The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hi all I'm in need of some advice.

I have a frontwheel drive motorkhana special running an ea71 engine and gearbox, the one with the starter motor on top.

The motor has just expired and I'm thinking of using an ea81 motor on the existing gearbox. Now I known the stud spacing is not quite the same. However is it possible to mate the two together, subject to the sorting the hole spacing problem or should I look at a fwd ea81 box.

This raises problems with the starter motor interfering with the firewall of the special. Ideally I would need a much shorter starter motor.

Now if it is the second option and I need to source a gearbox box it may be desirable to have an automatic. Does such a thing exist?

Finally, if your wondering, I would prefer later model engines etc, but not enough space to install between the chassis rails.

Thanks for any advice

I don't have any advice, but have you got pics of your ride? be keen to see it.

Heres a pic from a competion day last year



If you want to see slide shows of a couple of events, with other members of HSCCQ competing try the following files. They are large files 7.2Meg and 12.2 Meg We won the Iron man MKhana on the 24 Sept

http://noisemapping.com.au/hscc/24Sept0 ... Sprint.pdf

or

http://noisemapping.com.au/hscc/13FebHSCCMKhana.pdf

Cheers

Try and get hold of a EA71 from Japan. They use the top starter however the engine bell housing still swap over. These motors beat the pants off any EA81 Aussie boat anchor. Hard to get but still around.
Steve

Thanks for the comment. I have spent the last few weeks trying to source an EA71. However, most people, including Subaru "experts" laugh when I ask for an EA71.

Could you tell me what makes the EA81 is a "boat anchor"

EA71s were available ex Japan long after the EA81s dried up. I sold plenty to replace EA81s. They have a light blue rocker cover with a sticker showing Japanese writing on the top of the cover. The sticker relates to hydraulic tappets fitted. I will ask around. Have a look at MYs in wreckers most people would not know what they have. The Jap EA71 went way harder than the Aussie EA71 or EA81. Our motors have the valves with the intakes further away from the center than the exhaust. This was to try to increase torque by lenghting the intake track, what it did do was heat the air charge causing detonation and power loss.
One of the guys at work may have one, I will ask on Tues .
Steve

Steve,

It sounds like you really know your engines. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You can get my contact details from my www address

Cheers

Mark

I can get a low K import for $695 plus freight obout $300. See if you can get a local supplier?
Steve

For the right price this guy might give up his spare engine:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Serious-fun-off- ... dZViewItem

Gotta be worth a shot

Jordan.

I have been able to source a late model EA71 engine. How late that is I am not sure. It has a broken carb but otherwise looks OK.

Now the question.

The bellhousing with the new motor has the starter motor at about the 10 oclock position. I do not have a gearbox with the starter motor there but on the top.

Does anyone know if the ea71 with this configuration will fit the early ea71 bellhousing with the starter motor on the top??

This may answer my question, though I won't know for sure until I remove the bellhousing.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/forum/sho ... 163&page=2

If you have an MY EA71 in the racecar with the EA71 casting in the block near the distributor the bellhousing on yours is a straight swap. So to the driveplate or flywheel. I am interested in your bits off the import if tyey are going. Use the late manifold and put on an L series carby with most of the pollution lines put in the bin. Done several fits over the years. If you need pics by sms or more info, call me 0438 275 766.
Paul.

Thanks Paul,

I may well give you a ring. Will be working on this tomorrow.

I've given the engine a closer look. Distributor missing and the inlent manifold is broken just below the carb.

Hopefully the old twin-carb setup and distributor will simply bolt on.

Will let you know how I get on.

Cheers

Mark

Ten Weeks later and I've finally found the last few hours to finish the job.

For those that are interested I had an old Australian delivered EA71 engine connected to an Australian EA71 gearbox in a motorkhana special. Unfortunately the old engine expired and I was able to source a late model JDM EA71 engine. This engine is normally connected to a gearbox having the starter motor to the side rather than on top.

I am happy to report that between the two engines I had all the parts necessary to mate the JDM to the "old" AU gearbox and today success the engine turns over and fires. Even better is the engine sounds very strong.

It's now time for a light tune and, I am hopeful, relatively low maintenance.

The job itself was not difficult nor did it take a lot of time, its just there is not much time available.

As for the old engine if anyone is interested you are quite welcome to it. It is a EA-71 with very sad bearings. However, the cylinder heads have been worked on, ported etc so someone may be interested.

Thanks all for your help

Mark

can you give me a call about you motorkana special as i built one in the late 80's using FF1 parts and i lost track of it i'm wandering in parts of your is from mine cheers
Thierry
0427124233