Bianca Engine Work

User avatar
El_Freddo
Master Member
Posts: 12487
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
Location: Bridgewater Vic
Contact:

Post by El_Freddo » Wed Feb 01, 2012 6:44 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:Engine Blow By/Back. Is this where you can feel air coming out of the air cox instead of sucking?
What can you do? Coz iz I have to split the block for that im gonna be pissed.
No. Blow by is when you can feel positive air pressure coming out from the oil filler when you remove the cap. It can also be blue in colour as it burns a little bit of the crank case oil.

Excessive, oil rings will be shot shortly after this and you'll see that as blue smoke out the back of the car when you start it/drive/use the engine at any time...
Brumby Kid wrote:Yeah ok,
How would you get the pistons out?
Splitting the block sounds easier.
What are the cons of doing so? Im looking at Sam in particular.
Now is there a way to test for the piston rings, as i know it could also have been the head gasket, or an impropely seated valve, or valve seal thingy.
Thoughts Please.
Hex keyholes on the side of the block beside each cylinder, I think Sam's gone into this. Splitting the block is done to change the cam (for a better one, your cam shouldn't be worn out yet), replace main bearings and big end bearings.

A full engine rebuild like this will give you the best stock compression you can get without starting on other mods you'd go for if building a real performance engine. The cam is a big part of this.

If you follow the instructions, have everything measured as instructed and the appropriately sized parts used in the rebuild. Double check tensions are as they should be and that things are clean when you do the rebuild. The other important thing is to make sure you place the bearings in the correct way around if you go the full rebuild.
Brumby Kid wrote:Is there anyway to test to see if there is anything wrong?
So i don't end up like Sam?
Cam, that's a bit harsh. It was Sam's first build and he needed it done. He may have missed one big end bearing not being seated properly or was in the wrong way around - we'll never know. But it was a gutsy move and I hope that he has another go at it soon, just slower and more thorough/attention to detail used.
Brumby Kid wrote: Apart from gasket issue.
I do have some blow back.
Possible causes...
Head gasket
Valve issue
piston rings
How can i tell which it might be without putting it back together and taking it apart again?
I would like to fix that to get better compression and performance.
Blow by can't result from a head gasket - that's a leaking head gasket and is different to blow by. Blow by is the compression rings no longer holding the burning fuel mixture in the cylinder, the way to find this is by a compression test before you pull it a part or to inspect the bore once you've got the heads off and read up on a guide as to what the bore is telling you. Note: Subaru engines are good at still showing the hone markings at +300K but they're no good anymore for bedding in the rings as this would have occurred ages ago.
revmax wrote:Yes, disturbing the bottom end is creating unessary work and risk.
Dunno about the "unnecessary work and risk" bit. If you're going for mild performance an engine rebuild is the best way to get the most from your engine. Personally if I was going to hold on to this engine for some time I'd be going the whole hog with a mild cam dropped inplace of the stock unit for a bit more pep while driving.
revmax wrote:Steptoe you went of on a tanget as I never mentioned anything about honing only above the rings.
Steptoe was sharing a story of how not to do it. 1) honing is good for new rings to bed in, I wouldn't be pulling the pistons out if you weren't going to hone the bore and throw in new rings. But then again I wouldn't putting an engine back together without having the bore checked out for roundness and straightness (for the want of a better term).
2) You don't ever hone the bore with the piston still installed. Not only can you not hone the whole bore stroke you also can't clean out all the debris created by honing the bore.

ALWAYS wash the block after having honing work/re-bore work done, you'll be surprised how much debris comes out in the wash!
revmax wrote:if there wasen't any blowby before the gasket failure then it is VERY likley the be compression leaking into the case when the gasket failed.
How many K's has it done.
Edit the gaket and cyl photos show a compression leak.
The amount of carbon on the pistons makes me think the oil rings are worn, is there much carbon build up in the exhaust ports and was it using much oil.
Yeah this is always a hard one to say. The engine could have been running rich... or this could be normal carbon build up for a petrol drinking engine with almost 300k km on the clock:

Image

It's hard to tell by photos and without seeing the engine run before it was torn down.

