Info re Turbo into Brumby

Buddyboy · Post by **Buddyboy** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:22 pm

Hi Guys,
Just about given up on the EA81 Sports Engine, but have tracked down an EA 81 Turbo Engine, with low Ks. I have seen some info on one of the threads on this site re the installation. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or offer advice on this conversion. If not advisable I will probably go for the EJ conversion.
Regards
Buddyboy

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:58 pm

Why am I entertained by your avatar ??
Tel us what you understand you will need to do to go EA81T to stop doubling up on info

Buddyboy · Post by **Buddyboy** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 4:59 pm

Thanks Steptoe for your reply.
Yeah the avatar is similar to what I do for most of the day. Banging my head
against walls.
Well I don't know a lot, but I would imagine that I would require the following.
1. The engine of course.
2. An ECU and loom, out of a vehicle with either a EA81T or EA82T, or similar.
3. Custom exhaust system.
4. Compatible fuel pump and coil.
5. Modified cross member, I think.
6. Upgrade Radiator and electric fan.
7. HD Clutch etc.
8. 5 speed gear box??? perhaps, have heard that the 4 speeds don't handle the extra horses well.
9. Associated gauges, oil, water etc.
I thought that I read an article on this site where someone had put an EA81T or EA82T in a Brumby. Have done searches but can't find it.
Regards
Buddyboy.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:34 pm

Yes an engine is a must, and a wiring loom from an EA81T is likely to be harder to find than finding a playboy magazine in the popes bedroom. You should be able to use the loom from an EA82T, but it has to be from 1985-86 and have flap style air flow meter and a distributor with the vac advance unit.
An exhaust from the above car will fit with a little bit of modification.
The fuel pump will have to be upgraded to an EFI unit, and the fuel lines will have to be changed to EFI rated hose and clamps. Its advisable to also replace the small fuel return with the larger fuel supply hose from a donor car, as the return should be the same size as the supply.
The crossmember will have to have the scollop for the exhaust pipe, I'm unsure if an EA82 one will fit.
If you radiator is in good condition, it should be fine, and the standard clutch is also fine for normal driving.

For what its worth, you might be better sourcing an EJ16/18/20 and fitting it.

Buddyboy · Post by **Buddyboy** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:18 pm

Gannon,
The donor vehicle is a 1989 Leone and my Brumby is a 1989 model, can you see any problems with this exchange, as they are different to the dates you quoted.
Buddyboy

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:27 pm

Buddyboy wrote:Gannon,
The donor vehicle is a 1989 Leone and my Brumby is a 1989 model, can you see any problems with this exchange, as they are different to the dates you quoted.
Buddyboy

yep the leone has an EA82 and your brumby has an EA81.
the EA82 is OHC and the EA81 is pushrod which means the 82 is wider.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:27 pm

Hey is the 89 Leone on ebay at the moment?

If both engine and loom/ECU are from an 89 Leone, it will be easy to fit in. But the wiring loom will have to be stripped down because there are a lot of wires that wont be needed in your Brumby.

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:09 pm

Why not ej it? would be easier to find engines and looms and sounds like you will have similar amount of work or maybe less. I find the ej much Much MUCH easier to work on than the old carby's. Plus they are plenty around and not like gannon said about the playboy magazine in under the popes bed:)

Plus ok you won't have the turbo kick in feeling but wouldn't an ej be similar power to a ea81 or 82 turbo?

Take my vortex for example...., I can only tell the turbo has kicked in when the green light goes on on the dash. Ok its faster than a non turbo ea82 but an ej22 liberty would go faster i'm pretty sure. Although mines got about 400k's and all bearings in that thing is rattling lol. Just driving it with minimum maintenance, i'e oil changes and oil top up's etc till it dies. Then the ej20t conversion:twisted:

Tweety · Post by **Tweety** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:25 pm

I had my own reasons for going the ea81 route in my trike.

But in your case I'd listen to the recommendations here and go EJ. The guys will guide you through the difficulties every night if needed as they did me last year.

Go EJ!

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:44 pm

guyph_01 wrote: I can only tell the turbo has kicked in when the green light goes on on the dash.

You need more boost, bigger exhaust and intercooler, then you will know when boost kicks in

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:05 am

Gannon wrote:You need more boost, bigger exhaust and intercooler, then you will know when boost kicks in

WASTE!!!!, Might as well do all that once to the ej20t:twisted::mrgreen:
Those old EA engines aren't worth it.

