May 1, 201213 yr Author Just tossing in some 5-speed swap info here for later use. Misc 5-speed swap notes for this project: *use (existing) '85+ (225mm) ea81 flywheel *resurfaced, and step machined to .815" *need ea82 clutch kit *need ea82 TOB assembly *sort out shift linkage. Custom, junkyard...? *sort out wiring. Reverse and 4wd sensors *lengthened driveshaft needed
May 2, 201213 yr Thanks! I drained this out of the manual trans... It is supposed to be a nice rose red ATF. It smells like gear oil, and is basically liquid metal The previous owner did a hell of a number on this car... Actually gear oil is what's supposed to be in the transmission of it's a manual. I wouldn't want to run a 5spd on ATF for too long...
May 2, 201213 yr ^^^ yeah i was going to say something but im not going to argue, better seen than heard.
May 2, 201213 yr Author Actually gear oil is what's supposed to be in the transmission of it's a manual. I wouldn't want to run a 5spd on ATF for too long... Read the post. That fluid isnt from my trans, it is from a customers car. And the car isnt even a Subaru Its a '95 SHO taurus.
May 2, 201213 yr Actually gear oil is what's supposed to be in the transmission of it's a manual. I wouldn't want to run a 5spd on ATF for too long... Some manual trannys do specify auto transmission fluid. An example is my 98 Z3 that came from the factory with auto tranny fluid. When I got it in 2009, I drained the fluid out and refilled with Mobil 1 75W-90 LS. The specs over the years for the Z3 were updated to use gear oil in the tranny. Not sure whether the SHO specifies auto tranny fluid - would not change to gear oil prior to verification. Edited May 2, 201213 yr by aba4430 Added LS to Mobil 1 75W-90.
May 2, 201213 yr Some cars like the BMW 318is actually use the manual transmission as the reservoir for the power steering system. All ATF.
May 3, 201213 yr Some manual trannys do specify auto transmission fluid. An example is my 98 Z3 that came from the factory with auto tranny fluid. When I got it in 2009, I drained the fluid out and refilled with Mobil 1 75W-90 LS. The specs over the years for the Z3 were updated to use gear oil in the tranny. Not sure whether the SHO specifies auto tranny fluid - would not change to gear oil prior to verification. Wow I didn't know that. Ya learn something new every day!
May 3, 201213 yr Just tossing in some 5-speed swap info here for later use. Misc 5-speed swap notes for this project: *use (existing) '85+ (225mm) ea81 flywheel *resurfaced, and step machined to .815" *need ea82 clutch kit *need ea82 TOB assembly *sort out shift linkage. Custom, junkyard...? *sort out wiring. Reverse and 4wd sensors *lengthened driveshaft needed You can also use the EA82 fly wheel, just dermal out the high spots on the bell housing. I did not have to change the shift linkage any. The 5 speed bolted right in where the 4speed used to be (inside the console.) Now to keep the stock configuration of the H/L shifter I had to extend the shift rod 7/8 of an inch, and it works great. For the wiring I just used the EA81 plugs and soldered them onto the EA82 harness, once I figured out all the wiring. That way it would plug back into my stock EA81 harness in the engine bay. This was all done to my 86 BRAT Hope this helps.
May 3, 201213 yr Author Thanks for the suggestions. I already have the large ea81 flywheel, don't have a ea82. And I have a good machine shop right down the street. As for the linkage, I don't have any of it. So I'm considering fabricating my own if a set doesn't fall into my lap. The linkage is simple enough, I have the means to do it, and it would allow me to fit it to this car 100% Yes, I'm planning on using pigtails off of the 4-speed sensors for this new trans, only thing I need to know is how they are wired/color codes. The sensor wire colors are not the same between the two trans
August 30, 201213 yr Yes, I'm planning on using pigtails off of the 4-speed sensors for this new trans, only thing I need to know is how they are wired/color codes. The sensor wire colors are not the same between the two trans if/when someone has this info - this is the last part of my 5 speed swap that hasn't been done yet. i do have to say that the 5 speed is about the easiest swap i have done on any car, there is even holes/threads for the linkages etc.. thanks for the detailed info on the engine, i am going to be doing this for my Brat real soon.
