FlyB0y

Beautiful EA81!! Welcome to USMB, and don't worry your not alone! I'm also a big fan of the EA81 motor, and I strongly recommend the weber conversion. I think the hitachi has too many things to go wrong on it, and I had a hard time getting parts, but when I converted, I got better milage and more power.

Ok, so I found the place, switched the tires out, and went to the "Upper Dayton" trail by chance and this was the one that had the recient obstacles added! The Jeep club that built this says it's listed at a 3-4 difficulty level. The sad part is I was reminded after beating the snot out of my poor brat of the second cooling fan that still doesn't want to come on and the "ghetto" heater hose fix that I forgot to fix correctly after doing an emergency repair on the road last year. There are some pretty steep climbs (some so steep I didn't dare try ... YET will once I address my strut issues) and alot of rock. Had to move a couple trees on the way up, otherwise very well maintained but not much used from what I saw. Here's some pics of the "Gatekeeper" obstacle that I high-centered on due to my worn out front struts. I thought I was only bearly hung up on the driver's side unibody "main beam" or what ever you call that main support, only to look at the other rock that had my anti-sway bar and lift block in a death grip:eek:! Good thing I was crawling over this instead of hitting at any speed, or I might have left my exhast and possibly one lift block there. As it is, I had to cheat on the gate keeper and stack up some rocks since I dugg holes when I high centered and the ground was still soft from last may when they installed them. Here's the pics! Trail Head Sign (Stupid vandels shooting things up! It's ppl like this leaving trash and destroying things that make it so hard to keep trails open:mad:) http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_33_full.jpg Crawling up the first obstacle the "Gate keeper" (this is designed to keep inadequitly prepared vehicles from getting stuck further down the trail) http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_34_full.jpg Annother Angle of Gatekeeper initial assult.:-p http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_35_full.jpg Spotter? who needs a spotter!? got PLEANTY of room! http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_37_full.jpg *Que cheezy Startrek Impact/Direct hit scene* "Capt'n! What in the blazes?! I do everythin ta keep powa to the impulse drive and you run her aground!" -Scotty http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_38_full.jpg Look! daylight between those rocks and the driveline (after about an hour of using the high lift jack and filling the holes dug by the rear tires and filling them with rocks:rolleyes: http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_39_full.jpg Honey? Did we just run over something or did the driveline fall off .... again .. http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_40_full.jpg Hmmmm those rocks look hungry! Should I give them more Brat to munch on? http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_41_full.jpg Into annother Montana rock garden:Flame: http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_42_full.jpg Hmmm think discretion the "better part of valor" is more appropriate here;) http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_43_full.jpg MOMMY!! http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_44_full.jpg Hmmm maybe I can squeeze between these 2 rocks .. then again, it is about a 2 hr walk to civilization:lol: http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_45_full.jpg WOw that's one sharp drop about 20":eek: (Notice the gatorade bottle in picture to show persective) http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_46_full.jpg Back across the gate keeper ... little easier now that I know a safe path! http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_48_full.jpg The long and winding road home:burnout: http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_49_full.jpg Just an example of how rough this road was! Very Steep and winding and exciting! Tires never sliped once! http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_50_full.jpg Oh and I almost forgot - When Trees Attack! (got a little too friendly with a downed tree and good thing I had the metal grill protector or I might not have had a radiator left!) http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show_image.pl?image=http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2289000-2289999/2289861_47_full.jpg# Hope you enjoyed looking, and maybe when I am able to visit Montana again after moving to Oregon, (and after I fix my strut situation) some of you all would like to join me?

Heya ... sry for the short notice, but anyone in Montana interested in going on one of if not the only ORV trail in western Montana want to join me or have any info about the Blacktail Wild Bill ORV National Recreation Trail? I have directions that tell me it is pretty close to Lakeside MT (just south of Kalispell and west of flathead lake). Anyone else been to it? I'm reading info from a local 4x4 club that helped with a project this year in may to improve the obstacles on this trail that was designated in the 70's. Anyhow, I was thinking of leaving early tomarrow morning, say at 7am from the missoula area? If anyone is interested in joining me call me at 370-8223 and lets find a good place to meet.

Wow! looks like two cases of "Craigs Rage" from both of those sellers.

