carfreak85

I'm assuming there were supposed to be pictures in here somewhere... I'm all for a purely RWD trans option! What did the W-series come in originally?

You want to use head gaskets correct? I was under the assumption that the parts all worked perfectly w/o gaskets. Thus, using gaskets (kind of a necessity, don't ya think?) would throw the manifold's alignment out of wack, necessitating the port work. In that case, I would oval out the bolt holes on the manifold and just slap it on with OEM gaskets. Maybe deck the heads a little. Using the dual-port heads will make up the lack of a 100% matched gasket surface. I would still suggest some blending of the ports, but you made it sound really tough, so I guess it's up to how you want to spend your time/$.

I would just like to point out to anyone comparing hyfly's dyno plots to their own, his chart is improperly calibrated. Not trying to be a jerk, but the HP and torque curves are supposed to cross at 5252 RPM, that's just a mathematical result of the calculations... With a grain of salt is all I'm saying. Hyfly, what fuel pressure are you running? The stock ecu expects about 35PSI, and the injectors are rated at that PSI to about 185cc. I suspect that simply bumping the fuel pressure with an adjustable rising-rate fuel pressure regulator would do the trick. Have it bump to 45PSI at redline and it will probably take care of any lean Air Fuel Ratios.

Having done some very serious staring and poking with finger analyzing of EA81 heads during the course of one of my power mechanics (engine design) classes, I can tell you with certainty that the heads are keeping you from making power. The uneven port overlap will indeed hurt overall airflow, but just look at the flow path once it gets past there. IIRC, the EA81 head has 12 turns from intake gasket to exhaust gasket. Ideally, there would be less than five. The intake side of the equation is far more important than the exhaust. You care more about getting air in than getting it out and, that being said, I would try using the heads the Weber manifold wants. Even if it is single-port and the resulting exhaust looks terribly restrictive, it is less of a compromise, power wise, than fudging on the intake port. Plus it will aleaviate your head gasket/milling problems. I would recommend porting the heads and matching the ports on the manifold. The engine makes so little power that you might as well do what you can to ease the engine's job of drawing the charge into the cylinder. You can do it at home, just be slow, careful and patient. The gaskets will be the template, try to blend the cut as far down the port on both sides as you can. You mentioned the cross-member gets in the way of a single-port exhaust. How 'in the way' is it exactly?

Been trying to get in touch with you for about a month, where you at?

Details, details...

EA81Ts only came with the under-hood fuel filter, so there ya go...

If you have access to a welder its not too bad, but that little turbo is wayyyyyy small for your 2.5, fyi.

Compaired to Tein, KW, DMS, JiC, or Ohlins they are. Cheaper would be something like KYB AGXs and Ground Control sleeves with Eibach race springs.

So this must mean you've decided to keep the car?

Hows the ride with the cut turbo springs? Does your rear suspension have bumpstops on it?

Totally agree, but unless he actually needs to carry a bunch of extra luggage, I think leaving it off in the name of rust prevention/performance is the prudent choice. That said, putting on some period correct accessories and JDM go-fast bits would certainly make up for the lack of trunk bling. Did you reclock your rear torsion bars, or do the 2WDs normally sit that low?

Uggg, I still need to get mine installed... At least it will be dry and warm outside soon!

What tires are you running and in what size? I just ordered a set of Kumhos in a 175/70 because there aren't enough decent tires made in the EA81T specific 185/70s anymore, boo hoo... I was wondering what you found to shod your Enkeis.

+1 Some bits might look nice on an STI. The rear "wing" for example might become a staple with the US show scene, who knows.

Just finished video #1, interesting idea... I've been looking for a way so hasten my wagon's molasses-slow 4.0:1 ratio.

There is a reason they don't install EA82s in experimental aircraft... What company builds that setup?

Get it, but not for $3K. If you decide you don't like it, you can always sell it to me!

When is it? I've been itching for a road trip...

Any updates?

Glad to hear the parts car worked out for you, mostly, it sounds like. One benefit of really rusty cars is easy disposal. You can practically kick them into a pile of dust and sweep them into the garbage. Keep those photos coming!

Uhhh, my tach just started doing this... Anyone figured out a soultion yet? Anyone have a NOS tach sitting around? I'm 90% sure the tach and speedo, if not all the gauges, are removable from the cluster.

Seriously cool stuff Corky, I have a NOS set of the side emblems if you'd like to show them to your resto guy as a reference. I'd like to see your coupe in the flesh sometime too.

+1 Thats why we became members here, er, for the counseling, not the flame-throwers...

Hahahaha, BRATFINK!!! Looks like a fantastic start and I know I'll be ordering at least one. I would suggest however, removing the flames, just too busy with them in the drawing, in my opinion. And dude, we know Brats didn't have beam front axles, c'mon!