It's always a complex equation as to what you do - if you were just pulling it down due to a leaking head gasket and that's all you want then just do that work.

If you're after some solid reliable performance a complete rebuild will look after you so long as you do it carefully with attention to detail. Find a good build guide and follow that - and ask questions as you go ;)

Cheers

Bennie
"The lounge room is not a workshop..."
Image
El Freddo's Pics - El_Freddo's youtube

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:10 pm

El_Freddo wrote:No. Blow by is when you can feel positive air pressure coming out from the oil filler when you remove the cap. It can also be blue in colour as it burns a little bit of the crank case oil.

Cam, that's a bit harsh. It was Sam's first build and he needed it done. It's always a complex equation as to what you do - if you were just pulling it down due to a leaking head gasket and that's all you want then just do that work.

If you're after some solid reliable performance a complete rebuild will look after you so long as you do it carefully with attention to detail. Find a good build guide and follow that - and ask questions as you go ;)

Cheers

Bennie
Ok So, it's air coming out of the air cleaner backwards. I was told it was blow back/by.

Sorry, Wasn't meaning it to come out like that, it was just easy to say so people knew what i ment. I take my hat off to Sam for doing what you did, but sorry Sam I really don't want my engine to fail.

Yes just a head gasket, but while the engine is out....

Yes I am after some solid reliable performance.

Where might I find a good build guide Bennie, never really knew it was written.

Cheers Cam
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
Silverbullet
Senior Member
Posts: 2858
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: Adelaide

Post by Silverbullet » Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:12 pm

El_Freddo wrote: Cam, that's a bit harsh. It was Sam's first build and he needed it done. He may have missed one big end bearing not being seated properly or was in the wrong way around - we'll never know. But it was a gutsy move and I hope that he has another go at it soon, just slower and more thorough/attention to detail used.
Don't think he meant it to be harsh there Bennie :rolleyes: I won't mind if he doesn't rebuild the whole thing himself based on what happened to me if it means he doesn't end up with a busted motor like I did.

That picture of the engine with the piston tops exposed, does that residue look oily to anyone else? Mine were straight carbon from running with the choke out constantly and the residue was black powder. Unless Cam got coolant on his pistons which made it slimy.
Will it ever end!?
-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end
Image

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:18 pm

Well, yes i think there could have been coolant, but it is more likely to be WD40.
Daniel said spray WD40 in the bores daily to stop them rusting.
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
mud_king91
Junior Member
Posts: 748
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:40 pm
Location: edwardstown SA

Post by mud_king91 » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:12 pm

even weekly is fine they were oily as i rubbed before anything else went into the bores the exhaust prts were a tad oily as well and i have lots of foam.... found it in the bin at work along with 4M of double core wiring and a heap of mesh
GROWING OLD IS COMPULSORY... GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL


WTB
BRUMBY, FORESTER prefferably GT

User avatar
El_Freddo
Master Member
Posts: 12487
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
Location: Bridgewater Vic
Contact:

Post by El_Freddo » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:32 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:Yes just a head gasket, but while the engine is out....

Yes I am after some solid reliable performance.
Sounds like you need to make a big decision - the easy one is to fix the head gaskets and leave it at that...
Brumby Kid wrote:Daniel said spray WD40 in the bores daily to stop them rusting.
I'd say spraying it thoroughly once would have done the job - the WD40 stays on the surface unless it's washed off.

Cheers

Bennie
"The lounge room is not a workshop..."
Image
El Freddo's Pics - El_Freddo's youtube

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Update

Post by Brumby Kid » Tue May 15, 2012 8:07 pm

Ok so it's been a loooooooooooooong time since a proper update.
Some of you super detectives may be able to have worked out whats happening.

So Head Gasket went, took it out, found rings needed doing.
So after contemplating what to do we sent it to an engine doctor.
Knight Engines (Tony Knight) Defianatly reccomending!!!!!
And the radiator got done somewhere.

