is they have these amazing cars and are super humble, got to love it.

[@dr.mantistoboggan4746]

Thank you Larry! Nobody is providing this niche type of coverage as well as you do! My only complaint is the camera work makes me feel sick on full screen TV mode but I am more sensitive than most people.

[@cyclonicleo]

Brumbys are awesome. There's been a few built over the years here in Australia. One was setup for drag racing, the turbo half out the bonnet!

[@joshthomas2536]

If that's the one I'm thinking of its constant AWD and like 760awhp. Bloody nuts

[@ajayborkar1788]

Thanks for showcasing this build. The mix of parts and fit and finish is incredible.

[@SpeedRacerx89]

Absolutely amazing. So clean. Definition of a proper restore using the right parts. My kind of restoration.

[@coolkidscarclub]

I like how Larry chen is very respectful. Well done

[@goingforadds]

Steve is an awesome bloke - he's been into Subarus for years - good old FLYMan

[@AliasHSW]

Love that BRAT. Wanted one back when slammed pick-up trucks was vogue

[@jeepnutscotty]

It’s a Brumby, not a Brat, this ain’t McAmerica mate

[@AliasHSW]

@@jeepnutscotty is not Brat, but BRAT “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter”, bro’. 😎

[@jeepnutscotty]

@@AliasHSW 😂 it’s a Brumby champ…. This is Australia NOT America, i dont care how you describe it 😆 next you’ll tell me they’re made in America 😂

[@stonersgarden]

​​@@jeepnutscottyit may be call a Brumby in Australia, but everywhere else, it's called a BRAT. I'm looking at 3 of them in my driveway now. A 77',79',and an 82'.

[@jeepnutscotty]

@@stonersgarden this one is in Australia, so even according to you, it's a Brumby 👍 😆 touche

[@stevemartegani]

Very clean build! That hood scoop is so good.

[@kipperlane5589]

Awesome build,my uncle had one when I was a kid I liked riding in the back and the t-tops

[@ashleysharkey6406]

An absolute dream car for me. I've always wanted an EJ Brumby. Massive fan of tiny uses. The longer I wait, the more expensive they get - but I haven't got a place to put one yet. Hopefully one day I can buy a Brumby and pick Steve's brain!

[@glennlbs9931]

I traveled in the those jump seat in back of my friends brat in middle of winter with rain and snow from Seattle WA to Portland OR like late 90's. Thats just one adventure we had in the brat we have some major traveling stories in that thing. Will always have a soft spot for the Subaru brat and always wondered about a sti swap brat.

[@19chucki74]

The UTE needs to make a comeback, in both Australia and here in the States! Seems like GM and Ford don't see a market in making them, due to current devaluing, R&D costs, and materials. It can be overcome, we have the technology and means.

[@jwilliams703]

I absolutely love this build. Super clean. great job. I love the brat and utes. Im building a 95 impreza ute LS swap. Its about 75% done. engine and trans is done. Working on the diff now.

[@thesillypig785]

Absolutely love the looks of this car. The white body with all the black plastic parts and that front bumper. And boy that striping is just brilliant! And those meaty tires! This is just done so beautieful! Honestly I would take this over the 'R36' GT-R.

[@BluthBoy1]

What a cool dude and a legend of a car builder and modifier. The Brumby looks fantastic, especially the front end. Fantastic job mate, well done😃👍.

[@UncleManuel]

Aussies know how to party! The car culture is so unique, which of course is heavily influenced due to the vacinity to Japan. This awesome ute is an example of car modifying done different down under... 😎🤟

[@chrisnesbitt6259]

Aussie car culture is pretty much the best of jap and merican mashed up together.

[@UrbanMenace0187]

Thats sick, the R31 s3 front bumper really looks the part and tyhe r31House lip. Brumbys are badass. Thanks for the upload Lazza!

[@Mr.NoBody282]

Ever since i saw this little subaru pick up i been dreaming and waiting of some one to get it and do what this guy did, i knew the moment i saw it that its just pure potential, its too sick man

[@carswithaaron]

This is amazing, looks so good too!!! fantastic build, well done!!

[@Dustyy_allen]

Wow, what an amazing build! SO MUCH attention to detail!

[@garrettglass8854]

He did a great job on the brumby and you did a great job on the video. I think revisiting old cars with modern tech is something that should catch on.

