Skip Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 One of my 78 Brats is at the body shop. Painter/bodydude says he can't get it started. Had been running fine. The choke on the carb is propped open and can not close. But He thinks quote "it's loaded up" I am going to look at it on Monday (12/08/2008) Maybe the points closed up or are toast and the spark is weak. I'm going to take an electronic dist out of an 81 that I have. Is there anything special I have to rewire (ballast resistor bypass maybe?) to install the electronic dist. I do not have an engine wiring diagram for this unit. I will have a timing gun to set the intial advance. Thanks for any insight, this is my first foray into Gen I EA71s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Skip, I have done this swap and I posted it in the USRM awhile ago and since its been awhile, I can't quite remember what exactly I did with the ballast resistor. I believe I removed it as well and swapped in a bracket from an EA81 car for the coil, used the stock coil and wired the disty in like a normal EA81. I think thats how I did it but I'm not 100% positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted December 8, 2008 Author Share Posted December 8, 2008 Thanks for the help Russ, I searched for a write up and did not turn up anything close. I'll look under your name and see what I find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeroy Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 When I put an electronic dizzy in my '78 I had to join the two wires that originally went to the ballast resistor together. Car wouldn't start otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quidam Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 "He thinks quote "it's loaded up" If a body dude thinks that, he prolly flooded it trying to get it started. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted December 8, 2008 Author Share Posted December 8, 2008 Thanks for the help and suggs Russ I found your write up nice job. For others that may find this post in searching for how to's try this http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50403 Here is a picture of the ballast resistor and the radio noise suppresser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffanyus Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Skip, take some pics of the brat. If this is the one I sold you, Im dying to see what it looks like so I can cry for selling it to you. LOL:lol: Tommy.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 Hi Tommy, Yea, that's it. Decided to clean/adj the points and fix the choke heater. (Choke was still propped open with the stick from your yard) Fired right up after hot wiring the fuel pump to fill the bowl. I'll be changing the dist and putting a Weber on it come ??? Nothing to cry about, she is still a long way from done. She will be painted as factory --- Pearl Silver Metalic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffanyus Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 Brings tears to my eyes. Shes going to be one sweet brat when shes done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted December 11, 2008 Author Share Posted December 11, 2008 I hope so Tommy I just have to say thanks again for the great deal. Sorry also that you had to make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffanyus Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 Im glad your going with the pearl silver. Thats what I was going to paint her after I got off my paint her black kick. Im sure you notice the front valance is from a DL brat, dosent look bad though, no biggie. If I ever get out that way maybe Ill visit and you can let me take her for a spin!? Good luck with everything. Im still looking for a brat myself its been too long but theres no Gen 1s around FL. Might have to ship now that gas got cheaper but $ is kinda tight so the future dosent look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrat Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 excellent thread. this one cameto thetop onmy search. looks like I did everything but connect the ballast resistor wires together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 If you don't connect them together, she will fire up and then die as soon as the key returns to the run position. The diagram I saw has a "start bypass" of the ballast resistor to give full voltage when cranking. This to offset the battery voltage drop when the starter is engaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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