Zaks 1990 brumby Engine swap

scriptchip · Post by **scriptchip** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:34 pm

Hey subie fans,

Ive recently discovered my loyal ea81 is in worse shape then a vn commodore owned by a P plater, its go a huge amount of blow by. leaking rocker covers and rear main. radiator is stuffed and i lack huge amounts of power, i need to crawl up minor hills in second gear (im assuming because of the lack of compression).
should i swap it out and put a ea81 with power steering back in or move up to a ea82 or even a ej22/ej20. im not a master tradesmen so modifying and fabricating brackets is a challenge.

what engine should i swap in and should i swap out my 4sp for a 5 speed d/r or even a 4 spd auto awd.

What ever engine i put back in has to have power steering.
constructive criticism welcome.

cheers zak

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:40 pm

wonder if you can do compression and leak down tests.

Leaking rocker covers is easily fixed so is the rear main if you can take the engine out.
Radaitor could be flushed/cleaned.

scriptchip · Post by **scriptchip** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:45 pm

ive been told the amount of blow by they're suprised my engine is not blowing smoke, the radiator has a hole in it because the bloke before me used water and it sat for months on end.
my ute will be taking into the workshop next wednesday for wet/dry compression testing..

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:48 pm

Don't do ea82.
Either EJ. Or rebuild your ea81.
Rebuild would be easiest, but can get costly.
I believe that you could do an EJ for the same as a full sport rebuild ea81.
Just the EJ is unknown condition, and you have to mod etc.
In SA you will only be able to do a ej20.
Personally I vote a rebuild ( though it depends whats wrong with it). With some upgrades like a weber.

Cheers Cam

scriptchip · Post by **scriptchip** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:49 pm

I dont really have the cash for a full rebuild as ive been told around 2-3 grand estimate.
i can pick up a ej engine for 1 grand in good condition..
Main concerns are powersteering,power output and reliability.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:54 pm

If you're not good with fabrication or wiring I'd be going with the EA81 rebuild.

The wiring certainly isn't for the faint hearted - just do your research as to what's involved and if you're keen go a head with it from there be prepared to have some fun along the way, there are plenty of ups and downs in conversions - especially with your first!

Cheers

Bennie

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:56 pm

Ok, it really depends how far you want to go, and how far you need to go.
An EJ will have power steering. The EA81 do have ps, but not all of them.
Power, you can't go past the EJ series.
Reliability, it isn't a pushrod, but it is the best for reliability and power.

scriptchip · Post by **scriptchip** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:03 pm

How much fabrication needs to be done while converting it? should i put a ej gearbox in aswell or just keep my standard 4spd?
ive got mates in different trades that could help.how do i go about cv axles and steering rack. is their a how to on putting a ej in their ?

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:21 pm

just to be realistic, you have really got to be looking at closer to 2 - 2 1/2 grand (for comparison to a rebuild) for EJ conversion. (yes, i know you can literally do it for a lot less).

by the time you have done timing belts, oil seals, water pump etc. then machined fly wheel and adapter plate. all the other little things (eg, EJ steering rack, thermos,...) and then changing rego / passing pits the cost does add up. and thats assuming you are doing it all yourself and nothing goes wrong.

dont get me wrong, its a fantastic project and if you want to do it you wont regret it at the end. its just you have to be realistic about cost and time into it. I dont think it is generally the way to go for someone who just wants to whack another engine in.

Robbie

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:34 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:An EJ will have power steering. The EA81 do have ps, but not all of them.

You don't have to use the power steering pump if you don't want to - just get the belt that services the alternator, do a search as there's a list of belts that do the job on the forum somewhere.

Brumby Kid wrote:Power, you can't go past the EJ series.
Reliability, it isn't a pushrod, but it is the best for reliability and power.

For the subaru EFI it certainly does better than the EA82 MPFI ever did.

They're the next best thing in reliability to the EA81.

Plus what MTB92 said above is very good advice. It's great to get excited about it but it's another thing to see it through. DO YOUR RESEARCH! That's the best advice I can give you.

Let's not turn this thread into a re-hash on the EJ questions... If you want to ask some questions after researching the option, start a new thread in the engine section

Cheers

Bennie

scriptchip · Post by **scriptchip** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:53 pm

Ive searched and skimmed over information on a ej conversion, seems not too difficult but still leaves out important information, ive also been susing the ea82 turbo engine.
anyone had experiences with them ?

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:23 am

see if you can find a brumby or MY wreck with a decent motor.
Over the last 12 months I have collected three cars with decent motors all of which i have paid less then $500 for and I have a motor with only 175,000ks on it stashed in my colection. So they are out there you just have to keep an eye out.

Is your motor tappet noisy and is the ignition timing set corectly.

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:46 am

MTB92 wrote: and then changing rego / passing pits the cost does add up. and thats assuming you are doing it all yourself and nothing goes wrong.

EA82T or EJ conversion = Regency fail (if that concerns you)

...and neither of these engines will 'bolt in' so to speak. The EA81 would have to be one of toughest motor made by Subaru. Yes they are not esp powerful, but they are reliable and torquey.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:08 am

Sven,
Depends what you do to your EA81 mods wise as to how much power you get.

90brumby · Post by **90brumby** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:52 am

A ea82 isn't a engine you would b putting in a brumby the engine is physical bigger and it does fit but sits way too close to the chassis rails

I would either find a good second hand ea81 or save up a bit of cash and do a ej.
I did a full rebuild on a ea81 and spent nearly 2.5 grand and still took it out and put a ej22 in

Tristan

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:57 am

Or, see what's wrong with your current engine.
Either do a proper fix, or a quick cheap fix. Depending on what exactly is wrong with it.

Cam

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:47 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:Sven,
Depends what you do to your EA81 mods wise as to how much power you get.

My point is a EA81 is not a powerful engine (regardless of mods) - but it is almost bullet proof.

You father's STi - now that is a powerful engine...

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:22 pm

Yeah your right Sven.
Now that is.
Got to drive it the other day and BOY, that is powerful!!!

Cam

scriptchip · Post by **scriptchip** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:59 pm

I would just whack another ea81 in there but i find that they lack major power, can i get efi kits for a ea81 ?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 7:29 pm

efi ain't gonna make the improvement you want. Ea82T's are awesome compared to ea81, 82 caarby