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Wanted (SA) - Subaru EA81 engine

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VinoDubber Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#836333
I have been looking around for a while and why is it that the perfect items are always on the other side of the country..

I am after an EA81 engine in good running condition located in Melbourne or Adelaide or anywhere in between.


I have been looking for a while and would like to spend $200 -500 depending on just the engine or a full kit.
Not just a vehicle.. more a way of life

20% off wine for members, just email luke@patrickofcoonawarra.com
www.patrickofcoonawarra.com

ahoogah Seriously Crusin Dubber

135 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#836339
The Subaru EA-81 engine was produced from 1980 to 1989 and is a stroked version of the EA-71.
[edit]Specifications
Displacement: 1781 cc
Bore: 92 mm
Stroke: 67 mm
Compression Ratio: 8.7:1
Valvetrain: OHV Pushrod
Horsepower: 73 bhp (54 kW; 74 PS) @ 4800 RPM
Torque: 94 lb·ft (127 N·m) @ 2400 RPM

Do you have a specific reason for using EA81 as apposed to

EJ22

Usage:
Impreza 95-01
Legacy 90-99, Outback 95-99
[edit]Specifications
Displacement: 2212 cc
Bore: 96.9 mm
Stroke: 75.0 mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1 - 9.7:1
Valvetrain: SOHC
Fuel Delivery multi-point fuel injection
EJ221 Naturally Aspirated
Horsepower: 135 PS (99 kW; 133 bhp) @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 186.3 N·m (137 lb·ft) @ 4800 rpm

Have seen EJ22 ebay $500 with loom

VinoDubber Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#836345
EJ22 would be nice. $500 with a kit I would definatly be interested.
Electronics scare me a little, I have seen lots of spaghetti photos of unbroken down looms.
I like the simplicity of the EA engines.
Also budget pays a big part. If I had 10k to throw around i would probly go with the TT version.
I like to do everything myself so hence a project that isnt out of my depth.
Not just a vehicle.. more a way of life

20% off wine for members, just email luke@patrickofcoonawarra.com
www.patrickofcoonawarra.com

ahoogah Seriously Crusin Dubber

135 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#836347
You might be hard pressed finding an EA81 in running condition.
As for electronics,plenty of specs and advice on here,just ask the questions.
Dave.

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#836417
They come up a lot on eBay too. I saw an EA82 kit on there last week or something like that.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

VinoDubber Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#836426
Thanks. Yeah I have seen a few come up that would be perfect. There is one in QLD at the moment that I would buy but its about $500 just to get it freighted here. I was hoping someone would have one stashed away for a rainy day..
Not just a vehicle.. more a way of life

20% off wine for members, just email luke@patrickofcoonawarra.com
www.patrickofcoonawarra.com

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#836439
Keep looking. Don't forget to check the classifieds here and on kc.

My conversion came from Adelaide about 6 months ago. To be honest better ones came up but they were either too far away or the fact that they were better came into play as a problem. I'm working damn hard to do a legal conversion that doesn't need engineering signatory approval, and the EA81 was pretty much the path of least resistance. No matter what I liked the idea of dropping in another OHV boxer.

I'll tell you straight off putting the engine in is the easy bit. I had it in and started in hours. The devil is in the details. 6 months on and I still have work to do on it. It's running pretty nicely now but there are still tons of small to middling jobs to do.

i also find it strangely therapeutic building something unique that will make mechanics curl up and rock in a corner.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

VinoDubber Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#836448
Thats my plan aswell. Try to do it legally, which maybe a little easier in SA but I will cross that bridge later on. What sort of problems did you have? I would have thought that once it is in and running you are pretty much good to go. There have been a few kits on ebay over the last 3 months but they are all in NSW or QLD.

Dont get me wrong, I love working on my kombi engine and find it therapeutic. But... I got to the stage that I had to adjust the valves every 200km just to get going. it makes for a very long week trip from Hobart to Coonawarra
Not just a vehicle.. more a way of life

20% off wine for members, just email luke@patrickofcoonawarra.com
www.patrickofcoonawarra.com

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#836471
It;s still easier and far cheaper to get a running EA than a type4 but that isnt saying much, people jump on a type4 engine soon as they come up.
1000s of type4s were lost back when most baywindows were cheap disposable feral chariots and maintenance was a foreign concept.

