What did you do to improve your soobie today

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:56 pm

Tweety, I'm not sure you've got enough lights on there mate! Another 2 big ones should top it off nicely

Cheers

Bennie

Tweety · Post by **Tweety** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:47 am

haha Bennie

Actually trikes have a lot of lights normally. Called an Indian Bar.

Thats a Touroz trike, Ford Focus running gear and lots of lights.

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:14 pm

sven '2'
The stereo is an Automedia brand, model AMV-3001.
It was bought from Repco for about $80.00 a while ago.
It does not have a CD player (didnt want one) but has (according to the manual) -
-DIVX/MP4/MP3 with AM/FM receiver, USB/SD control and 3.0 TFT monitor display.
I dont know what all this means but for me it has an FM radio and I can plug an MP3 player into it so all is good.

2nd Hand Yank · Post by **2nd Hand Yank** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:27 am

I got my engine back together.
I'm amazed how easy it is to add a new belt for my A/C and tension it.
The difference is doing all this work with both electric fans removed.
I was surprised at how easy it was to remove those as well.

I'm unimpressed with how the powersteering resevoir hangs over the accessory belts.
At first it seemed to prevent the removal of the my aftermarket fan.
I ended up spilling powersteering fluid down the front of my engine trying to get a fan in.
Had to disassemble it and clean it.

But in the end I discovered I could put the second fan in with the p/s resevoir; there was a trick to it.

My A/C works better than before; no whines or squeaks and seems to have less load on my EA82

Tweety · Post by **Tweety** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:06 am

Good stuff 2nd hand yank. Progress.

I have two cars, a hyundai i30 diesel turbo and a Proton jumbuck. Both with A/C.

The jumbuck is mechanically straight out of a Mitsubishi ...Colt I think with the old style A/C. The i30 with the latest A/C. In comparison those two A/C's a worlds apart, the i30 hardly takes any power away, the jumbuck feels like it loses 20hp as soon as you turn it on.

I've gone to a few lengths to make things easy to maintain with my ea81 on my trike. Moving the expansion tank, turning the oil filler around, cutting the oil filler neck and rewelding it, easy access point to the fuel filter, electric fuel pump and the coil in a cold spot etc. Its worth the work to move things after some thought. Sometimes its an improvement other time you wished you didnt do it!

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:42 pm

2nd Hand Yank wrote:I got my engine back together.

So does this mean the cam belts are sorted?

It's a pretty easy engine to work on when it comes down to it - it's just that when you've done it so many times you start looking for something that's a bit more "set and forget".

If I was building another offroader I'd probably look at an EA81 in the L series (with matched diff ratio to the tyre size) - it's a bullet proof engine that's just as good in performance as the EA82 with less things to go wrong! Same upgrades are available too. But this is for another day - maybe!

Cheers

Bennie

2nd Hand Yank · Post by **2nd Hand Yank** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:16 pm

El_Freddo wrote:So does this mean the cam belts are sorted?

It's a pretty easy engine to work on when it comes down to it - it's just that when you've done it so many times you start looking for something that's a bit more "set and forget".

If I was building another offroader I'd probably look at an EA81 in the L series (with matched diff ratio to the tyre size) - it's a bullet proof engine that's just as good in performance as the EA82 with less things to go wrong! Same upgrades are available too. But this is for another day - maybe!

Cheers

Bennie

Is that because a EA81 is cheaper than a EJ22,
or would a EA81 actually be better than a EJ22?

Reliability issues with a EJ22? Or they break easily?

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:22 pm

2nd Hand Yank wrote:Is that because a EA81 is cheaper than a EJ22,
or would a EA81 actually be better than a EJ22?

Reliability issues with a EJ22? Or they break easily?

No he's talking about an EA81 over EA82 not EA81 over EJ22. When you can your best bet is EJ20 or EJ22.

Nearly all Subaru engines are pretty sturdy things. I don't expect mine to ever really die, it just burns lots of oil but thats not the engines fault.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:27 pm

2nd Hand Yank wrote:Is that because a EA81 is cheaper than a EJ22,
or would a EA81 actually be better than a EJ22?

Reliability issues with a EJ22? Or they break easily?

EA81 is cheap, very easy and reliable. It's got nothing to do with the EJ22. The EJ22 is a great engine that vastly improved on the issues that the EA82 had.

The EA81 with an oversized bore, mild cam, bigger carb and electronic ignition would be a direct drop in place of the EA82, and it'd go for longer without more maintenance required unlike the EA82.

taza wrote:No he's talking about an EA81 over EA82 not EA81 over EJ22. When you can your best bet is EJ20 or EJ22.

Nearly all Subaru engines are pretty sturdy things. I don't expect mine to ever really die, it just burns lots of oil but thats not the engines fault.

Agreed 100%. Even the EA82 is a good little engine if you look after it. When I got mine it had a cracked cylinder liner due to being over heated. Still got the block for anyone that wants to run their finger over the bore - your nail will catch on the spot that's cracked!

Cheers

Bennie

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:04 pm

El_Freddo wrote:EA81 is cheap, very easy and reliable. It's got nothing to do with the EJ22. The EJ22 is a great engine that vastly improved on the issues that the EA82 had.