[@shawnhill7504]

Literally drooling all over my phone screen. Unique build and a mint ride .👌 love it 😍

[@kelevra558]

I built a port injected 347 stroker small block ford Audi A4. It has a BMW 328xi trans, center diff, front diff, front subframe (heavily modified of course) and I put a ford 8.8 rear diff from a 2007 expedition in the factory rear subframe. I have all ZHP performance front suspension and all ECS tuning rear suspension from the diff mounts to every control arm, 034motorsport billet rear subframe reinforcement brackets, I made my own billet aluminum subframe bushings, all suspension bushings are spherical instead of polyurethane, i have bilstein clubsport coilovers all the way around, right now I have a built BMW 6 speed transmission but im saving for a samsonas sequential. I was able to cut the pre-firewall out in order to get the front accessories in line with the center line of the hubs, I then machined my own super trick shifter linkage that looks really similar to the Pagani setup except mine is polished and powdercoated transparent purple. The most difficult part was the steering. As you know the rack and pinion on a b5 A4 sits about 8 inches above the subframe. So what I did was pull everything related to steering out of the same car at pick & pull I pulled the front subframe, trans, front diff etc out of and just fiddled with it until miraculously, I got it to work. Surprisingly enough the car has more steering feel and positive feedback than it did when it was all Audi stuff with kw coilovers. I did a coil on plug conversion, like I said it's all Holley port injection intake manifold, Holley terminator x stand alone ecu, wavetrac diffs front and center with a Yukon air locker out back. I know I know, people always give me shit for that but hey man it's a ford expedition rear diff and besides that, it fucking works. I have a nice driving car in parking lots, I flip a switch, hear a small compressor come on for 25 seconds, flip the same switch down and bam, I now have a totally locked rear diff. I built subframe connectors that tie into my roll cage, I have a knockoff wide body kit for a Subaru STI I modified and it looks fantastic. It's the most simple insanely complicated build I've ever taken on and I've been building cars since I got out of the Marines in 2013. My engine is my favorite part of the car. My grandfather was an engine builder and machinist for many NASCAR drivers in the 80s and early 90s. He still has his shop with the old 5 axis cnc mill, cnc lathes, and manual counterparts of both, block honing, all the tooling needed to do custom ground camshafts, it's a full blown motorsport machine shop. So my little 347 stroker has things done to it that would cost the average joe who's gpa isn't an internal combustion genius probably $35-$40,000. It has LS style main bearings, the crankshaft is heat treated, blueprinted, and the rotating assembly us balanced so perfectly I don't have to run a harmonic balancer. Essentially my engine has no detrimental harmonics whatsoever. It revs to almost 9k and makes 660 whp barefoot. I do have a rotary fire N2O setup I designed myself that runs off of the same reluctor wheel the crank trigger does. The pickup is a small electromagnet and I can reverse the polarity with the flip of a switch and the thing is ready to go. It's full throttle activated with that little click BMW and Audi have when you go wide open throttle. Y'all know what I'm talking about. Anyway, with spray she fries her clutch on the dyno so I've never gotten a number. However my butt dyno is pretty accurate and the amount of N2o the car consumes I'd say she's pushing at least 900whp. I can tell you this, it hazes all 4 tires in 4th gear going around 135-140mph. She hits the limiter in 6th at 216 mph and gets there in just under 18 seconds. I'm gonna stop.there because this is WAY too long but, if any of you have any questions about how to do this, I documented everything throughout the 3 years I built the car so, I can give you any info you want. I've owned late 90s Porsche 911s, a c6 zO6, evo 8s, evo 9 mr, i still own a 2016 gt350r, i bought my wife a 2018 Audi rs3, my mom has a 3000gt vr4 with probably $80k invested into it, my dad owns a 2005 ford gt that does 250 mph, the list goes on and on and on. However, nothing can touch my little black Audi. The thing is so violent and yet so insanely composed it just shocks your senses. You know you can't turn in this fast and you can literally hear the car go "phsshsh....pussy." it weighs 2720 with me in it and I'm 6'5 240 lbs. I run 18×12 3 piece wheels wrapped in pilot sport cup 2 315s all the way around. Baer 6 pot calipers on steel rotors up front, b8 rs4 front 4 pots out back. The engine makes 15:1 compression and can only be run on c16. Period. No ethanol, nothing but c16. My mom has been road racing all her life. She's a badass. She was personal friends with Michelle Mouton. Shes ridden with me one time and she says she never wanted to even SEE the car again it scared her so bad. To give you an idea, 1st gear gets me to 53mph. 2nd gets me to just under 80mph and does that in under 4 seconds. In 3rd gear at 5,000 rpm I'm doing exactly 100 mph. With spray, if I mat the thing and get a good 3-4 shift I'll be going just under 160. It does that in 5 seconds. For a small block ford that's been beat on like mine has, that's almost unbelievable. But I assure you, it's the truth.