You've probably seen it already but I noticed on ebay the other day a carbed EA82 with an adapter kit in the Newcastle area for about $300, same guy had a couple of kits, a rota and a EJ20T from memory.

The wiring with an EJ conversion is pretty cheap to get done professionally by places like AMauto, they send you back a simple plug and play kit for easy install in a VW.

68Volkaru Slammed & Awesome Dubber

80 posts · joined Apr 2011 ·

#837811
Hi Pat,

I will hopefully be replacing my EA82T (with MOTEC Holden 1987'ish) soon with a newer donk.

I can give you a heads up if you like.

N

I am in Canberra... and am sure we can work something out freight wise, as I have rellies in both Melb and Mildura.
Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car. Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall. Torque is how far you take the wall with you.

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#837911
anyone going to SA from qld anytime soon?
ive got a EJ20TT + adapter/fly loom, intercoolers, radiator etc etc etc...

or was mine what you found in qld?
Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

VinoDubber Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#837969
The EA82T sounds perfect and Canberra is not too far out of driving range. Definatly keep me posted.

STIDUB - I think the EJ20TT is the same as we were looking at on ebay? I also asked if I could buy just the EA82 kit from you, is it still available?
I would buy the whole lot if I could get it down to SA somehow.
Not just a vehicle.. more a way of life

20% off wine for members, just email luke@patrickofcoonawarra.com
www.patrickofcoonawarra.com

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#838132
nope, nothing on ebay of mine, just my thread on here mentions the ej i have spare 🙂
Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

VinoDubber Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#860314
After letting another EA81 kit slip by on ebay, I am still on the hunt for an engine. The one on ebay was sold a year ago for $426 and just sold again for $676. Thats not a bad profit for a years worth of engine use..

Does anyone know where I can find a running EA81? Preferebly in the Adelaide or Melbourne region.
Not just a vehicle.. more a way of life

20% off wine for members, just email luke@patrickofcoonawarra.com
www.patrickofcoonawarra.com

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#860515
tocaciu wrote:After letting another EA81 kit slip by on ebay, I am still on the hunt for an engine. The one on ebay was sold a year ago for $426 and just sold again for $676. Thats not a bad profit for a years worth of engine use..

Does anyone know where I can find a running EA81? Preferebly in the Adelaide or Melbourne region.
The "local" wrecker (about 100km away) has a few EA81s. Don't know if they run though. At least one of them was killed in an accident. I know I'm looking at one. My motor is close to a boat anchor. I don't think there is a part of the conversion I've left untouched. The only things really left un-modified or un-replaced are the radiator hoses and I'll be hacking them up soon to add flexible sections to go above the beam.
I'm hoping to scratch up some money for another motor but that'll be a long time.

you asked about issues. Bad parts aside all I can really say is the devil is in the detail. I had it in, and the cooling system patched together enough to test in pretty much no time. Since then it's been a year of sourcing parts both from Australia and internationally, countless hours of fault finding and replacing / fabricating parts. When you get down to it the engine wasn't meant for the vehicle so a lot of work is needed to be acceptable. Doesn't help that most of the parts I need are 100km+ away 😂
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#860523
ahoogah wrote:You might be hard pressed finding an EA81 in running condition.
As for electronics,plenty of specs and advice on here,just ask the questions.
Dave.
I had one about 4 years ago a friend of my brother gave to me thinking it was a vw engine. I sold it a year and a bit ago for 50 buks lol. 😂

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

VinoDubber Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2011 ·

#860525
Thanks Tristan. I know there is a lot more than just putting it in. I have spent plenty of time under the VW engine so I cant imagine it would be any worse than that. I like the EA81 for simplicity and availability but now I am rethinking the second part of that statement. I will keep on the hunt and when I do find one I will be in touch with many questions..
Not just a vehicle.. more a way of life

20% off wine for members, just email luke@patrickofcoonawarra.com
www.patrickofcoonawarra.com