141 replies to this topic

[Idasho]

Gave the little Subaru another thorough engine check-up today. Glad I did...

First got the motor up to temp, them pulled the plugs for inspection and compression check. Plugs all looked great, a hair on the lean side.

Compression on all 4 is much closer to 150psi now. All within 2-3PSI of each other.

Tightened a few heater hose clamps, weeping a bit...

I then did a lean-best weber tune on the carb. First time since swapping the carb from the old motor to this one. this cleaned up a slight off throttle hesitation and flat spot between primary and secondary carb chambers. Should help squeeze a few more MPGs as well. Though Im RIGHT on the edge of needing a larger idle jet.

Then I pulled the distributor cap to check rotor and cap.... and found the distributor advance mechanism not only VERY loose, but jammed in full advance



This dizzy is a napa reman, with less than 2k miles on it

Rotor and cap were fine.

So I dropped a good used one in, retimed, and tossed everything back together. Much improved.

[docsurf]

Well hello Idasho,
Not sure if you'll recall, but my son and I visited you while you were in the middle of your engine/tranny swap.
Thought you'd get a kick out of knowing that I managed to drive my old '89 all the way back to Vegas. It ran like a champ.

Have thoroughly enjoyed watching your build progress and am envious as can be.

Doc

[Idasho]

Awesome! Glad it worked out!

[Idasho]

Mileage report!

The motor currently has just shy of 2000 miles.

This week I was able to get the Subaru into the shop for inspection and service. No more straight dino oil for this thing. It was fed a nice crank case full of quality 10w30 synthetic-blend.

I took some good photos, to show just how clean the motor has remained. I have done no cleaning since install. Im sorry to say though that the re-man water pump I put on it is already weeping slightly from the weep hole. So an OEM brand new pump is on the way. Other than that, things seem to be doing great.

A while back I scored the last 2 cases of motorcraft oil filters from Rockauto for less than $2 a pop, so that's what this thing will be running... forever



Only evidence of a leak Ive been able to find. Some moist oil pan bolts. At first I thought it was oil, but it was actually trace amounts of coolant that had dribbled down the block from the water pump.



Valve covers staying dry



Dry oil pump



weber staying clean





I also took the time to open up the last oil filter that was used, just in case.

I couldnt find ANYTHING.

[ystrdyisgone]

Awesome pics, glad to see she's staying so clean! I guess taking the time to do it right is quite worth it indeed.

Very nice wagon, I always enjoy seeing the updates on this thread.

[987687]

Wow that's clean! My ea81 leaks oil out of every possible place it could leak oil haha.

[Mechanical_misfit]

Super clean! Mine changes its own oil too, I'll be doing the re-seal once I have all my 5 speed parts gathered.

Also dig the lift. I'm still torn on lifting mine, but might go for a similar stance to yours. Did you build it yourself?

Edited by Mechanical_misfit, 12 January 2013 - 10:40 AM.

[Idasho]

Thanks guys.

A forum member built the strut lift blocks. I "fixed" them, and built the rest of the lift. The "fix" included not only re-welding the blocks to the plates due to crap welds, but also offsetting the plates another 1/2" to correct the alignment.

Built it myself? You decide


I do like the stance. I think it is PERFECT for a daily driven rig that you can still have a blast with off the pavement. Even with stock tires.

I do have a set of 14" wagon wheels in the shop..... and as soon as budget allows, this GL will be getting some BFG A/Ts

[Idasho]

Small update....

Last week the Subaru left my wife stranded. She has been using for winter commuting, and the ignition module gave up the ghost.

Ah well, easy fix. I keep a few spares.

Today the car was dropped off at the exhaust shop. New cat-back

Stock (but catless) y-pipe, then 2.25 all the way back with a cheapo muffler.



Vid....

[The Beast I Drive]

Finally read through this thread, and glad I did, very nice work and a beautiful car!

-Bill

[bheinen74]

Very nice engine build, and looks great, worth your effort.

[Twitch de la Brat]

Very clean, very clean.

I'm curious, I didn't read anything, but did you shave the heads at all or just install the 9:1 pistons?

Also, how is it handling the 2.25" exhaust? When I upped to 1.75" true duals my BRAT came alive.

I'm thinking about just running a single on my Blue 83 after I build it, curious about your experience with the larger single.

 

You better bring that thing up to CDA sometime, I want to see it in person and hear that muffler.

My EA81 craving is getting so bad that I might just dig my BRAT out of the snow and fire it up to scare the hell out of the neighbors...

Anyway, get it up here man! I wanna see!

 

Twitch

[Idasho]

Hey Twitch,

 

The heads were shaved .015

 

So far it LOVES the larger exhaust.  Opening it up really helped this ea81 rev.  

 

Ill let you know if Im headed that way in the GL!  It would be great to meet up!

[Twitch de la Brat]

Ok. I did some math (really fun, if you want me to share, I'll gladly post it up) and flow wise, 2.25" is a tad less flow (20%) than dual 1.75"s.
It probably helps with the lower end having that extra resistance.

Get up here!

Twitch

[Mykeys Toy]

Very nice..  I have loved watching this build since you started it.   I would love to be able to do half of what you have done.  Beautiful car and glad you shared with us.

 

Mike

[Idasho]

Time for another update.

 

As with all of my rigs, I dont NOT repair things.  As things stack up I take note, and make time to get things taken care of.

 

This week I have the little Subaru in the shop for a few things.  

 

Since the new engine, I have never liked just how hot the oil temps are under sustained highway speeds.  250+ degrees is not uncommon.  So I am fitting the motor with a t-stat controlled oil cooler sandwich and a good B&M oil cooler.  Today I got the cooler and lines installed.  I wont have the sandwich for a few days.  But at least Ill be ready for it.

 

As with all subarus, rust is always the enemy and is always lurking.  Even as clean as this Subaru is, it has developed a few small spots that I felt the need to address.  Corrosion is ground away best I could, treated with Ospho, primed, and repainted.

 

I also HATE fluids hitting the ground, and it seems that every time I flush the coolant system, I can never quite get the coolant level correct.  So the system burps some coolant.  Using nothing more than a stainless drink bottle, I made a simple overflow tank to catch it.  If it works out, Ill fabricate an appropriate bracket for it.

 

 

 

 

[Bruce1990]

Well the project sounds great... as you opened every part of the old car, I guess you are pretty expert in all this working.. Anyhow your project is looking very big. Thanks for sharing these photos.. Good Work.