i don't know much about the ea81 engines (yet!) but i found a 1983 brat in my area (NYC) that the guy says it MAY need engine work. i assume by "may" he really means "does"...but if its alot of work i would just as soon put an ea82 SPFI engine in but how hard is the swap? it would probably be easier to get an ea82 engine around here. most of the cheap subarus around here are late 80s early 90s GL DL or loyale models... the brat has a 4 speed manual (d/r i guess but i haven't seen it yet). and would it make any difference if the donor car was auto or manual or 4wd or fwd? i can't weld either -not yet anyway-- so i also need to know if the motor mounts are in the same places.

If you're looking at toying with mods, you might consider a 2.2 Legacy motor and a 5spd d/r tranny. You can buy an adaptor from Mudrat79 and you'll have an rump roast kicking ride - go anywhere and fast to boot.

do a search for it. Its been done, and there are threads about it.

 

The only difference it makes if the donor is auto/man 4wd/2wd is the fly wheel. manuals have a flywheel, where autos have a paper thin flywheel and a torq converter.

 

If you are gonna do the ea82 swap, put a 5 speed manual out of a 85-89 GL.

Dual Range, is the only way to go. You'll need the Driveshaft from the EA82 donor

i kinda like my 4 speed dual range. you can bolt an ea82 to it like it was done at the factory, with no problems at all.

go for the brat, over the ea82 car anyday!

an ea82 will fit the same. use an ea82 flywheel or have yours drilled out for the bolt holes

 

the only fitment issue is you have to remove the disrtributor to install the motor, so it clears the master cylinder. then put it back in and there you be!

an ea82 will fit the same. use an ea82 flywheel or have yours drilled out for the bolt holes

 

the only fitment issue is you have to remove the disrtributor to install the motor, so it clears the master cylinder. then put it back in and there you be!

that doesn't sound so bad. but one more question.. are the motor mounts in the same place for the ea81 and ea82 engines? i don't know how to weld yet so i can't move them.

same spot, just like factory

subaru was lazy back then

I just put an ea82T in the 1982 Leone. Problems were, engine is too wide for engine bay so had to modify left hand side chassis rail (grinding & welding), engine mounts are in different places (grinding & drilling cross member) & had to make new exhaust manifold to fit over cross member and miss oil feeder bolt to turbo (modified standard manifold grinding and welding). Also no room at front of motor to put radiator fan so had to fit fan to front of radiator. Otherwise it all went sweet as! Except having to fit a new computer and wiring lume, thats full on!

 

 

But don't worry about not knowing how to weld, I can't very well. Normally loads of people available that can.