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.

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

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.

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.

They come up a lot on eBay too. I saw an EA82 kit on there last week or something like that.

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..

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

nope, nothing on ebay of mine, just my thread on here mentions the ej i have spare

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.

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..