Dante

I've got an '83 wagon with '85-'89 rear struts (mudrat79 lift). I broke one of the rear struts and lost everything but the spring and the metal cap at the top of the spring. The replacement struts did not come with the other stuff (plastic/rubber bushing at the top, foam bushing and plastic sleeve/boot). Does anyone in the Seattle area have a set of these parts in decent condition? If not, would someone please post part numbers for these? If I can't get them from someone local I'm going to get them from a dealer. No time to cruise junkyards...

I've been good, but busy. I got "promoted" and have been working a lot of OT. I've got oval hole pugs--14" x I don't know. I guess I need to take the bent one to a shop before I buy another one. I guess I could always use another one, but the storage area under my deck is already pretty full. Svengouli7, do you have an oval hole pug? If so, how much do you want for one? Whether I fix the old one or buy another one will depend on whatever's least expensive. Thanks. I'll look around. Gotta get my Sube fixed so I can do my next VW project (they always seem to take it out of commission for at least a couple days of commuting). I'm upgrading the injector pump in my TDI from 10 to 11mm.

I broke my '83 mudrat79 Wagon while camping with some friends a couple weekends ago. I did a powerslide into the gravel pit where we were meeting and hit a big old rock. The immediately apparent result was a bent rim and a flat tire (the rock bent the rim and broke the bead--no apparent damage to the tire). A quick tire change fixed that. Shortly after we took from the gravel pit heading for camp the car started pulling like a mother to the right. I stopped and my passenger hopped out and said "Dude! Theres a big spring sticking out of the side of your car!" The EA82 coilover strut mudrat79 uses for the rear suspencion lift had snapped right at the mount and flopped forward. The spring was caught between the tire and the wheel-well, putting the "brakes" on the right rear tire (which explains why the car was pulling to the right). I pulled the spring out, wedged the strut into the mount and drove the car to camp and then all the way home without event. Long story short, I need a new strut (a pair would probably be smart) and I need to get a bent pug fixed or replace it. Any advice re the best places to do that? I'll check in from time to time to check for responses. I've been working a lot of OT. When I have had time to surf, I've been studying my new toy over at www.ar15.com

Thanks Noah and Mike, Ron from RAM Performance told me basically the same thing as Noah--the heads AND CAM on the JDM dual-carb motor are different, but Ron told me everything else is the same. Ron is making me some flanges. I will have the rest of the exhaust fabricated locally. I think I will have to give NSI a call. I did not realize they were local until I read Mike's post.

That would be great! Thanks

I got to the pics by going into the properties and them pasting the URL into my browser. The heads are the same as my dual-carb long block. I inquired about JDM dual-carb EA-81s at a few engine importers last november and got this response from one: We have a nice engine in stock. It is a low mileage engine that has leak down tested, inspected internally, cleaned, palletized & is ready for shipping. The cost of the engine is 1,195.00 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I got my long block from an airplane guy for $400. He got it from an importer for an airplane project but never got around to it. Here is some more info I just found (linked page has lots of photos): http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:jSa-stv2EecJ:www.howardboyle.com/engine_%26_mount.htm+imported+EA81&hl=en

Anyone have a good free or inexpensive resource to help calculate intake manifold and exhaust runner lengths to get torque and HP where you want them? I've got a 1 1/2" aftermarket intake, but the calculator I have been playing with says just increasing the intake runner cross-section without increasing runner length increases peak torque rpm. It says my peak torque rpm will be around 4,900 RPM. I'm thinking you could make a composite intake with runners the same size as the intake ports and angle them back toward the rear of the engine so you could make them longer to maximize low-end grunt. I've seen photos of carbon fiber and fiberglass intakes (built on steel stub tubes and flanges) on the airplane sites. I don't have a spare, so I have plenty of room. I'll probably just try my aftermarket intake, but I am interested in learning more about intake and exhaust tuning.

Where did you order that from? I've got a dual-carb long block just like in the pictures.

The cams are different. There may be other idfferences as well. I don't know. Qman or someone on one of the EA81 aircraft boards could tell you.

