Ruby Scoo’s epic build, ten years and counting...

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:33 pm

Awesome... i laughed at the wagon getting its side covered in mud! (same thing happened to me tonight with the liberty as had fun down the road and hosed it all off before i came home..) Looking good mate... I'm concerned about water/temperature issues...
Cheers
AP

Venom · Post by **Venom** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:35 pm

Awesome idea for the engine stabiliser bar. Simple and effective! I'll have to get that done for my car.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:20 pm

rtcb65 wrote:That is amazing work. I hope when we start doing the Ej fitting in the brumby , we are doing now, i hope it goes as well for us. Where did you get the know how, to go at it like that. It looks like you have done it many time before.

Thanks! Where did I get the know how? I've been playing with cars since I was ten with dad, kept the VW paddock bomb going, a few other engine rebuilds etc, then got into old holdens before getting a subaru. I've learnt about these through my experiences and reading on the forum. Before I found the forum I was in the process of converting Ruby Scoo to MPFI EA82 which I ran for two years or so before we killed a newly rebuilt MPFI

As for the EJ conversion I've almost got sorted (for daily driving), its been from reading on here, watching others with their projects, asking questions (in person and over the forum) and doing some more reading. For the wiring cut down there's a link earlier on to ben's wiring pin outs - these were critical for me to do the cut down.

This is the first conversion! So far it seems a mechanical problem associated with the waterpump has stopped Ruby Scoo for now...

Question for you rtcb: How far into your conversion are you? I hope to complete a write up that is L series specific in the next fortnight.

guyph_01 wrote:I have two main questions.
For the heater hoses, does it matter witch one goes where? or i can put any coming out from the engine and goin in any of the heater box. If not could you plz give me the proper order.

Also that gearbox bracket for the engine/gbox rod you modified. Is that stock on the ea82 box? I don't have one on mine:( Where can i get it from?

Apart from that the car is looking great.

I believe that with the L series heater core if you put them the wrong way around you'll hear a gurgling sort of noise when you hit the throttle. Swap the hoses around and you'll have them the right way around - it worked on Baz a while ago. Mine are top hose to top hose etc. Works for me...

The bracket on the gearbox for the stabiliser bar is the factory unit from the liberty. It will fit the EA gearbox without a problem. Any EJ'd subi will have one, dunno what the auto one looks like but I know the manual one will fit the L series manual gearbox.

I didn't get into the shed tonight, I worked outside all day in the cold (without snow

) and have had enough for one day...

Cheers

Bennie

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 5:56 am

Bennie, re your temp issues, the EJ's dont like blocked heater cores, so if you havent already it may be worth flushing it out. they can cause air locks which will result in over heating. also make sure you have gotten all the air out of the system, my guess is that maybe the thermostat is playing up or as you said maybe the water pump is fubar.

bryan

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:18 am

how do you flush the heater core?

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:13 am

connect water to one of the heater hoses, turn on the tap. water will come out the other hose.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 5:10 pm

Hmmm. I would have thought that 200km of highway driving would have got rid of any air leaks. Its a new heater core so the only thing that could be blocking it is any shit that was already in the motor before I started it, even though I tried to give it a flush while on the engine stand...

And the water pump looked all good when I had it out, thats why I sent the new one back. See how we go, I'm draining the radiator at the moment.

Also I would have thought that if there was no flow, the temp guage wouldn't be working as its in the heater line.

Cheers

Bennie

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:28 pm

El_Freddo wrote:Hmmm. I would have thought that 200km of highway driving would have got rid of any air leaks. Its a new heater core so the only thing that could be blocking it is any shit that was already in the motor before I started it, even though I tried to give it a flush while on the engine stand...

And the water pump looked all good when I had it out, thats why I sent the new one back. See how we go, I'm draining the radiator at the moment.

Also I would have thought that if there was no flow, the temp guage wouldn't be working as its in the heater line.

Cheers

Bennie

indeed you are right.
the next step would be to take it to a mechanic and get him to put a sniffer on the rad. to test for blown head gasket.

bryan

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:50 am

I've since removed the water pump and inspected it. I must say that getting to the water pump seemed to be a lot easier and quicker than doing the same on the EA - either that or its all in my head!

The water pump is shagged - I didn't check the shaft play when I had it out the first time. I don't have pics right now but I can tell you that from the outter wall of the housing to the impellor I can get a 1mm gap then with a bit of pressure on the shaft push that out to about 3mm... The O ring inside the pump is rooted and I think this is where my slow drip leak was coming from. This may have allowed the pump to suck air in at times creating an air lock up top as you've said already CO.

I'm not going to take Ruby to a mechanic for a head gasket check (never been to one, not going to start now) - I'll work that out when she's back on the road. If it comes to a head gasket I'm not too worried about it. Since having driven her with the EJ I'm not in such a rush to get her back on the road as there's no anticipation - so this time she'll be complete when she hits the road, stereo and all

That's about it for now, I hope to have the motor back together mid next week, I've also gotta tidy up some wiring and sort out a vacuum hose that has been disconnected under the dash with all the messing around I've done under there at the moment...

I'd really like to get a new floor lining (blue vinyl) but I didn't find anything yesterday when I was out at the yards - the one I did find was torn like mine is.

