These are supposed to have the EA81T, but they have an automatic single range transmission. Does anyone know if its an easy swap to put in a D/R tranny?

 

Also, any thoughts on the turbo engines? I hear they overheat easily, but if thats the case has anyone heard of an EA82t in a brat?

 

-- Just found a thread that explains the tranny swap: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=67990&highlight=ea81t+ea81

If you want to swap the engine, don't do one that says ea** go with an ej or don't bother.

I had one of those and I beat it mercilessly on more than one occasion and never had the engine overheat. The transmission is a different story altogether.MWM2 killed my transmission.

Dear Mr. CSi

 

Please approach this with a bit more of a definitive

question.

 

Such as:

I have a 19XX Brat turbo and would like to...??

 

or

 

I am looking at a Brat and would like to ???

 

 

I do not mean to be rude but...

Your question is a slight bit ambiguous and is very hard to answer.

Gearbox swap is fairly straightforward, i have done it on mine with no problems, goes much better. THe ea81ts seem to give less trouble than the ea82ts. As long as the cooling system is in resonable shape, overheating is not an issue at all.

Dear Mr. CSi

 

Please approach this with a bit more of a definitive

question.

 

Such as:

I have a 19XX Brat turbo and would like to...??

 

or

 

I am looking at a Brat and would like to ???

 

 

I do not mean to be rude but...

Your question is a slight bit ambiguous and is very hard to answer.

 

 

Yeah, sorry. I am looking at an 84 brat turbo. The ad said that it had an ea82 engine and I had asked if he did any engine work or modifications and he said no. So, I am thinking that he just got the number wrong. From the pics the car looks like it is good shape, but I am concerned that as a turbo it will be hard to maintain or have overheating problems. Any thoughts on turbo EA81s in general?

 

In the long run, if I bought this Brat I would like to replace the 3at with a D/R manual. Is it a simple bolt in for the comparable 4sp D/R of the same years? I know theres more involved, but I have read that a 5sp D/R is the way to go and I am wondering why this is if it requires some serious modifications.

 

Does my question make more sense now? I appreciate the help

Gearbox swap is fairly straightforward, i have done it on mine with no problems, goes much better. THe ea81ts seem to give less trouble than the ea82ts. As long as the cooling system is in resonable shape, overheating is not an issue at all.

 

 

What did you swap in? 4spd? D/R? Thanks

I put a 4spd D/R into my Turbo Wagon. Was pretty straight forward. Simple bolt in once you have all the parts.

 

There are two modifications you have to make:

Cut the hole in the tranny tunnel larger. I used a dremel and went through two cutting discs, but it did it just fine.

You also have to mount the shifter lever to the tunnel some how. Problem you'll find is the flat spot that the manual 4wd cars isn't there on the tunnel in an automatic, so some creativity will have to be had there.

 

Overall, a simple swap.

 

A 5spd isn't much more complicated. You'll need a modified crossmember. Bratsrus1 (jerry) can do it for you. You'll also need to modify the 4wd shifter (again, Jerry can). From there, you'll have to find a way to either: mount the two piece driveshaft, or shorten your one piece (or was it lengthen?).

 

As far as the EA81T, its a great motor. Can take a beating, and mine has yet to overheat. These aren't like the EA82Ts that have issues. Still though, don't let it overheat, otherwise you'll be kissing the headgaskets good bye. Its not all that powerful (95hp stock), but its got plenty to scoot my wagon along.

Stock ea81/ea81t driveshaft will need to be lengthened.

 

And I'm sure its been said before, but for the 4wd shifter. If you are getting the 4spd d/r from a donor car, take a cordless drill and simply drill out the spot welds for the lever mount and pop rivet or tack weld the mount to yor body.

 

Also, I skimmed reading this, but you'll also need the bracketry where the radius rods connect is different and you'll need them too.

Stock ea81/ea81t driveshaft will need to be lengthened.

 

And I'm sure its been said before, but for the 4wd shifter. If you are getting the 4spd d/r from a donor car, take a cordless drill and simply drill out the spot welds for the lever mount and pop rivet or tack weld the mount to yor body.

 

Also, I skimmed reading this, but you'll also need the bracketry where the radius rods connect is different and you'll need them too.

The stock driveshaft will work fine for the 4speed, no need to change. I presume mikeshoup means to connect the 4wd shifter - in which case the easiest way to do this is as 86bratman said.

You're right, I should have specified I meant for the 5spd swap.

Turbo Brat's (and turbo EA81's in general) are rare. As such it would be sad to see someone butcher one with an engine swap. Besides that, unlike the EA82T they are excelent engines.

 

Installing a 5 speed is understandable however - the stock 3AT's were crap.

 

GD

And I'm sure its been said before, but for the 4wd shifter. If you are getting the 4spd d/r from a donor car, take a cordless drill and simply drill out the spot welds for the lever mount and pop rivet or tack weld the mount to yor body.

 

Can you show me pictures of the spot welds on the body? I swore I didn't see anything like this in the junkyard donor.

I'm a big fan of the EA81T with an EA82 5SPD D/R transmission. I have exhaust all the way back w/ 2.5" Exhaust Pipe and 27" Tires. The wagon kicks up a serious roar and is a blast!

 

OVERHEATING is definately an issue depending on the actual maintaince record of the the car. Preventitive measures are the way to go; a local radiator shop roded and straightened the Rad. for me @ under $100 & old hoses should probably be replaced.

 

The EA81T cars have great features, least of all the 3AT. Because it's an auto, when you swap to an MT, you must use a standard EA81 tranny x-member & it's associated attachment plates mounted to the unibody (which hold the L&R Leading Rods).

 

SIDENOTE: Is there a different turbo engine that is a PUSHROD engine?

I'm a big fan of the EA81T with an EA82 5SPD D/R transmission. I have exhaust all the way back w/ 2.5" Exhaust Pipe and 27" Tires. The wagon kicks up a serious roar and is a blast!

 

OVERHEATING is definately an issue depending on the actual maintaince record of the the car. Preventitive measures are the way to go; a local radiator shop roded and straightened the Rad. for me @ under $100 & old hoses should probably be replaced.

 

The EA81T cars have great features, least of all the 3AT. Because it's an auto, when you swap to an MT, you must use a standard EA81 tranny x-member & it's associated attachment plates mounted to the unibody (which hold the L&R Leading Rods).

 

SIDENOTE: Is there a different turbo engine that is a PUSHROD engine?

EA81s are pushrod engines.. OHV == pushrod. you dont have timing belts or camshafts, do you? well, the camshaft is there but its buried...

I hope to do the 5 spd swap into my 84 Turbo BRAT asap. I was wondering if there is a clever way to run the engine oil through the tranny cooler lines in the radiator.

I hope to do the 5 spd swap into my 84 Turbo BRAT asap. I was wondering if there is a clever way to run the engine oil through the tranny cooler lines in the radiator.

You could, but the suspicion is the tranny cooler doesn't flow well enough for engine oil.

 

Besides, with an EA81T, why would you want to? These already have an oil cooler on them. (The EA82T on the other hand does not)

keep in mind the tranny cooler in the rad is

designed for the return pressure from the

tranny.

 

This amounts to about 10~15 psi

 

Things could get ugly fast if it ruptured,

 

plus you would not know about untill????

Can you show me pictures of the spot welds on the body? I swore I didn't see anything like this in the junkyard donor.

 

I got one picture, then my "fresh charged" batteries decided to die. The spot welds are around the edges of this peice of metal...