howpow

It's great to see this project nearly there. I've followed it for years and I'm really glad to see it running down the road. Keep up the good work.

The picture has worked (sort of). It will need double clicking as it's a thumbnail image.

Hi Loyale 2.7 Turbo. I would post a photo but I can't work out how to do it. I Can't find the "Add an album" link in my CP. Any suggestions?

Hi Folks. My 1976 GF hardtop with EA71 has the redline starting at 6400 RPM. I have had it as high as 7500 in car club events but it was much younger then.

Hi, the pistons have to be screwed in because of the handbrake setup, using the large slot. The trick is to make a flat driver out of steel that matches the width of the slot and turn it using a shifting spanner or similar. They can take a bit to get them turning, Good luck, Howard

Hi Kostamojen. Some years ago I fitted EA63 GSR Heads to an EA71 crankcase. The water galleries didn't line up and the heads had to be modified to suit the 1600 head gaskets. Everything looked and worked fine for years, but recently I decided to rebuild the engine and when I looked at the old head gasket I was amazed to see that at one place there was only about 1.5mm on the headgasket sealing ring between the water gallery and the cylinder (it's a miracle it held but somehow it did). Long story I know, but are you sure that one of the water galleries in the head isn't too close to the cylinder as can easily happen when heads from one model are fitted to the crankcase of another model. I have since rebuilt the engine but had the offending galleries welded and reshaped away from the cylinders. Just a thought. Good luck, I have followed this thread from very early on and your doing an amazing job.

Hi two85s. I assumed it was something to ensure that the lip of the seal was protected to make sure it didn't fold back during installation. regards, Howard

Hi all. Old thread I know but what exactly is a seal protector? Thanks

Hi Giant. There is a Nylon? bush in the shift linkages and if this is worn will make the shift very sloppy. This could be the problem. It is a very simple bush and may still be available but if not would be easy to have made. regards, Howard

Hi Dirk. It may not look big but it is quite heavy. I had mine lightened by about 20% years ago and the engine revs very nicely. It did seem to make a difference in responsivness at the time but after all these years it just seems normal. Anyhow if I was you I'd do it. regards, Howard

Hi tailgatewagon. Yes it is an early EA71 with the external water crossover, Kiwi subbie. I have a 40mm DCN Weber carby which was running a bit rich so economy was not great, about 11 litres per 100 klm. Performance wise it was great, just felt like a bigger GSR motor.

Hi. I have also successfully put 1400 GSR heads on an EA71. The studs and pattern were fine, the only problem I came across was some of the water gallery outlets in the heads. I had the heads welded and the outlets angled further outwards from the cylinder liners and had no problems. I also had a bead of weld added around the edge of the heads to better fit the crankcase. A light skim to level everything, and that's it. Just remember to re-torque the heads after about 15 minutes running. Another problem is the compression ratio. My compression tester showed approx 195psi per cylinder which is a bit on the high side. I am in the process of doing a full rebuild after about 12 years and have skimmed 1/16th off the pistons, which the engineers tell me should be fine , to lower the compression a little. I'll let you know how I go.

Hi GeneralDisorder. My main problem is the diff ratio. It's a bit of an odball gearbox which came from Japan on a EA71 with twin carby's. It's OK around town but on a trip 4000 rpm in 5th equates to about 60mph which makes it a bit of a buzzbox. The original box which died had much longer legs and had simlar gearing to my XT Turbo. I have just rebuilt the EA71 which is in a 1976 GF Hardtop and was hoping to get back to a standard ratio. Any other suggestions. Thanks

Hi Folks. I have a EA71 5 speed front wheel drive tranny in need of some help. I want to keep the EA71 motor and am having a lot of trouble here in Australia finding a good 5 speed box as a replacement. I was wondering if EA81 or EA82 innards would fit my old transmission case. Any thoughts would be appreciated. :-\

Hi the Beast I Drive. I know this is an old thread but I saw the picture of the fat case bellhousing you posted. I was wondering if these bolted straight onto an early EA71 and which transmissions bolt to it. Thanks, Howard

Hi NorthWet. Thanks for your response. I'll be pulling the engine apart once the Christmas break is over and I'll have it measured then so here's hoping. Ross the bearings I was refering to are not normal oversize bearings used when the crank is reground, these are a thicker shell bearing to allow the crancase to be machined to solve any distortion problems.

Hi NorthWet. I'm looking for oversize bearings for resized bearing saddles, do you happen to know if they are available.

Hi grossgary, I hope you're right, that would be an excellent outcome.

Hello again GTlegs. We actaully lifted the motor out today and have started to strip it down. Once it's all apart I'll get it measured up and see if that is the problem. Thanks for your interest.

Hi GTlegs. Yes I am in Cheltenham and thanks for the offer. I'm 68 and have a best mate who I have known for 60 years. We are both retired so we alternate every Monday. One Monday we work on his cars and next Monday on mine, so I'm OK for help, but if we need someone fit, young & flexible I'll let you know. I'll have a word to Duggans and see what they can suggest. Grossgary, I'd like to stick with the EA71 because it's a bit special. It has ported and modified EA63 GSR heads and camshaft, hand fabricated SS extractor system and twin choke downdraft Weber. I think the heads are part of the problem as even thought the combustion chambers were opened up a bit my compression guage was showing about 195 psi per cylinder which I think put a bit too much strain on the main bearings. I've had VW Beetles in the past and they were known for ending up with oval main bearing supports if the engines were lugged at low revs, this sounds just the same, very heavy knocking until the oil circulates. With the VW's and Porsches you can get thicker main bearing shells and have the crankcase halves machined to suit. This would be my best option I just have to find out if they are available or not. Failing that I might have to go the skim the crankcase face route with all it's complexities.

Thanks for the replies guys. EA71's are pretty rare these days in Australia. I will see if I can track down the thicker shells if available, that sounds like a good option. Thanks again.

Bump. Am I the only person who has had to tackle this problem.

Hi folks, My EA71 crankcase Main Bearings supports are now out of round, and the engine knocks really badly until the oil circulates. I Have another engine which has the same problem. I have heard that you can shave the mating surfaces of the crankcase and then have it linebored, or apparently some cars such as VW's and Porsches have external oversize main bearings shells available which still requires a linebore but eliminates any other problems. What have the experts here done in this situation. :-\ Thanks

Hi nipper, you were right. Got the vice grips involved and eventually managed the task. The funny thing is that I originally thought removing the master cylinder was going to be a quick and easy job.