Cheers

Bennie

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:57 pm

good to hear you have diagnosed the problem and that sounds to be the problem!! and as the saying goes if you are going to do something do it right the first time, so taking your time and getting everything done now means no half done things later!!

bryan

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:53 pm

Captain Obvious wrote:good to hear you have diagnosed the problem and that sounds to be the problem!!

I bloody hope so but time will tell...

Its now time to head back out to the shed to do some work on the subi

Cheers

Bennie

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:00 pm

Well Ruby Scoo is back up and running! She's got about 1500km on the install so far.

The wiring is all neatly wrapped up and I'm happy with how it all looks and tucks up under the dash now. The below pic is the wiring wrapped up without the heater box installed - the 'knuckle' of the wiring has been tucked behind the heaterbox and isn't interfering with the operation of the heater flap:

I got hold of a fiori thermo fan - its the slimmest one I could find at the yards. With a bit of work I've managed to fit it behind the radiator and works very well. There's not a lot of room there and I've already had the PS pump pulley kiss the shroud while in 4wd low on an attempted U turn (I know you're not meant to do that but I decided to break the rules that time). I'm looking at getting another thermo fan for the passenger's side and investigating the ECU AC fan wire to trigger a relay that runs the fan. Here's the clearance:

She's running well and I'm very happy with the fuel economy figures I'm getting at the moment, they're a little bit more than the EA MPFI was getting at the moment - I have been giving it a bit and with the run upto Mt Hotham on Tuesday I still got 400km/41L! The old EA wouldn't have done this with that sort of driving.

Love the torque and power at any speed too, it's great to drive along the freeway at 110, put the foot in a little and feel the subi surge a little - I don't remember this with the EA. Overtaking is a dream now - no need to drop a down a gear, just put the foot in a little to get the subi moving. Keeps me

Here's some pics of the hotham trip:

And one at home showing off the EJ:

That's about it for the EJ conversion now... Other things will happen from time to time and I'll update this thread accordingly. Next project will be engineers report that incorporates the EJ, lift and 27's.

I re-read through the start of the thread the other day. I must say that I sound VERY naieve with the questions and enthusiasim I had. Kez and I were looking through some photos last night and found one of me putting the EJ20 (that ended up as the catalyst for my conversion) in the shed - dated at october last year. I'm sure I got it mid september last year, which would give me a year turn around on collecting bits and completion of the conversion... I'm still stoked, and its a delight to drive now!

Cheers

Bennie

rtcb65 · Post by **rtcb65** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:18 pm

I re-read through the start of the thread the other day. I must say that I sound VERY naieve with the questions and enthusiasim I had.

[/QUOTE]

I dont blame you about the enthusiasim, i can feel it coming on with me now that i am getting things together for mine. I have one thing to say about the whole conversion, WELL DONE.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:55 pm

Awesome that is great to hear that its going well..
Cheers
AP

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:47 pm

Thanks guys! Its a great feeling - now to get the rest of the speakers in, the floor lining sorted and get all the parts of my interior the same colour, its a bit of a mix and match of blue and grey...

rtcb65 wrote:I dont blame you about the enthusiasim, i can feel it coming on with me now that i am getting things together for mine. I have one thing to say about the whole conversion, WELL DONE.

Thanks again! Yep, still stoked

I'm in the process of the EJ into L series "how to" write up, just need to finish off some writing, add pics then post it. I'm busy for the next few days so I'm hoping that late next week will see it posted...

Also, went to melbourne today in the wet. I surprised a new Narvara

He only got the better of me by breaking the speed limit! I was running in 4wd to maximise traction - ran like a dream and I didn't experience any binding which surprised me. I had a ball down there today and can't wait for AWD!

Cheers

Bennie

The Loyale · Post by **The Loyale** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:42 am

Nice progress Bennie! That EJ looks good suffed into the bay

-Tom

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:51 am

Hey mate,

Good to hear your happy with the conversion. I used to have about the same fuel economy as yours till i put the 15" on and now its all messed up, lol.
Are you planning to build your own Liftkit or buy one?

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:42 pm

just a note for the fans ben, it will all change again when you do the lift, ie: that pully will drop 2"

bryan

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:31 pm

guyph_01 wrote:Are you planning to build your own Liftkit or buy one?

I was looking at making my own, but am now leaning towards saving up and buying one - its mainly a time issue and what the engineer might say about being home made, plus if its approved and a unit that's been professionally made, the process may be easier for others to do later... Yet to see an engineer though...

Captain Obvious wrote:just a note for the fans ben, it will all change again when you do the lift, ie: that pully will drop 2"

Yep, already realised that Bryan! The whole arrangement up front there will change - PITA but that's how it goes...

Cheers

Bennie

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:40 am

I might have to go re-read the whole story too. Some years back word got out that a local fella I used to know who kept bending his WRX's, then a converted Impreza ended up dumping his go fast gear into a Brumby. A quick look under one day confirmed it complete with some mods to get big disc rear, hand brake rear and Lib front end and the AWD manual box. He ended up replacing the EJ20G with a NA EJ20 ! He, or his mechanic claimed the trip times in the NA were as quick as you would responsibly want and they were happy with it....until time came to replace the pull type clutch. Brumby has sat there for three years now....engine out and no coin spared for clutch and engineeer cert required. I'm wondering if I might be able to buy it all one day.... long and the short of it Bennie is the EJ20 was probably most sensible compromise engine to fit to plase most involved, well done
EA series discs all around, I reread my PM's