August 30, 201213 yr AWESOME thread I have a spare '83 ea81 sitting in my storage shed I want to build later, most likely in a performance sense for boost with lower CR pistons for 200HP+ regular tune! I love the old ea81, even if it needs a standalone EFI setup and boost to be great, I love it in ways so much more than the later ea82 and EJ timing-belt engines that followed.. I've had the experience in 4 different Brats, multiple engines & engine swaps, 4 and 5 speed manual transmissions, stock or Weber carbs, 3-4 different and custom built exhaust setups with different characteristics.. taking ALL the abuse possible for over 30K miles in the past year+. Freaking tanks. the ea81: rebuild it, love it, it's special, it's a little airplane
August 31, 201213 yr Bonus question! Do you know WHY ATF is spec'd in some newer manual transmissions? (Like the BorgWarner T5 and the NewProcess 2 speed transfer cases) Because instead of using traditional brass synchro rings as the "sacrificial" metal to join gear and shaft, they use friction pads made of the same material used in automatic transmission clutch packs on the synchronizer collar and the gear to "match" the rotating speed of the input and output shafts. Food for thought! and absolutely BEAUTIFUL work on that EA81! with that high quality of work, your car and your customers will look like that for another 180K miles! Cheers!
August 31, 201213 yr Author Thanks guys. Sooner or later Ill be able to update this. Im buried in a few projects right now, so this build is still on hold. This GL will be getting this built EA81 and 5-speed swap done before winter though :cool: Right now the shop is occupied by my flatbed Powerstroke. The flatbed is getting modified and rebuilt in preparation of a HUGE project I have coming up this winter. A custom camper build crazy, right?
August 31, 201213 yr fantastic engine work im jealous, the truck looks cool but where do u get in the camper it doesn't have a door shown in the pick(unless your cutting the back of the ford open)
September 1, 201213 yr Yeah it looks like he could have a door on the right side above the rear wheel, and an electric step that comes down when you open the door that's a cool project, you've seen this build before correct?: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=955676 ^one of my favorite automotive/etc build threads of all time, and a similar camper idea to what you're building
September 8, 201213 yr Have you got back to dropping that motor in yet? I wanna know how it runs... Hurry up darn you!
September 8, 201213 yr Author Not just yet... Been working on the flatbed. Ive got about 12 hours of wire wheel stripping and 8-10 hours of fabrication into it now..... Just about ready for paint and re-assembly, then the Subaru will get attention. I hope to have all of my prep work done this weekend, then paint it this week. Then the flatbed goes back onto the truck, and Subaru goes into the shop. But I still have to make a firewood run this year before the Subaru gets attention That requires the truck! I did however order some goodies for the Subaru though. 2 new Empi front axles fresh radiator hoses new rear CV boots EA82 clutch kit and a cool new digital oil psi + oil temp gauge. Innovate Gauges - MTX Series (3852) It will be replacing the crappy oil PSI gauge I have installed in the console.
September 11, 201213 yr Where did you get the SPFI pistons from? I'm currently rebuilding an EA81 to swap into my wagon, and haven't had much luck finding pistons.
September 11, 201213 yr Author I picked mine up from Thompson Engine, they are an Ebay retailer. here is one current auction for the same pistons. :cool: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUBARU-LOYALE-1-8l-EA82-PISTON-RINGS-SET-6527-STD-/140550324960?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item20b973c2e0
September 11, 201213 yr i will say that the pistons pictured are not representative of stock ea82 spfi pistons.
September 12, 201213 yr I just installed that exact same set from Thompson in an EA82 rebuild and it so far it runs great. They are good people to work with too. You are correct the don't look like the picture, those look closer to the EA Turbo set I ordered from them.
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