The wife put me to work on Monday (I guess that's what "labor day" means) I didn't even get a chance to check out the board yesterday...

Good luck. A good penetrant and reverse bits can work wonders. I recently broke an injector holder bolt off in the head of my VW TDI (Diesel). I applies some penetrating Liquid Wrench, let it sit for an hour and attacked it with a DrillOut Power Extractor from Sears. Came right out.

Same as a regular EA81, I think. The port is round and about 1.5" in diameter with a rib on the block side of each intake port. The intake I've got is supposed to fit either head. The bolt holes in the intake match the JDM heads perfectly. I havent had the intake off my US Spec head and have not seen any others first hand--only pictures--but the intake side looks the same as the photos I've seen.

The JDM dual carbs put out about 100HP stock (98 IIRC). The valves are arranged different so they breathe better. The cams are different, too. You can still find them. I got my 30K Japanese longblock from an aircraft guy who had not gotten around to using it his project for $400. About the same time, I found a complete JDM dual-carb motor through an importer for about $1,300. I should probably just get an EA81T and crossmember, but this will be a fun project...

I think we've got plans tomorrow, but I might be able to do some four-wheelin Monday. Got no winch and minimal experience, though...

RAM will make flanges for me. How do I figure out how long to make the primaries to optimize performance? The intake has 10" x 1.5" runners and, as I said above, it will be sucking through a Weber 38 DGES (I know I may have to re-jet it to avoid overfueling) and Pipercross oiled foam filter.

Maybe it was me. I came back and he left.

Doh! You are right. There are two siamesed "D" shaped exhaust outlets on each side. I'll definitely be having some fabrication done after sending some e-mails to some aircraft guys (RAM, Stratus, Joe Souza, etc.)

You are probably right. I posted this after reading about putting a EA82 Y-pipe on a US Spec. EA81. I'll have to take a look at my exhaust ports when I get home. Sounds like I'll have to have something fabricated.

Thanks. MilesFox and others have posted about putting the EA82 SPFI Y-pipe on an EA81. The main difference between the US and JDM dual-carb EA81s is the space between the ports and studs. I have read about people having problems putting US EA81 intake manifolds on JDM dual-carb motors because the JDM blocks or heads are shaved so the ports and studs are closer together. The difference is small enough to resolve with a Dremel tool...

Iunderstand the SPFI EA82 exhaust manifold is a good replacement for (flows better than) the stock EA81 exhaust manifold. Will it fit on my JDM dual-carb long block? I'll have a fat custom intake, Weber and Pipercross filter on the intake side. I could probably use some more exhale, and an EA82 SPFI exhaust manifold would be way cheaper than having something fabricated...

I don't know if it would qualify as 4-wheeling by Hatch Patrol standards, but I've played in the snow and mud up the North Fork of the Snoqualmie a couple times and I managed to break my tailpipe at the little 4x4 pit on the right just before the Taylor River bridge on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River road. I took it up to the end of the Middle Fork again last weekend on the way to and from a hike, but that was more like wannabe rally driving than 4-wheeling I have some free weekends in September and October. When is the next run? By the way, did Ken ever bring up that winch switch?

Those are NICE! I sent an e-mail to soobme. I'd like to get the front brush guard/bumper and rear air tank/bumper with the reciever hitches and something like Warn's Winch Pull Pak 3500 lb receiver winch.

Oh man! A direct-injected turbodiesel hybrid would get awesome fuel economy. I average 44 mpg driving between Seattle and Bellevue in my 2000 VW Golf TDI and go over 50 on highway trips. It would be awesome if the new Sube diesel would fit into the older platforms.

Thanks Sparkster054. I called Brian's and spoke with Steve. He thought Brian would be into my project. I'll call them back when I am ready to throw my JDM long block, aftermarket intake and other goodies in the back of the wagon and drive down there with some cash.

I'm sure you are right. I wanted to put a dual-range tranny in a turbo car and lift it, but I wanted an EA-81 NOW more Here is a link to the thread on the supercharged EA-81 with pics: http://subaru.sonik.us/ezboard/topics/18786.html Looks like it was a Toyota supercharger on an EA-82.