[@1MrBryn]

These cars are just so much more interesting than high end exotics.

[@aaronbrook225]

One of the coolest cars I've seen in a long time...

[@aaront4494]

Also, who’d of thought a/your Brat/Brumby could have sounded and performed like this. Love this build

[@moocow2394]

Two vids up already. It’s gonna be good day with Larry.💙

[@dorianmentor3921]

Oem+ is always the standard and what great work put into it 😮 . Lovely build and super clean and practical and 4wd with that cool turbo dumb never heard before 😊. Appreciate the content

[@ajstevens1652]

Such an awesome build! Fit together so nicely.

[@dsummers8191]

What a fantastic thing! Thank you.

[@davidpistek6241]

Cars like this are why i watch, unique well sorted builds are wonderful to see and larry is such a smart enthusiast ,definitely loving his job out there

[@anthonylowman9518]

Always loved those Subaru brats, couldn’t tell you why but I do

[@ichigozanghetsu]

Pretty sure that Marty and Moog from Mighty Car Mods have this kind of thing in mind for their Brumby project.

[@gailyoung9911]

Thats a master piece. Incredible job.

[@awdobsession717]

Probably the nicest brat/brumby I’ve ever seen. Sweet build for sure 👍🏻

[@BRTBladeworks]

Awesome unique build.

[@gibbethoskins8621]

One of the coolest modded cars I've seen, so good

[@it-really-hurts2092]

Mighty Car Mods have just started a Brumby build

[@michaeldavid468]

Growing up Gen-X I remembered these Brats came with rear facing seats with built in Oh- shit handles and I've been thinking about this swap for awhile and was thinking what it would be like in one of those rear seats in a STI BRAT. I'm glad someone finally built one KODO's

[@VelcroSnake93]

I remember back when I was a teenager (90's) I saw a Brat around town and I wanted one, never ended up getting something like that though. Only remembered it after seeing this.

[@les062]

In UK it was Subaru MV pickup.....I had 1 when I was 19yo.... And we drove these for our work trucks for Massy Ferguson when I worked there.... Great fun to drive and go anywhere off road....

[@Lost10mm.]

Absolutely amazing the workmanship in the front end looks amazing. Wish you could tag the guy who built it i found a super rare gl wagon and i have 3 in total. The rare ones have power everything one with the rare digital dash and one with working A/C. Would be so awesome to swap out the engine cause they aren't really the fastest thing on pavement.

[@josephflanagan1070]

Finally I've been wanting to see one like this now they need to do an old GL that little wage

[@DaveWeagle]

Awesome! I had a BRAT back in the day and have imagined this swap many times. SO cool to see it!

[@BarzOnTheWindow1]

Yes! The 80’s I sat in the back of a Brat. Around 10 years ago, I found one I wanted to restore, when I contacted insurance, they said I COULD have the rear seats, but wasn’t allowed to use them. So I scrapped the idea.

[@nickhutt6264]

Man that would be a wild ride, let alone to have them in a weapon like this!

[@stuartwilkes4434]

The Mighty car mods boys are drooling over this😂

[@Danloreee]

Keen to see what the MCM boys do with theirs, this one is awesome too!

[@noahzohs]

Always dreamed of one of these. Cool AF Conversion. Targa would be cool.

[@garlenseong38]

Definitely cool with a sti conversion. Must be fun to drive!!

[@jonnogan]

Wow...now that is a cool build.

[@Bishopfistwick]

Coincidental timing! Mighty Car Mods just started their Brumby project.

[@TheApocalypseHorse]

here because of MCM and thinking they chose the wrong Motor for their build XD excellent swap good work!

[@EverythingWavy]

Totally Awesome! I’m sure Bucky would love it. As the one he built for his daughter is Rad and has T-Tops!!

[@SpeedDemon03]

Brumbys are awesome

[@brucemazerall5055]

In Canada the two backward facing jump seats were installed with seat belts

[@Ziggymarlone]

This is slick. What a guy for building it 🤌

[@stephencox4224]