The EA81 with an oversized bore, mild cam, bigger carb and electronic ignition would be a direct drop in place of the EA82, and it'd go for longer without more maintenance required unlike the EA82.

If you can live with solid lifters and noisy tappets

Looks like I'll be living with them, my 81 dual port getting built at the moment has solid lifters despite being a Jap import

pezimm · Post by **pezimm** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:13 pm

Did a 5 Tyre Rotation and got a new battery, as the one on the car was still the original! I got 5 years out of it, not bad...

Went with a Century Ultra Hi Performance, so my CCAs went from 450 to 620!

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:27 pm

pezimm wrote:Did a 5 Tyre Rotation and got a new battery, as the one on the car was still the original! I got 5 years out of it, not bad...

Went with a Century Ultra Hi Performance, so my CCAs went from 450 to 620!

5 tyre is always good to do.
5 years is pretty good. Wow that's a lot, bet your lights are better now. What is it like cranking?

2nd Hand Yank · Post by **2nd Hand Yank** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:30 pm

El_Freddo wrote:EA81 is cheap, very easy and reliable. It's got nothing to do with the EJ22. The EJ22 is a great engine that vastly improved on the issues that the EA82 had.

The EA81 with an oversized bore, mild cam, bigger carb and electronic ignition would be a direct drop in place of the EA82, and it'd go for longer without more maintenance required unlike the EA82.

Agreed 100%. Even the EA82 is a good little engine if you look after it. When I got mine it had a cracked cylinder liner due to being over heated. Still got the block for anyone that wants to run their finger over the bore - your nail will catch on the spot that's cracked!

Cheers

Bennie

Ah so it's because it's a direct drop-in, cheap and can go for longer periods without maintenance.
But a EJ motor is better, if one has the time and money for a conversion?
(as good for reliability? I know power and economy is better)

I'm content with my EA82 when it's in good tune,
however TOONGA noticed a "death rattle" sound.
Guyph also heard it, thought it might be an exhaust shroud,
however 90+% of this rattle quietened or disappeared after I added an oil additive.
(Flash-Lube oil additive, like Lucas Oil, only made in Oz and half the price)

This death rattle didn't really make itself known until after my very first trip in the sand, at Preston Beach.
Probably if it was cared for better throughout its life that might not have happened.

Because of it, I can't expect my EA82 has a few more years left in it.

Dunno, maybe I should let someone have a listen to it now.
Death rattle is almost entirely-absent.
(I wish I tried oil-additive before I hit the beach for the first time

)

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:34 pm

^ Just EJ it when you can. You won't regret it as many many people on here will back me up on that. The EA82 is good for what it is, mine runs really well with the 13's but an EJ22 with 27's goes pretty darn well.

2nd Hand Yank · Post by **2nd Hand Yank** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:34 pm

It was easier than I'd thought,
but I had to ask a few people before trying,
so I felt comfortable that I wouldn't damage it.

I also am enjoying a new timing belt and new coil.
(Thanks LT65 for helping me with timing

)

I haven't changed petrol or even my fuel filter
and now my EA82 sings "oh-so-melodiously."

I can keep it in 2nd past 65 km/h and 3rd to at least 95km/h on 91 octane.

Before it was a turd and would knock before 55 km/h in 2nd and before 85 km/h in 3rd.

taza · Post by **taza** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:38 pm

2nd Hand Yank wrote:It was easier than I'd thought,
but I had to ask a few people before trying,
so I felt comfortable that I wouldn't damage it.

I also am enjoying a new timing belt and new coil.
(Thanks LT65 for helping me with timing )

I haven't changed petrol or even my fuel filter
and now my EA82 sings "oh-so-melodiously."
I can keep it in 2nd past 65 km/h and 3rd to at least 95km/h on 91 octane.
Before it was a turd and would knock before 55 km/h in 2nd and before 85 km/h in 3rd.

Wow you must be thrashing it to hit that speed in those gears. I run mine on 91 without any issue at all.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:10 pm

Silverbullet wrote:If you can live with solid lifters and noisy tappets

Looks like I'll be living with them, my 81 dual port getting built at the moment has solid lifters despite being a Jap import

Nothing wrong with solid lifters if your tappets are setup right - that's why the old mini's have that trademark chatter about them. Love it!

Plus solid lifters will let the engine rev a lot harder and further than hydraulic lifters ever will! It's all a part of the "sports package" that the EA81S is.

Cheers

Bennie

pezimm · Post by **pezimm** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:42 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:5 tyre is always good to do.
5 years is pretty good. Wow that's a lot, bet your lights are better now. What is it like cranking?

Massive difference cranking. Didn't notice too much change with the lights, though... Want to see how much longer it lasts without engine running...

akpv · Post by **akpv** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:56 pm

Got out the soldering iron and fixed my forester clock!

taza · Post by **taza** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:05 am

akpv wrote:Got out the soldering iron and fixed my forester clock!

Nice, that was the first thing I did with my Foz too

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What did you do to improve your soobie today

I pulled my steering wheel, put it back in straight