Guest Brettm57 Posted August 8, 2003 Share Posted August 8, 2003 I've been studying my service manuals some and there seems to be a lot of variations of the EA81 with either solid or hydraulic lifters. If I'm reading it right, in some years they put solid lifters with manual trannys and hydraulic lifters with automatics. Huh? I'm hoping it's less confusing than it appears. Also, can a hydraulic lifter engine be converted to solids? I'm still hashing over my hatch bracket racer idea, and I'm thinking I would rather have solid lifters, unless there is some reason I don't know about that I shouldn't. Like maybe the hydraulic lifter engines are better for other reasons. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest McBrat Posted August 8, 2003 Share Posted August 8, 2003 ea81 w/hydraulic lifters came in the following vehicles: 83-84 ea81T motor any 84 with an auto tranny (maybe 83 but less likely) 85-87 Brats 85-89 Hatch (with ea81) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brettm57 Posted August 8, 2003 Share Posted August 8, 2003 So can a hydraulic lifter engine be converted to solid lifters, or isn't it worth the trouble? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OH Noah Posted August 8, 2003 Share Posted August 8, 2003 At least some '83 models with auto trannies did have hydraulic lifters, but it may have only been the Wagon and/or 4wd models. As for converting, I don't think it'd be worth it. The hydraulic lifter engines have different camshafts, so you'd have to switch cams too. That requires splitting the crankcase. I believe you'd also need to use the rocker assemblies from a solid lifter engine. If you were already going to change cams, then you might consider solid lifters, but I'm not sure if the lifter bores are the same size, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mykeys Toy Posted August 8, 2003 Share Posted August 8, 2003 It is my understanding that all EA81 auto tranny cars after 84 had Hyd lifters. I can't say for the cam but I know of at least one person with a warmed up cam with more lift and such running these heads milled with EA71 pistons and has no problems with clearance. So I would think you could realistically just swap heads and maybe get a little more lift with a stock cam. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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