I've searched and I am starting to get a idea of what I need to swap the trans out on my 83 turbo wagon

 

flywheel and clutch

shift linkage for a 4wd

center console

driveshaft

crossmember modification

clutch cable

pedal assembly

speedo cable for a manual

 

What year donor car should I be looking for? Another ea81?

I'm not afraid of some welding and fabrication but I'd like it to go as smoothly as possible.

Would anyone be willing to put everything I need on a pallet and ship it to me? Or would that make it too easy.

 

it's a pretty good car with only 86000 miles on it and some pretty rusty rocker panels. it's taken allot of nights and weekends to get it running right and not leaving puddles wherever it's parked.

 

I appreciate any advise or opinions and if anyone is in western Virginia and wants to help let me know!

Edited May 19, 20187 yr by Lofti7

Ideally, you should get all peripheral components out of an EA81 donor. 

 

But the transmission itself (you WILL want a 5-speed) may be better sourced from an EA82 since it will be a little newer and more common.

When I did my swap I needed the EA81 radius arm plates from a manual trans car too. I think the manual trans cross-member bolts to this and the little mounting "ears" are not on the automatic ones. Search for "Jerry's cross-member kit" if using a 5MT.

I've got the manual radius rod plates, transmission crossmember, and pedal box you will need in an 84 parts car if your interested. I'm a couple mountains north of you. You wouldn't really need any other drivetrain parts from an ea81 car if you're going to use an ea82 5mt.

 

I also have a bunch of spare ea81t parts after ej swapping mine.

Edited May 21, 20187 yr by 86BRATMAN

I've got the manual radius rod plates, transmission crossmember, and pedal box you will need in an 84 parts car if your interested. I'm a couple mountains north of you. You wouldn't really need any other drivetrain parts from an ea81 car if you're going to use an ea82 5mt.

 

Sounds good to me, shoot me a PM and we can figure out price, when and where to meet up thanks for the help everyone.

There is a thread in the USRM that pretty thoroughly explains the parts you need and the modifications you need to make to the vehicle.

 

I've done this swap using this how-to and it is stupid easy, as long as you have all the right parts.  The how-to says you can't keep the cruise control, but I did, not hard at all.

I've been searching a bit, I guess I'm just confused because there are so many combinations that will work.

I know I need to match gear ratios and that I need a drive line also what flywheel to use on what, you will need to forgive a bit of my ignorance I just don't want to think I have everything together and have to search for a unicorn of a part. I appreciate the help and I'm still searching and reading everything you guys are mentioning.

There is a thread in the USRM that pretty thoroughly explains the parts you need and the modifications you need to make to the vehicle.

 

I've done this swap using this how-to and it is stupid easy, as long as you have all the right parts. The how-to says you can't keep the cruise control, but I did, not hard at all.

Could you link this for me do i can be sure I'm looking at the same thing

For some reason I can't copy/paste on this particular computer, but I'll give you directions:

 

On the main forum page, scroll all the way to the bottom, looking for the "Ultimate Subaru Repair Manual."

Click "Transmission, Axle, and Brakes."

Look for "EA81 automatic to 5 speed manual."

 

The really good write up is called "Complete Recipe: EA81 auto->manual."  Do a search for this one.

Thanks, searching now

Ninja edit, great write up that will help for sure,

 

So after reading that and others I need the fly wheel and clutch from a ea82 and I need to make our have spacers made for the bolts

Anyone have a lead on a center console? Or a complete 5speed DR ?

Edited May 21, 20187 yr by Lofti7

You olny need the EA82 flywheel/bolt spacers if you want to use the EA82 clutch.  (This is what I did)

 

What color is your interior?

Edited May 22, 20187 yr by carfreak85

Blue interior

I've never used spacers for the flywheel bolts for this type setup.

EA81 flywheel bolts don't play nice with the hole size in an EA82 flywheel.  When I started my car for the first time after the conversion, I thought I had rod knock.  Turns out the flywheel was rattling around on the skinny EA81 flywheel bolts.

 

I'd say if you're using the EA82 flywheel, the bolt sleeves are required (but what do I know).

I've never had a problem with running just the flywheel bolts. But I also don't play around when it comes to torque specs.

There should be a small dowel or two to stop the pressure plate from moving like that carfreak.

 

Cheers

 

Bennie

Quick question guys, will I need different CV axles? Depending on transmission I think the ea81t has 23 spline please correct me or point me in right the direction so I can read myself

elFreddo, not the pressure plate moving, the EA82 flywheel moving on EA81 bolts.

 

And trust me, they were torqued to factory specs.

If they were the bolt head would have held the flywheel in place. It's no different than hogging out the holes on the ea flywheel to fit an ej crank. Nobody uses any sort of sleeve or spacer for them. I first used an ea82 flywheel on an ea81 about 20 years ago, no sleeves or spacers and it continued to be just fine for the following 10 years before the body was too far gone to keep on the road.

 

 

If you use an ea82 dual range trans like you were talking about you won't have to change the axles. ea82t transmissions will require 25 spline inner joints.

Edited May 23, 20187 yr by 86BRATMAN

Obviously my mileage is varying because I needed the sleeves for the bolts.  OP, feel free to skip the sleeves, but do have a backup plan if you do end up needing them.

Thanks for all the help guys, now I've just got to find a transmission and a console bratman has everything else and is pretty close to me. There is a single range from a 88 turbo pretty close but I don't know what's involved in changing splines our if it would take new CV, I just replaced the fronts so that would seem a waste.

 

I really do appreciate all the help I just get a bit confused going through everyone's posts, I guess I should take notes.

Look at the retrofitting section, thread named Retrofitting FAQ. I linked some inner cv's that will work with aftermarket ea81 axles to give you a 25 spline axle. I've confirmed fitment on several aftermarket axles, oems are hit or miss because of the different shaft sizes used.

elFreddo, not the pressure plate moving, the EA82 flywheel moving on EA81 bolts.

 

And trust me, they were torqued to factory specs.

Roger that. Makes sense now Not fun I bet!

 

OP - hang out for a dual range box - unless that's a single range AWD box and you don't need low range.

 

Cheers

 

Bennie

I don't plan on bashing it our anything that could be considered hard core 4 wheeling it will get trips up to ski resorts and a weekend driver mostly. And one cross country trip.

Are there problems with the single range transmissions or is the dual range just a better fit.