dave valiant

Well, according to my owners manual you should'nt run 5W-30 unless it is -25 or colder.I run 20-50 in the summer and 10-30 in the winter in my EA-81T.Dave.

If it were something in a hub cap or trim ring it would make noise in 2 or 4wd.Dave

I had the same problem the first time I did an axle shaft.I actually got it started in the wrong way.I had over 3/4 of the roll pin sticking out of the axle.It was a real pain to get out the rest of the way.Dave.

I had the same problem with my Brat.I had one u-joint that was FUBAR.I replaced it and no more noise.Dave.

Try removing the throttle cable from the carb and actuate the throttle on the carb,if it doesn't stick then it is probably the cable.Dave.

Thanks for that heads up Turbone,its nice to learn from someone elses mistakes.Luvmybrat you have pm.

Oooohhhh Yeeeeaaahhh

I finally got off of my lazy butt and stripped my 84 wagon.I pulled the blown up engine,the 4 speed d/r,and the 3.90 rear.The tranny is going into the Brat to replace the autotragic.I also got the drive line,the sway bar and assorted underhood parts.I used a very small 3/8 socket set an aceteline torch and a 624 John Deer front end loader.My freind Hende helped.We removed the top mount then put the car on its side,cut the exhaust off and everything practically fell off,if it didn't we torched it off.when we were all done we took turns running it over with the loader,and crushing it with the grapple(it's a log loader).It was a blast doing everything the monster garage way.Dave.

I do beleive they last for the long haul.You are replacing the aluminum threads with steel.I have heard of people having entire aluminum engines helicoiled for the strenght advantage.Dave.

EA81 engines have an extremely durable timing gear that will long outlast the engine.I have never heard of EA81's having head gasket problems.Ea82 turbo engines were prone to head gasket failure.As for 100 relaible horsepower,switch to the Weber 32/36,open up your exhaust,put a hotter coil on it(Accel or MSD)with a set of 8mm wires and gap your plugs at .50.That should put you at about 100 horsepower.If you have a bunch of spare cash laying around check out Ram Performance.They sell 140 hp EA81's but they are not cheap.As far as durability,these engines are darn near bulletproof.I have beaten the crap out of my EA81 turbo.I got stuck in some nasty mud in Iowa this spring,and I had my engine spinning at redline for extended periods.I toasted the auto trans ,but had no problems from the engine.I think the EA81 first come out in 1980 in the Brat.They were in wagons and coupes till 84,in Brats till 87,and hatchbacks until 89.85 wagons, coupes, and sedans had the EA82 engine.Hope this helps(and I hope I'm right)Dave.

Did you try loosening it.I installed a new cable on my 88wagon,and i had it way to tight on my initial adjustment.I just loosened it until I liked the height it was at.Dave

Well I changed my oil and replaced my plugs.I was going to do a cap and rotor also,but not one single part store had a cap and rotor for my car.The guy at checker was trying to convince me that a cap from an 88 Hatch would work.He went so far as to bring me the cap to show me it would work.The cap he brought out was a clip style and mine is a screw type.He didn't quite grasp the concept that the Hatch has the far superior OHV engine, while my wagon has an OHC."They are both listed as having an 1800 cc engine" is what the genius told me.AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!I'm going to go get my packing done.I will see everyone on Saturday.Dave.

My 84 Turbo Brat is all analog,and I have seen Turbo Wagons with analog dashes,maybe you could get all you need from one.

Man I thought my Brat was rough.WOW!

Hey Drkrazy,I think I will be sporting the most exciting ride there.My 88 GL 2wd rust wagon,with giant exhaust leak.I would love to bring my Brat but it isn't the safest car in the world right now.

I have driven on bad axles until the cv joints came apart and I never had any tranmission problems from it.Dave.

Goto the market place here on the board and post a list of what you are needing.Make the title of your post something like "want to buy parts for 83 GL sedan.Dave.

The tallest tires I found for a 13" wheel are 185-80-13.

I love messing with my not so nice Sube parts guy by asking him for a part for an EA81 turbo.He responds "what year" and I respond "it doesn't matter,parts are the same for the two years it was produced.He doesn't have a clue.Dave.

Ditto on the auto.They are garbage.That is first hand knowledge,and the reason I am not currently driving my turbo Brat.

The EA71 is an over head valve 1.6 litre.The Ea81 is an over head valve 1.8 litre.The EA82 is a over head cam 1.8 litre. I like EA81's.They are very reliable and have no timing belts to worry about. I am currently driving an EA82 and have had no problems at all with it.It has been a very reliable vehicle.

Hey Eyesore its good to know you are still alive.I will be attending this meet,but not in the Brat though.I burned up the tranny on a certain minimum maintenence road in Iowa:lol: ,perhaps you know it.I'm gonna be bringing my video camera to this one.I brought it to MWM2 and tried to shoot while I was driving.I got some great action shots of my dashboard and roof.Better luck this time.

You should be able to use one off of any EA81 car.

I don't know why they wouldn't.The dash in my 84 wagon parts car looks identical to the one in my 84 Brat except for the boost gauge.Should work.Dave.

I could sell that car here for $1000.00 easy.It's all about location.I just got an 88 2wd GL wagon for$300.00 and it has rust.This part of the country that price is a real good deal but in the north west you probably couldn't give it away.Dave.