That's SWEET! :banana: Keep us posted! Nice fab work there. zzz Just curious what was your inspiration? I'm so going to love it when you have bobbed the front and rear too! Making a rock crawler or just a week-end 4wheeler? Oh and if you don't mind my saying, I agree 26" is the way to go, but if you use 14's instead of 15's you can use ATV tires like me and Sweet82

Love the idea! I like the sketch, but looks like the tires are a bit bald? Just kidding! I hope your project goes well! Be sure and give us pics!zzz

LOVE the tires! Unfortunatly I haven't really been able to put them through their paces yet, I hope to do that tomarrow afternoon or this week-end. Most I have noticed so far is how well the absorb shock! Stuff that my old tires (bias ply swampers) would have beat me to death even with only 20psi are not tracter smooth. Washboard? what's that?:-p I don't yet have a welded diff I'm thinking of trading my lsd or just getting a second 390 to have welded (I don't have a decient wirefeed and don't trust my skills for that yet). There is a 3 or 4 rated ORV trail up near flathead lake called Blacktail that should give it a good test this weekend.:cool: Just have to make sure that I have enough clearance to make it past the "gate keeper" obstacle that is designed to keep non-lifted rigs from making it onto the trail. And it was designed for jeeps, so I'm checking it out as much as possible b4 I make the trip (gas money is getting tighter) hate to waste a trip, also the fires have died down a bit and we can see blue sky again! It was getting old working on things in the smoke! Tomarrow I am going to find Lolo Motorway. It's some kinda road that was built in the 30's and abandoned in the late 40's or something, and should be a fun place to wheel! All I know about it so far is I might need a permit to use it and it's mostly in Idaho approximatly 80 - 120 miles long!

Thanks! but really I should be thanking you for first showing it could be done! I'm running 6x14" nissan 2x4 wheels (6" is stock width for these atv tires) and ITP Terra Cross Tires 26 x 9R-14. The actual width of the tires is more like 8.5" mounted, but the funniest part is right on the tire is says "max air pressure for ATV 5psi - max air pressure for side by side 13psi":rolleyes: and "when mounting unless beads are seated do not inflate beyond 35psi of fatal explosion could result". I think anything beyond 25 psi is pushing my luck with these tires as I want to take into account increased pressure when the tire heats up from use and just hot days. I'm sure that your larger dirtdevils could take higher pressure with no problems, but IDK if 30psi with any ATV tires is a good idea. So far I think I won't be going beyond 19-20psi unless I see a need to use more. Now if I can just find that ORV trail near flathead lake!

+1 !!!! All you need is a heavy duty drill (don't try this with your craftsman 3/8 you'll burn it up), a die/angle grinder to flatten out the back side of the hub, a couple of drill bits and some 6 x 5.5" nissan or toyota rims. Mine are from an '87 nissian 2x4 and I find the offset is ideal. When I was using 27" swampers and pugs I had 3/8" spacers and they still rubbed. Problem solved with the nissan wheels, and you can get them in most any JY cheap! Annother thing to think about is say you get a flat and seriously damage that pug rim or just on some heavy off-road use. How much harder will it be to find annother pug wheel as opposed to getting annother nissan? and seriously, drilling the hubs and using steel wheels and a hand drill really isn't hard. You knock out 2 of the wheel studs, bolt up the 6 lugg wheel and drill.:cool:

Hmmm the more I look at it, I think I would rather keep my stock compressor, add an oiler and not mess with fabbing some other compressor in. I will do some looking around at local used tool shops and see what is available. I'm getting some pretty good info from the following links: http://www.jeepaholics.com/tech/OBA/oba.htm And: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168402 (be sure to look near the bottom half for the up-dated wiring schematic)

Cool, thx for the info! Now I just need to find a york like the one that a guy is using in his toyota. Not sure how I will mount it up, but I will try to stay as close to the subaru compressor mounts as possible. BTW once I am done doing this if anyone needs a good subie compressor mine is up for grabs just pay shipping. Hopefully I can get this done this week. Funds are getting tight tho since my "free" trailer is costing me quite a bit more than I expected to get on the road. Gonna be close to $300 before all is said and done.

Heya all, I was sure I had read somewhere that this could be done (can't find it anywhere with search), and something along the lines of ppl using old large size GM or Ford compressors? I would really like to figure out a way to have an A/C compressor fill a small tank from the cheezy little craftsman air compressor I have. I would invision some way of using the A/C switch in the cab and a switch that would interrupt this curcuit when the tank reaches optimal pressure so you don't have to worry about over pressurizing it by accident. Anyone have a write-up on how it's done?

LOL! I thought they might not have any susp except those big tires the trans sounds interesting tho. Wonder if it is even feasable to make a larger version? I'm guessing not:dead:

I just got a MSD Blaster Coil, 7mm wires (first set of new plug wires, cap & rotor since I got the car almost 2 yrs ago) and some NGK platnum pluggs and I can notice a difference! I probubly needed new wires anyway, but here's my results. Going both directions on the highway from missoula to lolo there are several hills, and there is one long hill in particular that usually slows me down quite a bit. Normally I hit the bottom of it at around 70 so I can maintain 60 till the hill crests, now I am able to keep 65. I was able to do this in both directions, one way against the prevailing wind, and one with it behind me. I have also noticed quicker acceleration, higher speeds at lower RPM than before (guess this is added torque?) and I'm hoping it will also make for better gas mileage. Oh also forgot to note, I already have a free-flowing exhast, stock pipe size up to where the headers straighten out if I remember correctly,(scavenging purposes) and 2" from there on out (EA81 in my brat btw) with no cat spoiling the party. :cool:

