el_freddo

Thanks mate. I’ve not seen anything like that before - only the spfi system and that didn’t land in Australia either. Cheers Bennie

@GeneralDisorder - what’s a “feedback carb”? Just a carb with an auto choke or something more involved? Asking as my ‘91 brumby has electric choke and a black fuel pump control module. I’ve not seen a blue one before. Cheers Bennie

Sounds like an awesome score! I’m sure you keep it and use it much in the same fashion as your wife’s grandparents did. While GD will say not particularly valuable it will have that sentimental value through family ownership and will be a very cool old school ride Cheers Bennie

I did them as cheap insurance/maintenance. Both engines I did them on were 350,000 and 420,000km (not miles!). Cheers Bennie

I doubt it was the pump doing it. I know of several EJ power steering pumps operating MY/EA81 power steering racks without issues. Dis you run this rack without leaks previously? Cheers Bennie

If you’re going to lap the valves it’s worth replacing the valve stem seals while you’re there. Cheers Bennie

That alignment looks bang on Paul. Ive not heard of cam or crank sensors going bad. They’re just coiled copper wire wrapped around a magnet, they’re sealed pretty tight and there really isn’t much to go wrong with them (they also make good cruise control speed sensors for after market units!). Are the cam and crank sensors plugged in correctly/fully? I like NVU’s suggestion of the super junction plug pins. Although I’ve not heard of this being an issue it could be worth the 10-15 minutes to rule them out. Any codes from the ECU to share? Cheers Bennie

EJ257 will most likely have dished pistons to aid dropping the compression for boost. I could be wrong though, the difference could be in the combustion chamber volume build into the turbo heads. GD will know I reckon. Also: best to get a manual vehicle if that’s what you want. Swapping a manual into an auto can have all sorts of wiring issues leading to codes etc from what I understand. Cheers Bennie

Don’t do it. The transmission won’t be up for that amount of torque on tap. Cheers Bennie

??? Thats old school thinking with a distributor. TDC doesn’t matter with the cam belt fitment. In fact, the pistons are halfway down the cylinders when the crank timing mark is set properly. This ensures the timing belt is installed correctly in terms of crank position If you use any other mark to align the crank you’ve got it wrong. And if you’re using the arrow on the cam wheel that’s wrong too. You need to use the small line on the rim of the cam wheel on either side. One side will be free of valve spring tension, the other side will be held by/have spring tension acting on it. All the beat with it, I’m sure your issue is that the Cam belt timing/alignment isn’t correct. Cheers Bennie

To remove carb unbolt the four 10mm nuts at the base of the carb. If you’re going to strip the carb down, it’s a good time to crack that screw from its hold while the carb is still fitted to the engine. Cheers Bennie

Oil is drained so for engine work such as HGs. Some engine stands make it difficult to balance an oil pan on the only bar that’s part of the structure that holds the wheels out the front of the frame. So it’s easier to drain oil in the car. If storing the engine I’d leave it in, same for swapping the engine into another car - do the oil change after you get the engine going in the new vehicle Cheers Bennie

Try this page. There’s one for the 2001 SF forester that would have the EJ20 that you’re chasing. There might be another manual that suits your needs better - have a poke around! http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/articles.php?c=93&order=desc&page=2 Cheers Bennie

You could just use the EJ251 intake manifold and ECU. From memory you guys didn’t get the NA EJ20 for long if at all. A web search should turn up what you want easy enough. There are loads of free manuals out there to download Cheers Bennie

You need to identify what that set of black plugs are then. Find a wiring schematic at go over it. I’ve only ever known one set of green, one set of black plugs. Can’t remember which ones to connect to read codes - I do know they all need to be disconnected when driving the car. In Oz we didn’t get those seatbelt thingys because we wear our seatbelts due to laws requiring us to, and it’s second nature when you grow up with wearing seatbelts. There is no doubt more wiring related to those sorts of systems that we didn’t get. Your check engine light will still do its thing, but test away anyway! Cheers Bennie

Remove the air filter housing to expose the top of the carb. You should easily identify the bowl etc from this view point. Remove the top of the carb via the screws to get into the bowl. From here blow out what you can with compressed air. Your issue is probably varnish blocking the jets from old evaporated fuel. A good last of compressed air should have it sorted. Or EJ it Welcome to the forum! Cheers Bennie

Head gasket external leakage is another thing to check. We got a 2003 forester with unknown history. Swapped HGs for the MLS units as a precaution and so we know it won’t be an issue we have to deal with in the short term. Valve stem seals were done at the same time. Well worth the effort of putting the time and effort in when the car is new to you - then the “servicing” doesn’t have to happen randomly when needed - just at the appropriate intervals for the usual oil and filter changes with a general inspection to ensure there are no other issues to attend to (eg split cv boot). Cheers Bennie

Ok, but thread digging an eleven year old thread about the EA81 probably won’t help. Post an add in the wanted sub forum Cheers Bennie

It is when it’s flashing the model designation code and has no other codes to show. Glad you got it sorted. I was going to suggest that one set of connectors are still plugged in but you found them already. Only have them plugged in without running the engine for code viewing purposes. Cheers Bennie

I used an old conveyer belt. It was a bit tight but it works well. Everything is solid, no real new noises either. Gen3 Liberty and Outback’s could be another source on the rear end. I’ll check it out next time I’m close to Basil (Sister’s Gen3 RX). Cheers Bennie

No there doesn’t as GD said. They would’ve added these devices as they became aware of crash safety. In Oz is seems like hey didn’t become a thing in our EA81s until 1984 or mid 1983 onwards. My brumby running an 82 coupe long dash does not have the fuel cut relay, but the original 1991 dash did. I’m not going to chase the rabbit down the wiring hole of retro fitting this device, but I will fit an EJ that will do that for me Cheers Bennie

A CEL when driving indicates a fault. It will only flash when you plug in the check connectors. If it’s flashing consistently while driving it could be a problem with the auto or something else I’m not familiar with. If it’s intermittently flashing, or flashing under certain conditions that usually indicates a sensor that has an issue but then clears up. It could be a stored code that will point you in the right direction. I’ve not heard of the ECU cracked soldier issues. I run a 1993 EJ22 and factory ECU in my L series off-roader. It has not suffered any ECU related issues even though it’s seen plenty of rough roads, countless corrugations, dirt, moisture etc - more than a standard road going EJ22 would ever see. So from where I’m at, I don’t think that’s your issue - but GD would see more of these than I ever will too. You could see if you can borrow an ECU to swap in and see if that’s solves your issue. Cheers Bennie

The EAs were notorious for pulling exhaust studs. I’ve not had this issue on the EJ engines. Lucky? Either way I don’t have the same angst with EJ exhaust studs like I do with EA units! Make sure you’re not over tightening the exhaust nuts as that will pull studs for sure. Tighter is not always better. Cheers Bennie

Can swap 4wd rear end in to the 2wd. Will have to drill holes and work out how to get captive nuts in there for the moustache bar mounts. 4 speed must come over to the 2wd body for the 4wd. The 5spd box is 2wd only and can’t be modified to be a 4wd box. Cheers Bennie

Been done before with some cutting and welding to fit the stock air cleaner on the Weber. It’s on the forum here somewhere. Cheers Bennie