Kostamojen

Here are a couple pics of what I'm talking about: I'm going to split the block this weekend, and take it to the shop to get hot-tanked next week to see exactly what i'm working with.

All of the motors i've taken apart (EA61, 62, 71) have all had flat top pistons without the dimple.

I'll have to have it measured, but from the looks of it, there is enough "rust" on the cylinder walls to where it will probably need boring. Looks like its had some water damage (and one of the valves is seized too).

I guess the question is, whats the point of up-sizing pistons? Is it due to cylinder wall damage, or is purely for increased displacement? (I ask this cause either +.50 or standard sized pistons are availible)

Whats that dimple/hole in the middle? EA71 pistons are just flat, no hole like that.

The crank will probably fit, considering the bearings are the same. I'll have to test that one though. However, i'm contemplating having a custom flywheel made now after seeing this: http://bmacm.tripod.com/id23.html BTW, What piston size should I get? Standard, or oversized and re-bore the block?

I found an EA71 "fat case" shortblock for my motor build... Now I just need the 1400 "4-port" heads: The coolant passages on the 1400 head don't quite line up with the headgasket from the EA71 as has been mentioned, some small modification is probably required (just a little dremeling, doesn't seem like major work). The only other concern I have is the bellhousing... I have to use a 1400 bellhousing due to the bolt pattern of the 1100 being different, thus I apparently need a "spacer" for the flywheel, but I was thinking a 1400 flywheel might work HOWEVER i'm not sure if the 1400 flywheel will fit in the FF-1 transmission case properly. I might have to check that out (I do have a 1400 transmission to compare to the ff-1 transmission). BTW, the 1600 has a LARGE flywheel compared to the 1400/1100, so I can't use that or the 1600 bellhousings... Anyway, the 1400 bellhousing BARELY fits on there without leaving a gap. That spot I have pictured in the 2nd picture has MAYBE a 1mm overlap. I think just a lot of quality sealant would keep that area from leaking, but i'm not 100% about that. I'll try and do some headgasket comparisons here soon too. I need to order a waterpump, EA71 headgaskets, and a couple other things (I'm going OEM this time).

Alright, I found an EA71 "fat case" short block, now I need some 4-port 1400 heads!

Are the side-starter "fat case" EA71 shortblock cases the same as the top-mounted "fat case" EA71's?

Awesome!!! I sooo wish I could use them, but due to the round shape of the front of the hood, I have to go with a regular type of hood pin (probably Sparco, which is what i've seen on other FF-1's)

I didn't do the lathe work, my uncle did, and that took some effort to get him to do Sorry.

Tom at Kartboy recommended the Delrin, said that it was better for machining than urethane. But I probably should have used the urethane after we tried it, worked better than expected. Got everything on ebay actually. Pretty cheap too.

As promised, pics from today of the bushings NOT PICTURED: The Drelin control arm bushings. I need some way of bonding the urethane to the metal for the engine mounts. Any experience with that anyone? Here are some pics of them installed. The front subframe bushing, which was machined from urethane with the wood lath as seen in the previous photo, and some shock top bushings and the black subframe bushing:

Its going to take a full restoration to fix this, its not in as good of shape as the 78 wagon I had before the FF-1 even though that had roof rust problems due to the accessory roof rack. I was hoping for something that wouldnt be another full project car, but I'm quite glad someone did take this on as a project

Sorry again for the lack of updates, been trying to work out several things (Paint, Engine, etc.) that didn't really change the status of the car. HOWEVER, today I went to my uncles house and he helped make some bushings... More pics coming tommorow!

Get a video of what it sounds like! Sorry those brakes didn't work out for you, and you could have used them it looks like

Do the coolant passages look the same as these pics? http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showpost.php?p=830229&postcount=17

By not lining up, you mean not the same size, or slightly "off" in terms of position? I recall the ports not being exactly the same on the heads vs. the shortblocks even with the EA71 heads. If the EA71 headgasket fits on the 1400 heads without actually blocking any of the coolant passages, then we should be fine. Are both of the shortblock width's the same?

Find out if they have the 1400 heads too.

I checked through some of the parts for the EA71 shortblock to see whats still available from Subaru. Aparently, there are THREE pistons still in the country... Sucks that its just 3 though, which means its not a full set There are 3 in the standard size, and 3 in the +.50 size... Headgaskets are still availible. Piston rings are not availible. Rod bushings ARE availible still. Rod bearings (standard size only) are still availible. Main bearings are no longer availible :-\ Water pumps are still availible. Flywheels are not availible

Just checked the parts manual, the part numbers are the same for the 4-door and 2-door. Go ahead and by them. Is that 74 being parted out?

I don't remember if Brian is going to WCSS again this year, i'll have to ask. He asked if I was going and I told him the FF-1 wasn't ready yet, duh, LOL! Anyway, I'm surprised to hear about the conrod failing. They don't seem to be a weak link after seeing them in the other motors, but i'll have to check and see what other engines used those, maybe there is a "stock" upgrade availible. Aftermarket wise, someone might be able to make a few sets for us I presume. As for the pistons, custom would probable be the best bet there, custom pistons especially simple ones like these should be doable. I've heard of the coatings for the pistons before, but I haven't done a lot of ressearch with those. Personally, I wasn't going for an uber-compression engine, just something that had better flow to match the carbs i'll be using. But I figure some of this stuff might require upgrading if there are issues like those conrods...

This is interesting... Aparently the EA71 was used in a race car design in Japan: http://www.west-racing.co.jp/west04j_report.html

Aparently this website is only partially correct... The 1983 EA71 is the same as the 1980 model, so the 83 is not the fat-case EA71. And actually, I just checked the 85-89 manual, and the crank/rod/pistons are the same all the way from 80-89 on the EA71. But the head and case part number does change from the 83 to the 85 year (fat case?) What is the exact width of an EA81 short block? 13.5" or 14"?

Well no luck, and I only saw TWO EA81 cars after going to 3 pick n' pulls The Subaru Parts-planet Recycler didnt have anything older than 1995 either...