Just curious, cause im seeing different power numbers from different sources, specifically about the last of the carb EA81's... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/80s/specs/mechanical/engine-specs.html

 

There it shows like 74hp, 94tq, while chiltons guides show like 82hp/101tq, and other places i see other numbers...

 

Anyway, im really just curious which is specifically the best carborated EA engine that was in Subarus.

subaru had bigger valves, on the later ones. but they also had hydro lifters, i would love a solid lifter brat motor, with the bigger valve heads. i think thats the best combo. im tired of clicky lifters, and they are so easy to adjust.

 

i dont think you can really turst any of the numbers you see. suposedly the brat had a more torqy low end cam, as the 2x of the same years had a more top end hp cam.

yes, there are some defects in that page... it was an inherited page, and never got any additional work done on it.... usually when you see the higher numbers associated with an ea81, it's a type, and they should have meant the ea82. it's especially confusing for 85-89 when both engines were available....

 

I have a 86 Brat, and it's not noticeably different than any other ea81 I've had....

 

also, there has been alot of talk about the cam differences, but in the 84 Subaru Parts manual, there are only 3 different listings, the Brat other MT 4WD's all have the same part number..... not sure about other years.....

The EA81 hydro lifters do not have the ticking problems that are common to the EA82's.... and yes the hydro engines are rated higher on the HP scale - I believe the numbers were around 72 for the solid lifter engine, and 80 for the hydro lifter block. The whole valve train on the hydro engine is different - cam, lifters, push rods, rocker assembly... and the valves are physically bigger. Also the block itself is different in that you can remove the lifters from below on a hydro engine, but the casting on a solid block will not allow this - so while you can put the hydro lifter valve train into a solid block, you will render the lifters unserviceable by doing so.

 

For comparison the Dual carb EA81 engine that came in the JDM RX was 110 HP.

 

GD