So heads are having the full Monty.
Even port matching and some other stuff.

My Bores where sort of elliptical, so a good hone and oversized pistons.
Crank linish, Cam grind, with this he has sent it interstate, (think it got there today). They will collaborate and work out the best profile.
And the compression is going to be bumped up to 10:1.

Think thats about it for now, oh and looking for 2nd hand webers on fleabay.
This thread is useless without pics so some random pics for your enjoyment. (please control yourselves) Unfortunately there all old. New ones soon!!!
Image

Image

Image

This was easy to remove without braking.
Image

Image
Complicated much.

Image
Piece of crap! Looks sexy now

Image
Daniels Arms.

Image


Cheers Cam
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
El_Freddo
Master Member
Posts: 12487
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
Location: Bridgewater Vic
Contact:

Post by El_Freddo » Tue May 15, 2012 8:12 pm

If you go the webers, what are you doing with the old carb? I'm after one of those, I'm starting to think the EA82 intake/carb is too much at the moment.

Let me know a price if you're not going to be using it!

And the whole thing sounds good mate! I bet you can't wait to get it back together!

Cheers

Bennie
"The lounge room is not a workshop..."
Image
El Freddo's Pics - El_Freddo's youtube

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Tue May 15, 2012 8:21 pm

Ok, will do, (you have a weber atm?)
Can't wait!!!
Going to vietnam in mid june for school.
May be able to get it in before then.
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
AshR
Junior Member
Posts: 170
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 4:49 pm
Location: Mont Albert North

Post by AshR » Tue May 15, 2012 9:03 pm

that looks like a major overhall :) good luck with it.

while the other parts are off the block you can get the toothbrush out and clean it all up :D

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Tue May 15, 2012 9:07 pm

Thanks,
Yeah hes cleaning everything for me, i dont have much in my shed atm.
costs a lot for all this but worth it.
Ive painted the sump and rockers and some other stuff already.
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
d_generate
General Member
Posts: 1529
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 1:51 am
Location: Back in Perth and SORing it atm.

Post by d_generate » Tue May 15, 2012 11:31 pm

So did your mum let you lick the cake tins clean? Look bloody tasty. :p
98 Libbo with V3 STI running gear. 13.0 @ 105mph with CAI & 3" Zorst:mrgreen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKrsF-2JS3M :twisted:
Image

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Tue May 15, 2012 11:33 pm

d_generate wrote:So did your mum let you lick the cake tins clean? Look bloody tasty. :p
My rockers? Yeah it's an awesome mixture of oil and water!
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
Silverbullet
Senior Member
Posts: 2858
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: Adelaide

Post by Silverbullet » Wed May 16, 2012 6:52 pm

I remember seeing that scene in my shed, almost exactly the same :) Lots of fun pulling an engine down I think.

Bennie if Cam holds on to his Carb I've got one spare in the shed, well 3 actually but 2 of them are reserved ;) I pulled the spare one off a Sedan at wreckers yard because it looked really clean and in case I needed it. Never needed it so I haven't tested it though.
Will it ever end!?
-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end
Image

User avatar
El_Freddo
Master Member
Posts: 12487
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
Location: Bridgewater Vic
Contact:

Post by El_Freddo » Thu May 17, 2012 1:49 am

Brumby Kid wrote:Ok, will do, (you have a weber atm?)
Stock carb with a shot auto choke on it - the previous owner had pop riveted the choke cover back on it, this came loose and wore a grove in it so that it no longer goes back together properly, and I can't get it operating at all. It's a PITA to start on a cold morning!
AshR wrote:while the other parts are off the block you can get the toothbrush out and clean it all up :D
Or have it chemi washed - comes up like a new engine and is a great time to paint it - painting an engine makes it a pot load easier to keep it clean if you do it properly the first time around.
Silverbullet wrote:Bennie if Cam holds on to his Carb I've got one spare in the shed, well 3 actually but 2 of them are reserved ;)
If it's got the auto choke and Cam does hold on to his carb, I'll be keen on this.

