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Lower capacity subaru engine conversation

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mnakandala Learner Dubber

4 posts · joined May 2013 ·

#980414
Has any one here done conversions lower other than ej20 engine and has any one done diy flywheel and adapter plate, please shar some info, picture

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#980417
Do you just mean smaller capacity like the little EJ15, EJ16 and EJ18?

few people have done it but may as well make it worth while, the bigger engines are just as economical and the same amount of work to fit.

Are you somewhere where it's hard to get conversion kits?
I got a friend in Egypt making his own as it's very exspensive to get one sent there.

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#980472
Look at my build. Look at the pictures.

You have to do everything the same whether it is 1.6 all the way to 2.5

The 2.2 SOHC works well for cost and smooth economical drive. If I would do it again I would start with 2.5 DOHC. Anyway seeing as you have to do evreything to fit the engine, whatever size, read my thread, and see if it helps to understand the engineering details needed. You will be spending $4000 I estimate minimum to do the whole job, and maybe another $800 for engineering certificate to make it legal.

Mine cost about $6000 all up and I fitted it all myself. With outside engineered flywheel, adapter plate, sump, wiring, exhaust, radiator. I did the engine mount brace myself.
EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

tweety Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#987258
If you go EJ, as said above- go 2.0 or 2.2.

If you are refering to the earlier EA series engines then they will cost you almost as much but there are some advantages over the EJ, not many but some.

The EA81 is the one to get not the OHC ea82 with its array of belts for little benefit. The ea81 with a weber 32/36 is a very simplistic engine, compact and light. So little chance of having weight issues depending on where you place your radiator etc.

The EA series has limit with modifying the intake as a water channel runs along under the manifold as part of the manifold. really the intake is primitive. Also the engine needs an approapriate cam and few other improvements whereas the eJ does not.

But if you want a compact easy to maintain engine it isnt such a bad choice. EA81 nuts like me love them because its simple old school. Otherwise- go the EJ route and get to know the engine well. It will serve you better than most engines. Go Subie!

here ius my ea81 without carbie. about 105 kgms.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
SUBARU ea81, VW auto, Detour camper
My ex girlfriend said "its me or a trike". Her big mistake.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#987284
tweety wrote:If you go EJ, as said above- go 2.0 or 2.2.

If you are refering to the earlier EA series engines then they will cost you almost as much but there are some advantages over the EJ, not many but some.

The EA81 is the one to get not the OHC ea82 with its array of belts for little benefit. The ea81 with a weber 32/36 is a very simplistic engine, compact and light. So little chance of having weight issues depending on where you place your radiator etc.

The EA series has limit with modifying the intake as a water channel runs along under the manifold as part of the manifold. really the intake is primitive. Also the engine needs an approapriate cam and few other improvements whereas the eJ does not.

But if you want a compact easy to maintain engine it isnt such a bad choice. EA81 nuts like me love them because its simple old school. Otherwise- go the EJ route and get to know the engine well. It will serve you better than most engines. Go Subie!

here ius my ea81 without carbie. about 105 kgms.
Are you sure they are 105kg? I sold a ea81 few years ago, I just picked it up and gave it to the buyer. Felt Like 60kg to me, it still had most of the stuff on it too.

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

tweety Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#987325
see below

EA-81: 1,8 liter, 100 to 110 hp, about 85 kg(187lbs) dry weight
EJ-22: 2,2 liter, 130 to 160 hp, about 120 kg(265lbs) dry weight
EJ-25: 2,5 liter, 165 to 200 hp, about 135 kg(298lbs) dry weight
EJ-33: 3,3 liter, 225 to 275 hp, about 160 kg(353lbs) dry weight

Yeh likely less than 105.

That adapter plate weighs a bit.

I was thinking wet weight with all accessories. I needed to know for that time I was to replace the 1916. I lift mine out by hand too. Last week I did it again. Then lifted the auto and transaxle with Torque converter. That assembly was less weight than the ea81 engine. No wonder they use them in planes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
SUBARU ea81, VW auto, Detour camper
My ex girlfriend said "its me or a trike". Her big mistake.

OZ Towdster Keen to finish some projects

1,921 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#987327
tweety wrote:see below

EA-81: 1,8 liter, 100 to 110 hp, about 85 kg(187lbs) dry weight
EJ-22: 2,2 liter, 130 to 160 hp, about 120 kg(265lbs) dry weight
EJ-25: 2,5 liter, 165 to 200 hp, about 135 kg(298lbs) dry weight
EJ-33: 3,3 liter, 225 to 275 hp, about 160 kg(353lbs) dry weight






Yeh likely less than 105.

That adapter plate weighs a bit.

I was thinking wet weight with all accessories. I needed to know for that time I was to replace the 1916. I lift mine out by hand too. Last week I did it again. Then lifted the auto and transaxle with Torque converter. That assembly was less weight than the ea81 engine. No wonder they use them in planes
No such thing as an Ej33 , they would be an EG33
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel

mnakandala Learner Dubber

4 posts · joined May 2013 ·

#987329
Thank you tweety btw lot of great information where were you all the time??? 🙅

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#987339
OZ Towdster wrote:
tweety wrote:see below

EA-81: 1,8 liter, 100 to 110 hp, about 85 kg(187lbs) dry weight
EJ-22: 2,2 liter, 130 to 160 hp, about 120 kg(265lbs) dry weight
EJ-25: 2,5 liter, 165 to 200 hp, about 135 kg(298lbs) dry weight
EJ-33: 3,3 liter, 225 to 275 hp, about 160 kg(353lbs) dry weight






Yeh likely less than 105.

That adapter plate weighs a bit.

I was thinking wet weight with all accessories. I needed to know for that time I was to replace the 1916. I lift mine out by hand too. Last week I did it again. Then lifted the auto and transaxle with Torque converter. That assembly was less weight than the ea81 engine. No wonder they use them in planes
No such thing as an Ej33 , they would be an EG33
wow! really? EG33 is 160kg?

That is freaking heavy as! That can't be right. 5.7L LS1 is just a nudge over that.


I heard the EZ series 6s were only a fraction more than the EJ series. Not sure on the EG series though.

EA81 85kg? mmm yeah thats liftable fairly easyish. It still weighs more than I do if thats really the weight.

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

tweety Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#987655
thanks mnakandala but when you own a "bitza" thats the nature of the game. When I took out the VW 1916 and replaced it with the ea81 it only left the T3 auto tranaxle as being relevant to this site. Which still has helped me immensly I might add.

So I scroll thru here often to see if I can help others just like they have helped me. But engine wise I get info from ausubaru. Then there's trike forums that have moved to Facebook. So its busy ownign a bitza lol
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
SUBARU ea81, VW auto, Detour camper
My ex girlfriend said "its me or a trike". Her big mistake.