Dante

I just scored an imported asian dual-carb ea81 long block. I can either rebuild it myself or pay to have it rebuilt. If I do it myself, is there an english language manual available for the asian dual-carb ea81? Rebuilding it might be a good winter project. I've never rebuilt an engine, but I've done lots of other automotive stuff, I'm methodical and good at following instructions. I can also evict my VW Golf from the garage for the winter so I'll have a warm well lit place to work. Any advice? Seattle area Volunteers?

Thanks beauregaardhooligan. I understand. If I have a header made it will be about the same size as stock back to the collector to preserve scavenging and low-end torque. One ea-81 builder I've been talking to said "Header primary length is critical to this engine, you need 1.625 od tubing (1.5 id) off the head 28" long into a collector". Others have used 1 7/8 ID and reported good results, but based on what I have read and heard here, in my ea-81 exhaust thread and elsewhere, i would not go larger than that. I also got e-mailed and spoke with Joe Souza today. He gave me some interesting info. First, he said the runners on his Weber intake manifold are 25% larger (fatter ID) than stock and will enhance low-end torque. He also had lots of good things to say about the Japanese dual-carb head. He recommended getting that engine or at least the heads and cam if I was looking for the best bang for the buck. FWIW he said the dual carb heads are different from the US spec. ones and flow better then ported US spec. heads. He doesn't sell them, so I don't see why he would BS me about it...

I just got an e-mail from Joe Souza. Here's what he says about his intake manifold: The manifold is designed around the two barrel Weber carburerator, the intake runners are 25% larger in diameter than the cast aluminum intake manifold. The intake is designed for more low end torque. It comes with an in-line thermostadt, it does not come with a carb, that is additional $275. The intake gasket and bolts are included along with carb base gasket and nuts. he also said the manifold/carb combo is about the same height as a stock manifold and Redline Weber carb and adapter. It looks like Joe's manifold orients the carb the same way as the Redline Weber conversion, which should make hooking up the linkage easiere. The ovel hole in the RAM intake is oriented side-to-side. The oval hole in Joe's is oriented fore-an-aft.

Thanks! I think I'll be doing my mods in two stages for financial reasons (the wife gets twitchy if I try to spend too much all at once ): Stage 1: Intake, ignition and exhaust cat back. Stage 2: Port heads, regrind cam, deck block and the rest of the exhaust (header/y-pipe, collector and single three-way cat). If I have to re-do the whole exhaust when I get around to the internal engine mods, so be it...

It doesn't look like anyone is running a custom intake

Hey...I don't know how it would work, but a Justy with cut-out wheel wells and big ATV tires would look pretty cool

Yep...go HERE and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. Cooper sells these tires in that size: Also check out the Kumho ECSTA 700 at http://www.tirerack.com. They are $62 Rally tires and come in 165/80QR13. LINK

Thanks for all the info. everyone! :-) Can anyone recommend a person or shop in the Seattle area? They need to be able to design the header or y-pipe mods for my purposes (maximize towards low-end torque while preserving ability to do the speed limit on the freeway), fabricate the header or do the y-pipe mods and do the rest of the system.

Here' are some of the quotes about the stock manifold that got me thinking: The problem with the EA81 manifold is that it has a water crossover for the two block halves. This makes modifying or replacing the manifold very difficult. The other drawback is the heating of the air by the hot manifold, cold and dense gives you more power. There are solutions to this although they are not cheap or easy. Some in the aviation community have made replacement manifolds out of carbon fiber with a water passage separate from the manifold. This is both lighter, better flowing and cooler. LINK 1 The intake manifold is replaced with a custom one with larger diameter runners and no coolant passages to heat the charge. I made mine from carbon etc........... deleted...... (see my article on carbon manifold construction.................... LINK 2 The intake manifold is replaced with a custom one with larger diameter runners and no coolant passages to heat the charge. This can be done in a variety of ways ranging from mating custom bent pipes to heavy-duty hoses all the up to fabricating an entire manifold from carbon fiber.LINK 3 (this one includes a photo of an engine with a custom intake manifold.)

My daily driver is a VW TDI. I would trade it for a TDI Forester in a heartbeat. Even with the taller profile and increased frontal area, I bet it would average 40 mpg or better. Add a dual range tranny and I'd be in heaven With modifications (chip, larger injector nozzles and/or larger injector pump plungers some of the TDI guys are getting close to 200 hp and well over 200 lb. ft. torque out of a 1.8 liter four cylinder that hhas 90 hp and 155 lb. ft. torque stock. Check out TDI Power Enhancements. If the previous poster is right a boxer would have even more potential.

I've also read that people have fabricated the flanges and made runners out of mandrel bent exhaust tube. There are also instructions for fabricating a carbon fiber intake manifold HERE. I have neither the time nor inclination (a/k/a ability ) to fabricate a metal intake. A composite one might be a fun project (with an extra high "rice factor" if I used carbon fiber ) Seriously, I appreciate the "rice factor" discussed above, but doesn't a small increase in runner diameter equate to a larger increase in cross sectional area? I assume the ID of the Joe Souza and Ram runners must be larger than stock. They also lose the charge-warming cross section-reducing coolant passage. P.S. Assuming the "spider intake" works better, can you put a Weber on it? Or is it fuel-injection only? P.P.S. I deleted the Ram photo.