Cheers

Bennie
"The lounge room is not a workshop..."
Image
El Freddo's Pics - El_Freddo's youtube

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Sat Jul 07, 2012 8:42 pm

Ok so my engine is sitting in my shed all nice and shiny wrapped in industrial glad wrap.
My heads arent on yet they are seperate still.
And now i have a weber to stick on!!! Thankyou Tweety :)

Ok here we go what i got done.

Strip Short Motor & Inspect 80
Remove Seized Studs 40
Hotwash block and parts 150
Rebore & Hone 220
Deck Block 130
Resize Rods 168
Linish Crank 35
Assemble Short Engine 280

Hotwash 30
Dismantle and inspect 50
Bead Blast 70
Reface Valves 40
Cut Valve seats & Vac test - Performance Seats 104
Set valve Stem tip heights 28
CC Head 55
Mill Head 110
Supply and fit welsh Plugs x6 42
Porting 500
Clean and Assemble 60

Strip clean & reassemble oil pump, clean up dizzy 50

reground Cam shaft (this was calculated to my engine specs) 268
refaced lifters 89
0.02" oversized pistons 122.80
chrome rings 72.50
rod bearings 28.70
main bearings 45.90
bottom end gasket set 54

It has been honed out to 1.83L
0.5mm oversized pistons
The compression bumbed up to 9.5:1 we didnt want to go any further as i still want to run on Regular 91
Ported out as much as possible. I mean as far as possible!
And my Cam was sent off interstate to be ground. They collaborated with me and they chose some specs that should be good for what i want. A really torque y engine for offroad. I have the specs sheet printed out but don’t understand any of it. Will post if anyone asks.
This should be a pretty interesting engine with a weber and sports exhaust.

Cheers Cam
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
Silverbullet
Senior Member
Posts: 2858
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: Adelaide

Post by Silverbullet » Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:14 pm

Quite an extensive list of work you had done, I like it! Looking forward to seeing how it goes, we must have a race some time...when both our cars are finished ;)
Will it ever end!?
-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end
Image

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Sun Jul 08, 2012 4:40 pm

Done!
Race is on!
Power to weight would be reasonably similar.
Thanks Sam.

Cheers Cam
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
Brumby Kid
General Member
Posts: 1297
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:19 pm
Location: Belair S.A.

Post by Brumby Kid » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:16 pm

And then perhaps a race with tweety to see how much he flogs us by.
Perhaps we can handicap him with the guppy van and a few lead weights.
Hahahaha.
It is confirmed tomorrow night work will start!
I will take plenty of pics and upload them.
Super keen, mudking said that by Wednesday it could be in.

Cheers Cam
When life gives you a corner, drop a gear, pitch, and stomp the loud pedal
Bianca: 1991 Subaru Brumby
My First / Project car

EA81 Rebuilt by Tony Knight from knight Engines
2" body lift
25" 185r14 Yokahama Delivery Star, light truck tyres
2" Sports exhaust
Rear Aguip step/bar
Liberty seats
"Bianca"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dads Car: 02 Impreza WRX STi
Mums Car 08 Liberty Wagon

User avatar
2nd Hand Yank
Junior Member
Posts: 674
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:26 pm
Location: SE Brisbane, QLD

Post by 2nd Hand Yank » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:18 pm

I like your build thread. :)

Makes me wonder if it's worth doing that to a EA82. :idea:
Just in case it's too hard to do a EJ conversion in NSW,
I could do something like that to a EA82 and save money by not needing an engineers cert. :cool:

Are you still able to run 10:1 compression on 91 octane, or do you need higher grade?

Imho, the EA82 is a bit of a pig,
so if I have to stay with a EA82 I'd rather tune it for 98 octane with more torque and horsepower.
In theory, a motor with higher compression should be more fuel efficient
and I've always wished my Subaru could go further on a full tank...
or make HEAPS more torque and horsepower at the same fuel economy, even if it's on 98 octane.
An added bonus, I already have a good new radiator for the EA82,
so the extra heat from higher compression wouldn't matter.

Post Reply

Return to “Brumby Kid”