Lachlan

New owner here, looking for some help. 1. Does the ignition control module need thermal paste? Mine from autozone came with some; however, it doesn't really look like the bottom plate on the module rests against the brake plate in any solid manner. 2. I've heard talk of a secondary fuel filter, or vapor separator, in the engine compartment. I've traced the fuel line all the way from the firewall to the carby, but can't find a filter (other than the one under the chassis by the fuel pump). Did all ea81s have this secondary filter?

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. Maybe it's not as bad as I thought

Is it? I thought a frame buckle was death. But then I've never fixed a frame before. Do go on. I mean I know anything is fixable, for a price. But would it cost more to fix vs. Finding an already straight frame?

Sorry, size fixed. That's the driver's side front wheel well shot from inside the engine bay.

And now it looks like she's no more than a parts car. Check out the frame damage:

I believe I have a feedback carb, so there are about 5,000 vacuum lines. Admittedly when I got her, the lines were not all connected, and some connections were blocked off, but I've been trying to get everything connected up as best I can. Unfortunately there's only so much I can definitely do with the Haynes manual; the rest is just guessing.

It's got the pump back there. I'm thinking the filter is too.

Thanks. I've been reading up on webers and considering getting one, but I didn't want to get one if there's another problem entirely.

Hi there, I just acquired an '81 Brat GL from Colorado. It was not running when I picked it up (no spark), but I have since gotten it to go. Idle sounds ok; unfortunately, the going is very slow. I mean VERY slow. Second gear up a gentle slope is a no-go. I also get some serious backfire (afterfire?) going up hill. I'm at 6100 ft, and I thought that if it came from CO, it would be tuned for high-altitude, but maybe this is not the case. What do you think, are these symptoms of running extremely rich? If so, how do I compensate on my hitachi? Thanks, Lachlan

One more for the road: Filter can has this nipple that looks like it should connect to something. Any clue?

According to the carfax, it was originally sold in El Paso. It does have an ECU behind the pax seat, though. Funny thing, I traced those mystery hose hookups back, and they do in fact run to the manifold. So I suppose one of them goes to the secondary throttle, but I have no idea what the two other connections are for. My biggest concern ATM is that, while the engine seems to run smoothly, I get about 1.125 horsepower at the wheels. One of those nipples goes to this bit on the pax side of the manifold: The other one goes to this jigger on the driver's side of the mani/carb: And while we're at it, I found this thing by the pax horn. It has two tubes. One seems to have been sealed off, the other is just hanging. Any clue what it is? Seriously, anyone who has a pic of a properly vaccumed ea81/hitachi setup, PLEASE let me see what you've got!

Running? No. But it is now, and I'm not sure why it wasn't before. And when I say it's running now, I mean it goes, but about as fast as a tractor.

Ok, I looked around the carb but there's no loose hoses. See the red highlighted area? Nipple, but can't find the hose it should be attached to: While we're on the subject of missing hoses, what about these jobbers right here? Should they be connected to anything?

Thanks. There's no vacuum tube, but there is a nipple. I'll look for a loose hose coming off the carb.

Hmmm, changed the ignition control module--still no spark, and no voltage at the coil. What am I missing here? OK, so, funny story. I take out the two ignition fuses, examine them, and find nothing wrong. I put them back in, turn the car on and notice something different-- the warning lights come on, and I realized that wasn't happening before. Well, I give it a go, and she starts! Ok well it's running, but it goes about as fast as a tractor.

Hey gang, I noticed my new (to me) Brat's vacuum control for the secondary throttle (1981 EA81) is connected to...nothing. I imagine it should be connected to some sort of control solenoid, but I have no idea where it would be or what it would look like. Does anyone have a pic of the proper connection, or could anyone describe the location of the solenoid? Thanks

Looks like no spark. Changed the coil, changed the coil-to-cap wire, still no spark. Checked the voltage across the coil while cranking, getting 0V. Best way to check if the ignition module/pickup coil are good? I don't want to buy a $110 part if I don't have to . There's about 700 Ohms resistance between one of the leads and the plate on the bottom. Is that a bad sign? Also, noticed the magnet is broken. Is that a show-stopper?

So I confirmed that gas is making it at least up to the carb. Should I be able to see a gas spray inside the carb?

Thanks! I got her to crank last night, but still not starting. Apparently there were TWO momentary switches I needed to hold. The cap and rotor look new, so I don't think it's a spark problem. I can't hear the fuel pump whir when I turn her on, so I think it may be the fuel pump, VR, or alternator.

Here she is in all her glory! Obviously she needs a little...love. Love like new fenders, new bumper, new dash, new paint, etc. All in good time. Problem number one though is getting her to start. Some lummox installed a push-button start system on it. When I picked it up, the starter would crank, but the engine wouldn't start. When I got it home, the starter won't even turn (via the button that is; the screwdriver method works just fine). If someone could post a pic or a diagram of the original ignition wiring under the dash, I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks for the welcome! It's all but a done deal now, just have to find a way to get it home soon. Just checking--'81 was the first year with a dual-speed transfer case, right? So it could be FWD, 4Hi, and 4Lo?

Hello, I'm relatively new here. Regarding myself, I currently live in Albuquerque, but have lived in NC, Colorado Springs, Ohio, Utah, and Phoenix in the past. I've been subaru-less for a couple of years now (1999 Impreza RS with JDM swap, 02 WRX before that), but I'm eyeing an 81 brat for spare car duty, poor weather duty, off-road duty, gravel-hauling duty, and rally-x duty. The one I'm looking at is in less-than-perfect condition. It's not a rust bucket, although it has a few spots that need to be cleaned up. I'm wondering how hard it is to find spare brat parts in good condition, like bumpers, fenders, dashboard, etc? Thanks, Lachlan