I thought of that, too, but the pistons on Ram's parts page are for the ea81.

I know it's goofy, but I have diecase models of my other cars. I'd like to get a matchbox style ea81 wagon. It would be cool to have a hatch, too. Did anyone ever make them?

I've been looking at the aftermarket Weber intake manifolds from Ram and Joe Souza Gyroplanes (scroll down) and have read about people (in the aviation community, mostly) making them. I'd like to know whether it is worth the expense or effort. Ram's is similar to the one on the linked frame but it is welded aluminum and might have a larger plenum. It is $350 without the carb or water system.

Well, I think what I'd like to do is something like McBrat did--primaries of an appropriate length and I.D. coming together at an appropriate angle at a collector. Since I have to deal with "smog nazis" I'll replace the two stock two-way cats with one three-way cat at the collector where it will heat up quick and work best and then out via a 2.25 to 2.5" pipe and low restriction muffler (or an adjustable restriction muffler like a Supertrapp). Now all I need to do is find a good shop near Seattle to design and fabricate the system

Check out http://www.engineheaters.com/ I have the Proheat Model 512 on my VW TDI. It is basically a peel-and-stick 250 watt heating element that you stick on your oil pan.

OK, I have about a grand or so to spend on engine mods. I've been told intake, exhaust and ignition mods are the way to go. Maybe next year I can spend some more to upgrade the cam, port the heads and do something to increase the C/R. Here is my revised list and my questions: 1. K&N or Pipercross air filter 2. Buy and rebuild used Weber. 3. Upgrade intake? I can get Ram's Weber intake without the carb and water system for $350. I'd have to build the water system and I don't know how difficult that would be. The intake with a weber and water system costs $1,059. There's also another intake for $495 HERE I just don't know what kind of torque or horsepower improvements I can expect from upgrading the intake manifold. 4. If I don't do the intake, I'll need a Weber adapter plate. 5. Upgrade exhaust from the restriction in front of the muffler back. Maybe replace the two two-way cats with one high-flow three-way. 6. Header? Would having one build be worthwhile? How much would it cost? 7. Ignition modifications--Accel Superstock Coil, recurve distributor, upgrade wires and spark plugs and run wider gap. I suppose I could just do the air filter, carb, exhaust and ignition upgrades to my ea81 and save any money left over until I have enough for internal mods (or for rear discs, a 5-speed D/R, etc.)

I just found a related article. Please forgive me if someone already posted a link I did not see it. Saab Faces Tough Future Within GM Lutz says. “We're not ready to announce anything yet, but its fair to say we're encouraging cooperation between Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) and Saab.” This is a reference to the new Impreza based 9-2. Saab insiders say they are looking at using the next-generation Subaru Impreza platform to develop a new small car for Europe. The problem is Subaru doesn't make diesel versions. "The boxer engines (Subaru's horizontally-opposed fours and sixes) are stumbling blocks," says Lutz. "Nobody has yet done a boxer diesel. There isn't one in our portfolio." However, engineering sources says Saab and Subaru are seriously looking to develop a diesel boxer for the so-called Saab 9-1 and the next-generation Impreza.

Thanks Zapar! Since I got a lifted one I guess I have to at least try off roading it, right? I'll call John today to finalize arrangements for Saturday. Thanks for the offer to use your garage.

Thanks Qman! I'll be calling John today. Based on our previous conversation, I think we'll be meeting Saturday morning. I cna't be more specific than that at this point. GD, FWIW Ram says their cams are new--not regrinds. Dante P.S. I had planned on the Accel Superstock coil, and etc. under "upgrade ignition components" in my list... P.P.S. Since I got a lifted wagon with big tires I want to build the engine for torque.

Qman, if you read this, would you please tell me what you did to the motor you built for torque? Where did you get your cam profiled?

Zapar, it looks like I'll be taking delivery of Mudrat's '83 wagon next weekend. He said you are in my area (Seattle) and would be a good resource if I have any trouble with emissions or other engine stuff. Is it OK if I post questions as I have them? The wagon has Mudrat's lift and Chevy LUV wheels. I'll probably add a weber and other performance mods geared toward torque.

Thanks. I checked out the brochures and saw the one for the '89.

Did they sell them until '89 along side the newer style "3-door coupe"? I'm shopping for a nice ea81 wagon, but a hatch will do, especially if I can get a newer one (like Qman's '86 ) Also, can anyone point me to US sales numbers by drivetrain and body style? Is it archived somewhere? Are the later hatchbacks rare? I'm not seeing many during my daily online searches.

I was wondering about that, too. A while back I was looking at come Volk forged alloys for my VW. The guy I was dealing with said they were made to order (at least my size). If so, you'd think you could get them made with any lug pattern. http://www.candlepowerforums.com sometimes get flashlight makers to make special CPF editions and http://www.bladeforums.com sometimes gets knife makers to make special knives. maybe http://www.usmb.net could get a wheel maker to make a special 15"x6" 4x140 USMB wheel?