February 9, 201412 yr WOW. That engine carnage shot is just awesome! I cant tell but is that a EA71 or 81? If its a 71 id be using now as an excuse to drop an 81 in there for a bit more oommpphh.
February 9, 201412 yr Author WOW. That engine carnage shot is just awesome! I cant tell but is that a EA71 or 81? If its a 71 id be using now as an excuse to drop an 81 in there for a bit more oommpphh. It's an EA71. I actually have another supposedly good EA71 that came from a junkyard but I am opting to keep the car more true to its original self. The plan is to have the EA71 rebuilt so it can go on for years to come trouble free (hopefully).
February 9, 201412 yr Author It came with a dual barrel Weber carb so at-least that gives it a little more juice.
February 20, 201412 yr Author Okay, just got the prelim estimate from my mechanic. The engine builder can order all the parts he needs except pistons. I was told to buy either 10000 or 20000 over-sized pistons. Any idea which direction I can go to buy some good pistons?
February 26, 201412 yr Author This just in. The broken motor is now at my machine shop. The block has been inspected as looks (and I quote) "perfect". The cylinder walls are perfect. The bearings will need to be .01 over-sized (I believe that's the correct terminology). Now for the not so good news. The second motor I purchased and was planning on using the heads off of, the heads are different. The spare motor doesn't have all the ports on the heads for the emissions equipment to bolt up. This tells me that the "spare" EA71 is earlier than 1978. Well just my luck! Now what? Can I use the heads off the older EA71 motor without all the emissions equipment connectors and hope it passes smog? I want to do this build right and certainly not half rump roast anything.
February 27, 201412 yr Too bad you have to have all of that emissions stuff on there in CA...otherwise I'd say chuck it and get a weber!
March 8, 201412 yr Author It has a Weber on it. Okay, text update tonight. I just saw photo's of the motor at the builder. Oh-my-gawd. It looks so clean I could eat off of every surface! Received my pistons and rings in the mail today and the motor should be all put together and ready to install into the Brat by this coming Tuesday! My builder is using a factory original 1978 Subaru OEM manual for all his torque and assembly settings. I believe his exact words were "amazing" when I pulled that book out. Stay tuned for excitement starting next week!
March 23, 201412 yr Author Okay here is a pretty big update. The new engine internals have been assembled in the block, the heads have also been rebuilt and refinished. Just looking at the motor it looks SO GOOD! While the motor was out I had the engine bay coated in a resilient black textured coating. This should help fight any possible rust and it makes the engine bay look GREAT! Since it was getting cleaned up and sprayed I had the front passenger fender fixed, and repainted as well as the hood. Take a look at the photos and I think they speak for themselves. We replaced the smashed turn signal assembly with a better one that I picked up. The Brat is starting to look damn good. New motor mounts, new oil pump, new water pump, new engine, new heads, new clutch, new pressure plate, new flywheel. I am also having the weber rebuilt on Monday so at the end of this coming week the Brat should be BACK ON THE ROAD! Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you guys think. Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Edited March 23, 201412 yr by spicypeanut
March 23, 201412 yr Author Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr
March 23, 201412 yr Author Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr Untitled by blue03wrx, on Flickr
March 29, 201412 yr Author New Motor Mounts, New Transmission Mount, New Throttle Cable, and New Clutch Cable are on the way. ETA to receive parts is this coming Monday. This should be on the road next week.
March 29, 201412 yr Author Where did you find a throttle cable? They have a few left on RockAuto.com Drill down the menu like this: 1978 SUBARU BRAT 1.6L H4 : Body-Interior : Accelerator Cable And you should see it right there.
April 3, 201411 yr Author Quick Update: As of yesterday the BRAT LIVES! It was driven around the parking lot. I wasn't there but I was told by my mechanic he needed to make some valve adjustments.
April 3, 201411 yr Author Ok just got off the phone with my mechanic. The steering rack is WORN out! I'm going to have that sent out and rebuilt. Things I need: New speedometer cable Misc parts to cleanly install the accelerator cable to the Weber Carb
April 5, 201411 yr Author Thanks for all the warm thoughts guys! I just got back from the mechanics and the motor is in! In fact it was ready to go as of Thursday but during the initial testing we found out the entire steering rack was severely worn out. We had it sent out to be completely rebuilt and it arrived back at the shop today! It sure is a thing of beauty! Major things to do: Install Steering Rack Install new Throttle Cable Install new Weber Air cleaner assembly Once those 3 things happen I believe this will be back in my garage. Next week can't come quick enough! Almost forgot. It has a new battery (not the deep cycle marine battery I stole out of our boat but an actual auto battery ) Edited April 5, 201411 yr by spicypeanut
April 6, 201411 yr Author Nice. I like you kept the EA71. Hope to have a 1st gen with one someday. Thank you. Keep your eye's peeled. They are out there. WOW, love the progress! I wish my classic was half this far along! Do you have a build thread? I'd love to see what you are working with. Looks great man!!! Thank you. Too bad you have to have all of that emissions stuff on there in CA...otherwise I'd say chuck it and get a weber! So the original EA71 motor that was in the car, the heads had 2 ports for the emissions equipment. But the other spare EA71 motor that I rebuild the heads only had 1 port for the emissions equipment. I was under the impression that all EA71 motors were the same. Do you have any idea how many revisions to the heads SoA made, or how to tell the differences?
April 9, 201411 yr Author Just wanted to document this day. The brat is now home with me! I drove it about 25 miles this evening and it was awesome....up until the moment I blew a fuse and lost all my lights. Lol
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