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High MPG Sedan/Truck thing

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I'm considering what many would call the the most pathetic subaru ever. But I think I can make it have really good Mileage. Here is the Combo:

 

86 EA82 sedan, 2wd 5spd.

 

1.6 EA71 motor

 

Possible SPFI conversion to the EA71?(which begs the question, will this work?)

 

I have all the parts sitting around. I'm shooting for 35+ with convservative driving.

 

Thoughs?

Gloyale - the 88-91 FWD manual XT's are excellent for gas mileage. 40+ mpg in stock form. i bet you could get 45 with some playing around.....5 lug 16" wheels and XT6 electric power steering, remove the clutch fan...and play with the exhaust..

  • Author
I would put the spfi on the ea71, but put it in an EA71 car, they weigh less than EA82 cars.

 

I already have the EA82 sedan, in good running shape.

 

Plus I want a 5spd. Most EA71 and 81s are 4spd.

 

However, 5spd ea71s do exist I think? 1980 GL-5 coupe comes to mind? Damn, I should've bought the one I got offered for $60 bucks.....Damn.

 

 

Plus I like the extra legroom.

 

And I'll be shaving tons of weight. Cutting off the roof, and basically making a Flatbed work vehichle out of it. :headbang:

 

Ohh.... Did I foget to mention that???

  • Author

Thanks for all the thoughts. But yeah, it's gotta be a parts getter. Parts meaning possibly an engine or transmission. Wagon or Flatbed required. Plus I probably LOVE the EA82 cars more than all others hate it(hence my handle).

 

So it will be cool (to me) to rock the turd brown, 2wd, neutered, chopped Sedan/Truck at 35 to 40+ mpg.:headbang: Every one will think it's a VW rabbit truck.:rolleyes:

 

But does anyone know for sure if spfi can be done for EA71? Seems that it could.

 

But Do the intakes bolt up? or will I have to fab the TB onto the EA71 manifold?

  • Author
you will have to fab up a throttle body adapter, the EA71 intake is 2 inches shorter than the EA81 and EA82 intakes

 

Thanks, that good info:)

 

 

Bell housing? Thinking of reworking an EA81 bellhousing to do the adaptation. Or do I HAVE to find the side mount EA71 bell?

To mate the motor to the tranny, youre lookin for a Fat case EA71, right? cuz the EA71 has the starter on top, while the fat case has it on the side like an EA81, and I think it has the same manifold as an EA81 as well. On this I'm not 100%, but it will be hard to swap the engine if the starter holes dont line up I think

Thanks, that good info:)

 

 

Bell housing? Thinking of reworking an EA81 bellhousing to do the adaptation. Or do I HAVE to find the side mount EA71 bell?

 

I dont't know if a modified EA81 bellhousing will work or not, I guess you could try it and see what happens, it might work

I'm considering what many would call the the most pathetic subaru ever. But I think I can make it have really good Mileage. Here is the Combo:

 

86 EA82 sedan, 2wd 5spd.

 

1.6 EA71 motor

 

Possible SPFI conversion to the EA71?(which begs the question, will this work?)

 

I have all the parts sitting around. I'm shooting for 35+ with convservative driving.

 

Thoughs?

 

I have an 89 EA-82 DR 5 speed sedan. Single Point FI. It's been a while since I've driven it. 36 mpg is what it pulled down on the highway. That's without trying to get good mpg. Just a data point to consider and anecdotal, my two cents and all.

  • Author
I have an 89 EA-82 DR 5 speed sedan. Single Point FI. It's been a while since I've driven it. 36 mpg is what it pulled down on the highway. That's without trying to get good mpg. Just a data point to consider and anecdotal, my two cents and all.

 

This is more focused on short trip driving around town. Most SPFI EA82s get more like 25 around town.

Eeek im on the old gen side again.

 

We had an EA82 wagon with a fat case EA71 and a 5speed fwd setup at a local dealer a few months ago. Obviously used to be grandads car, 110,000miles on the clock and they wanted $1800 for it.

 

Anyways im fairly sure a SPFI EA71 has been built before - had major deja-vu with this thread.

  • Author

Well, I think I'll solve the Bell housing issue first, and just run it carbed for a bit.

i have a 1980 subaru gl-FIVE :) its 2wd 5speed with an ea71 i was concidering FI or MPFI but i get 35 to 40 in town oh yeah its a wagon did i say that :-p Rob

This is more focused on short trip driving around town. Most SPFI EA82s get more like 25 around town.

 

If you're going to do all this swap work for an around town car, I'd just put in an electric motor and a bank of batteries. Not that I have actually done this, and I know it's not going to be an easy job. But, it seems like the returns would be a lot greater than gaining only 10 MPG or so.

Andy

  • Author

A full electric would be awesome. For that though I would not use a heavy EA82, I'd go for a lighter vehicle.

 

Plus, another point of this build up is to save money, not spend money. I have all the parts to do the conversion mentioned already.

 

And I need to start saving money on gas YESTERDAY. If this goes well, I'll be saving more like 25 MPG compared to my GL Turbo w/4EAT running 27s that is my current DD.

 

Plus I don't want to rule out using it for 100-200 mile trips around the state. So I'd need ALOT of batterys LOL

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