What?! I thought the "Fart Can" (ricer muffler) was worth at LEAST 50hp! I mean they even come with stickers right?:lol:

I'm curious about bigger plug wires. I see that 7mm are recommended, well, if bigger is better, what about 8.5mm? I don't want to buy more than I will have power for, and it looks like I will be going with a MSD coil. I also have a Q about the Fwd ditsy. Does it have the same cap and rotor as the 4wd? and is there any easy way to identify the Fwd vs the 4wd ditsy? I got a "new" one from the JY and honestly don't remember if it was from one or the other. Thanks in advance!

Hmmmmmm.... so what is the standard travel of the suspension for an EA81?

Hmmmm interesting ... I guess if you mounted one on the top of the cage and had pullies to route it where you needed it could work. Did you ever check out that costco winch? http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50878&highlight=costco+winch

Hmmmm interesting ... I guess if you mounted one on the top of the cage and had pullies to route it where you needed it could work. Did you ever check out that costco winch? I think it was 8 -9k for about $250-300?

If you want a 6x6 the best option might be here: http://www.maxatvs.com/index.php?submenu=Home&src=

Well, I guess that depends, if you can make it to the dunes and back with out turning, your set. Man, you gotta stop posting those links! I can't help but drool over Summer every time you do even tho I have seen it a hundred times already . Where do you have the winch on the front tho? I see the one on the back, but none on the front? I have one on the front and not on the rear. I really should figure out how to make it switch to the back easier or just buy annother cheap HF/Walmart ATV winch.

Honestly I am just looking for a tougher axle. If you had something that cost $500 but was nearly impossible to break, that would be the last axe you would need to buy, I'd be all for it. I don't think it would need to be built this heavy for a subaru, and the test vehicle the guys who make the high angles use is 600HP and 2200lbs, so I think if you goto a local driveline maker you might be able to make something much more resonable but just as reliable. The way these are set up tho, I'm guessing for a subaru your going to need to make some spindles & some other set-up for attacking to the trany?

I haven't owned half as many cars as most of you, but what I can say is this. Most of the cars/trucks I have owned over the last 15+ years were Fords or Chevys, one dodge. The way that subaru designs things just impress me more and more after having those other vehicles. I have not only found my subaru very reliable and easy to work on (the only time it ever let me down was when I did something stupid and caused something to break ) but the most impressive thing was this. My old gf owned an '87 EA82 wagon that she ONLY had the oil changed/serviced before a big trip, and everytime I drove it and put gas into it (I always check the oil when gassing up) she was more often than not 1+ quarts low! The engine leaked oil, but other than that she almost never had anything done to it other than the timming belts! She gave away the car at about 180k and got a legacy and now regrets not keeping it. :burnout:I am a huge fan of simplicity and there is a certain elegance to it. I have weberized my ea81 motor, and have no intention of going back. The next thing I plan to do to the engine is a reseal and a supercharger . I have never owned a car b4 that I get ppl I don't know and have never met b4 waving, giving me the "thumbs up" or cheering wildly with the :headbang:sign! And even with the "solid axle or nothing" crowd, I still get respect, if even if it's just a long stare or "omg that thing is still going?!" from the metal fab guys that I had build my skid plate (can't WAIT till I have all the toys to do it on my own) that were convinced of all these "problems" I was going to have with my lift,winch,snorkel, etc.

Just FYI, I had 27" (27.8" mounted on 14" nissan 2x4 rims 6" wide) SS TSL's on my brat with a 3" lift, and after all the fender/wheel well "adjusting" they still rubbed in the back of the wheel well and that was with a 3" lift. I now have 26"(26.4 mounted same nissan rims) ATV tires and with no compression, still have little more than 1 1/2" clearance between the rear of the wheel well and the tire when the steering wheel is cranked. I think if you really want to try and do it with out a lift, at least consider going with the 6 lug conversion and 14" nissan or toyota wheels and the shortest swampers. No matter what it will still rub sometimes, the question is how much, and how often. Also with my 3" lift and 27 (28" really) swampers, because of the limitations of "massaging" the wheel well, I STILL had the leading corner of the furthest out side lugg of the tires getting clipped by the fender. Ever ride a dirt bike after the knobbys have rounded out? Same idea, IMO if you are rounding out the TSL luggs, not much point to having them as your losing a great deal of their performance by doing that.

ROFLOL!!! ummm ok these are really nice axles, but they might cost as much as what you paid for your car for ea side! However, the lowest rated ones are for up to 250hp and 20" of travel! http://highangledriveline.com/sandrails.html