Cool if you have all originals cars but starting from scratch, EJ is better and easier. Thats my thoughts.

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:20 am

I have driven stinky's white EA81T Brumby a few times before he sold it. It was not an original EA81T but was well built and maintained with a few minor breathing mods.

You definitely knew when boost kicked in, if you mashed your right foot it would throw you back in your seat, spin the front wheels and shoot sideways with torque steer.

They still only have the standard part time 4WD box which is just FWD the rest of the time.

Go EJ, use the AWD box and be glad you can control the car when you put your foot down, otherwise it's just dangerous, useless power.

Jordan.

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:53 am

I'm sure a freshly built engine or a well maintained one would be way better than mine and you would feel the turbo kick in, but i'm just saying that in my case ej turbo compared to a ea turbo, well there no point comparing.
And if he is going through all this trouble, specially trying to find incredibly rare parts, it better to go the EJ way.

But, if you really want to, you can buy my ea82 turbo with the 'rare' spider manifold and wiring loom and have fun with that.....

Btw, sry for the hijack, Say i rip the wiring loom out off my vortex to go with the engine and install the ej wiring, would i be able to install a N/a ea loom off an L series to run all the accessories? as i would have removed the complete loom to go with the engine:(

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:56 am

Dunno the answer to that question Guy, but Gannon did not mention anything specific as the the location of the playboy in the Popes bedroom - you reckon not under the bed eh ?

A donor car Leone 1989 - turbo ? would be EA82T then ? Factory ? So would either be an RX sedan or GLTA sedan both were factory turbo and 4WD with disc brake rear. Some very rare GLTA had AWD 4 speed auto box -r you could be looking at a grey import ?

Your states registration guys might have something to say about what you need to do the more you do. NSW wants same suspension and brakes from donor vehicle if it is an engine upgrades - that's what the paperwork says, engineer has a final say on the matter.

EA82 will just fit in a Brumby chassis so long as you run standard height suspension, about 4mm clearance each side. Raise suspension and word is chassis then needs mods.

Use the advanced search option click any date to all years or whatever to see better results. vary your key words.

Buddyboy · Post by **Buddyboy** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:34 am

Thanks Guys for the replies. I should have made what I was intending to do a little clearer. In my first post I mentioned that I had found a EA81T engine, that was just the engine. The donor vehicle, yes it's the one on ebay, I will have a look at it on Monday, I was going to use for the other bits and pieces required for the change over.
OK let's talk about a EJ conversion. I believe that the splines on the EJ's transaxle are different to that of the EA81, and that one is longer than the other. I have just replaced the Constant Velocity and the Double Offset Joints on both sides with new parts. Also just put a new Radiator in as well.
I thought that a EA81T conversion would be less work than a EJ conversion.
Regards Buddyboy

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:47 am

With the radiator, if the core is still good on you brumby and not rotting away just get it cleaned and mod the outlet to suit the bigger size hose for the ej engine. Any rad shop can do that easy. We have run 3 ej22 on standard cleaned rads and they run fine and don't over heat.

For the cv joints, if you use the AWD gearbox than yes you will need to mix and match the shafts and joints. I'm not sure what to use but people have done it here with off the shelf parts. Search or someone might drop in a line and tell you what you need.

Only thing easier with the ea81t is that it will bolt in to your gearbox and everything else quite easily, but you will still have to F*$k around with the exhaust, cross-member mod for the exhaust if the ea81 goes where the ea82 and ej engine goes, Main thing also would be finding a loom and you'll still only have a 4speed front wheel drive. Maybe if your lucky fine a 5speed ea81 box but thats as hard to find a loom.

Buddyboy · Post by **Buddyboy** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:58 pm

Thanks for all the info and advice. Spoke to the guy selling the Leone this morning and found out that he is a fellow forum member. He has been watching with interest what all had to say about the Turbo into Brumby conversion. I think that we have both come to the same conclusion, that a EA81T or EA82T into a Brumby is not worth the effort. In my case, I'm going over to the EJ side. So, what's the best way to go? Can someone advise a thread to look at, or just give me the details of what to look for re the conversion.
Regards and many thanks
Buddyboy

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:20 pm

So who is this guy, did he tell you his forum name?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:04 pm

Try Justin ExtremeRX

Green_eyed_liberty · Post by **Green_eyed_liberty** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:11 pm

Gannon wrote:So who is this guy, did he tell you his forum name?

I am that guy. i bought it with the intention of putting the motor and powersteering into the brumby

Justin had it rebuilt it with his own design up headers and uppipe.