What an awesome Brumby so neat anything I have built over the years I have the same ethos try as much as possible to make it like it came from the factory that way and especially anything I built for a customer because if it works on the street like a factory vehicle you will keep it and use it and get the value out of what you spent to do the conversion. On the flip side if it does not drive like it came from the factory that way and always has constant little niggles because it has been hobbled together with too many compromises then the owner soon tires of it and more often than not sells it at a loss and then nobody wins the guy who built it s dissed on by the owner who paid for it and they loose so much bailing out of it that in that case noody wins. I have in a number of cases refused to do a conversion because the Customer was not prepared to spend the money to do things the right way leading to either something dangerous with inadequate Brakes and Suspension for the power output or simply they started of with a vehicle in such poor shape it needed a full on ground up restoration and much rust repairs just to make it safe in standard form let alone with a massive power boost. I have seen over the years that Larry seems to espouse the same ethos in his own vehicles, whilst he does not do everything hands on he certainly puts his thoughts into a build and uses the people who know how to build a Vehicle in the right fashion, That eye for detail Larry has is natural and helps in making this channel so inmteresting because he knows what is worthy of bringing to peoples attention , Well Done by all involved

[@Alonsel3]

When the mechanics and body shop owners are in your window like that you know youve got a fkn weap thats worth that dosh and effort

[@Cobsspeedshop]

My all time favorite car you have done great frickin job brother

[@scottwilson1258]

Yes We were Allowed to sit in the back of the Beds, back then cars just started having to wear safety belts!

[@MickBergin]

Owner has cool vision - cool car. Cheers for the video

[@YoungFlyMexicanNetwork]

Mighty car mods is just about to do one of these dope

[@vincentamerena7302]

13:02 the way he closed the door 😅😭

[@steelearmstrong9616]

Cool guy and cool interviewer

[@Alonsel3]

SUCH A CLEAN BUILD

[@jamesmedina2062]

Less is more!! The shell is so much smaller and nicer to start from than huge body that sets you behind on the inertia battle

[@jfolklfd10946]

Thank you Larry

[@Response1980]

Mint ride 👌 🖤

[@chasebrunner]

That Is A Really Cool BRAT I Wanted One With The Seats In The Back But Most Subarus Are Not Reliable I Seen A Lot Start Knocking Got One Right Now 87,000 Miles Needs New Motor Knocking Still Paying It Off And Needs Motor

[@powers_media]

wild, hoonigan just posted a Brumby on insta yesterday. this one is so cool!

[@Carnerd101]

MCM just picked up two of these. Can't wait to see what they do w/ it!

[@delta3eight]

Far out flysti. Haven’t seen him in years!

[@jackrichards1863]

Who is the man that built this? I reckon its prolly the inspo for MCM doing their one? It's pretty mint as far as a cheap transplant goes. Course Subbies are pretty mint all round. I'm running Recaro seats in my Nissan from early 2K Legacy. Comfort and electrics. We do need more of these recreations before the raw materials all end up in a furnace in China.

[@Mr.EricMBlack]

DREAM CAR!!!

[@riggidyboo]

Very nicely done. Did a similar conversion on my 88 Subaru RX

[@Ren200Z_MotoringLife]

Dam Larry such great cars your finding loving your coverage.

[@nzdesciple4064]

Check out Tony rigoli Subaru brumby build from over 15 years old big massive turbo poking out the bonnet massive front mount on it aswell things a 10 sec street legal beast racing a Ducati

[@craigversheck7835]

Beautiful car! I had one and it was one of my favorite stock vehicles on and off road. Love the fact you guys are going over the history too.

[@ChatMotorsport]

mightycarmods are just doing one of these!

[@joeschmoe5009]

Bucky lasek would love this!

[@Synfulz]

Very cool build.

[@deanharland6773]

Was a bloke in kempsey that had a blue one with a STI

[@custarddragon9349]

i would LOVE to do this to a brumby, and make it auto as well if i can, will be expensive, but hey! if its legal might as well do it to have some fun, but if i was to do it i would make the air-conditioning work

[@dyIanVII]

Epitome of OEM+, between the head unit that's been made to fit and not be an eyesore, the super clean looking trim pieces, the GC/BD wheel, the GV/GR? shift knob, the super clean engine bay, the really well done bonnet etc, so many things that unless you know, you wouldn't realize how special they are. Kinda related ; 19:26 anyone know whether this blue one still exists? I've seen a blue STi swapped one lurking around the gold coast and it def sounds like the same car given that an STi swapped brumby isn't exactly common.

[@jw8697]

Got here from MCM who are also doing a brumb right now, thanks youtube algorithim.

[@sc2320]

machine Larry kidd what a build son she's quality la aussie style 💯💪

[@antoinedoinell]

Wow what an awesome build!

[@NotSoFlatAdventures]

That's such an insane build!

[@ryonaicorp]

I’m from the era where Bucky Lasek drove a bmx and make an iconic helmet with protec

[@steveo5174]

That fucken Sydney lebbo accent at the end. Nowhere else in the world do people speak like that.

[@heatslakdat]

What a lovely car ❤❤❤❤