Engine builders

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:23 pm

Well folks the time has nearly arrived where I'm going to send off my twin carb engine to be built. Soon as I hit my savings target it's happening (end of this month hopefully) and the 2" exhaust with what's left over... if there's any left over

Only problem is, I have no idea who/where to take it to. Never had an engine built so dunno who's around (Adelaide obviously) or who's reputable.

So any Adelaide members have suggestions as to where I can take it? I want someone who knows Subaru's, someone who's trustworthy and will tell me what's going on in detail. Would be a bonus too if I can drop in to have a look during the process and have a chat

As to what I want done I'm not having any mods (high comp pistons, port work...twin webers

) I just want the engine as stock but in new condition for now. Depending on what it needs I might get new (stock) pistons, heads rebuilt, crank and bores honed/ground etc all the usual stuff. Would be nice if the one place can rebuild the carbs too and help me get the engine setup and running properly as there is very little information available to me for basic tuning on this engine.

Doing it myself is absolutely out of the question, I need to do this engine justice. I know this thread could have gone in the SA part of the forum but I thought it's just as valid in here.

I've also just paid the rego on the car for the next 3 months, at the end of that period it will be off the road for this years resto (we'll be well into winter by then and I don't like it being out in the rain in it's current state) Hopefully I'll get a taste of the new engine and break it in before it's off the road

Well that's my plan for this year anyway, here's hoping everything goes to plan

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:37 am

No question for me - Steve at Rising Sun in Gepps Rd.

He might be some distance from you but when it comes to subarus he's your man in Adelaide to go to hands down.

Cheers

Bennie

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:30 am

Not a machine shop but someone for you to leave it with to get it all done and built correctly you'd think

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:36 pm

Thanks for the suggestion Bennie, I was thinking of Steve but didn't know if he did full rebuilds, I'll give him a call during the week. Distance isn't so much of an issue, I work just down the road

That's right Jonno I'd like to be able to drop it off, talk about my options for work to be done and once it's done be able to pick it up and drop it in the car with only minor adjustments.

stenno · Post by **stenno** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:10 pm

Knight engines without a doubt if you want the best but be prepared to join the queue. It's a one man show. One of the best head porters in the country and built the motors for some of the highest power wrxs in the country. Join performanceforums.com and search user tk383 for some of the threads detailing some of the more interesting stuff he has touched. Please use him just so he does a build thread about it.

stenno · Post by **stenno** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:16 pm

Sorry his username is tk not tk383 anymore since he sold his tunner.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:13 pm

Had a look stenno but couldn't find him on that forum, thanks for the suggestion though. Anyway I gave Rising sun a call this arvo and that's where it's going after Easter. Looks like it will cost less than I thought too, with oversized pistons and all

Will give me more cash to play with for the exhaust afterwards.

Really looking forward to this engine going in. Was just thinking; exactly this time last year I was planning the carb rebuild of my old engine gathering parts and information...we all know how that one ended up haha

Who would have thought 12 months on I would be planning the rebuild of an engine such as this

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:08 pm

Good stuff mate! I'm stoked that you decided on Steve's joint - from what I've heard he'll look after you!

Cheers

Bennie

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:05 am

Wow has it already been a month? couldn't even find this thread to update it haha

Well so far the engine is in pieces getting all the machining done. Crank is done and they got the studs out of the engine block which I'm amazed about

so they can deck the block halves. Cylinder heads will be rebuilt too with reground valve seats. I'm getting oversized pistons as well so the bores are getting machined and all the intake manifold gasket surfaces. Of course water pump is being replaced with new but luckily the oil pump didn't crack upon removal, so can be re-used (until it actually does crack

)

Now the bad part; the cam shaft is not in the best of nick (about as rare if not rarer than the engine to find a replacement since there'd be no spares) apparently there is pitting of the hardened surface and if it can't be revived it has to be replaced, somehow. Which means I may have to get a brand new cam made from scratch. I'm willing to do this, but I'll just have to wait a bit longer while I save up the dosh. I was surprised to hear there's a place in Adelaide that still makes cams, I would have thought they all folded long ago but looks like I'm in luck there.

Steve Rising sun has been great so far and giving me regular updates. As soon as I said I'm restoring the car this year he was showing me spare tailgates and telling me about parts cars, this guy is great

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 2:31 am

Hughybabes managed to get his cam rebuilt, welded up the bad bits and ground again. Brumberty was the previous owner and may recall who did the work. Though Matt, may not recall either after a couple of kids later, but being Tassie based may have known who in Melbourne did the work for hughybabes, coz not likely Steve ? hughybabes drops in anymore. Got any demerits off your licence yet

, you might need them when this is in and running

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:26 am

I was told there are two places in Adelaide for cams.
But they arent that good.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 2:15 pm

No demerits, most I've ever got was a parking ticket

It will be frustrating not being able to see what it can do during the break in, but I can't wait to stick it up the commydores that tailgate me up Flagstaff Hill; drop into second and show them who's boss

...or maybe not hehe

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Mon May 07, 2012 6:57 pm

Went round to hand over some dosh and also saw the engine today, boy does it look good

:D:D
Amazing what a clean up can do, everything looks like brand new metal (even inside the intake/exhaust ports!

) It's still all in pieces waiting on the cam (didn't need a new one after all) so engine will be going back together hopefully this week. The block faces and heads have all been machined, heads stripped to nothing and all the valves and valve seats cleaned and cut anew. Saw the 1mm oversized pistons (:D:D:D) new in box with gudgeon pins and the crank ground .010'' over size, man am I excited

Had a good long chit chat about various things, and sorted out a possible g/box (L 5-speed) becoming available soon.

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Wed May 16, 2012 4:29 am

Any updates?

And I think we really do need pics!

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed May 16, 2012 8:12 am

cranks are ground undersize

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed May 16, 2012 12:50 pm

If you can find out who ground did Brumberty old cam cause it is now in my Bianca (has been for years), go with them... They did an awesome job with it

It has been in Mine for probably around 100,000 and still going strong.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Wed May 16, 2012 7:13 pm

steptoe wrote:cranks are ground undersize

Oops my mistake, of course

Only update since the last one was over the phone Steve said he got the camshaft back but had to get the lifters ground/faced to suit, but that was last week so I'm guessing the engine might be on the way back together by now. I should have taken pics of all the pieces, didn't think of it at the time because we were talking about things, and Sven you probably know how fast he moves, don't have time to think about anything

I'll definitely take a photo or two next time, but it could be finished by then (not such a bad thing

)

Pretty bummed it's going to be a while before this engine is running, will have to wait until the car is restored now since it's coming off the road in a couple of months. But then the old girl with her 30 year old gearbox probably wouldn't stand much of what this engine might dish out

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed May 16, 2012 8:50 pm

Matt!

This all starrting to sound like YOU are they guy in QLD who bought Steve the maths teacher hughybabes old wagon with Brumberties EA81S ? from way down in Victoria ??

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Thu May 17, 2012 8:28 am

No that wasn't this Matt

Wish i did but...

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sat May 19, 2012 5:39 pm

It's done!!!

Got the phone call yesterday morning, picking it up on Monday after work. Stay tuned for decent pics