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I'm going to check out that other axle today. The thing is, the drivers side axle that I pulled out was definitely worn out, so I thought that was for sure the problem. In my experience of wheel bearing sounds, I would assume that this is not a wheel bearing issue. It is a definite, knock/clunk/clicking noise, not a howl or grinding sound. Got my gaskets for the EA81 today, from some threads around the board I saw people using just gasket maker for the oil pan. Is this better than using the cork gasket? Or would a combo of both be better?

Where did you get the SPFI pistons from? I'm currently rebuilding an EA81 to swap into my wagon, and haven't had much luck finding pistons.

Two hours later, with a new half shaft in and $75 poorer, I took her for a test drive and she still clunks.. I'm out of ideas at this point. Come on USMB brains I know you have the answer. Help please? The noise, as best as I can describe it: Usually starts when shifting into second gear. Sometimes I can hear it already in first. IS related to speed/rpms of something.. (Noise increases in frequency as speed increases) Definitely sounds like a signature CV clunk. Sometimes is more exaggerated when turning. Definitely in the front drivetrain. Ball joints are not loose, tie rods are not loose. As of today I began to actually feel the results of the sound, sort of a hesitating/pulsating feeling from the front end. Imagine a coffee can rolling with a bit of weight glued to one spot inside the can. This is what is happening somehow.

Yeah yeah... haha I ran out of PB so the sanding stopped. I will admit, I was going to call that good enough though. Thanks for holding me accountable, might as well do the job right.. Postponing the engine build to work on the mystery clunk in the front drivetrain. It's gotten much worse in the past few days. I can actually feel a sort of hesitation/pulsating upon acceleration. PO said he replaced the passenger CV, going to check the other side. Can't think of what else it could be if not CV's..

Hmm, I guess I should look into this a little more. Did you say you had some spfi pistons? How much would you want for them? I brought my slab down to a shop by my house, had them test it for levelness. It was about .001 off in one spot, but only in one direction. The other direction was perfect, so I went for it.. Hoping the gasket will make up for any minor discrepancies. Finished one of the heads Before: After:

Thanks for the link sosubme. I went and got all of the materials for the slab planing. Got a piece of 14x14 granite countertop for free. Couple packs of sandpaper and two bottles of pb blaster for just over ten bucks. Subruise, I would like to put in the spfi pistons, but I don't trust myself splitting open the case. I'm pretty comfortable right now just doing all the outer gaskets. I'd hate to F something up at this point. Just placed an order on RockAuto for all of my gaskets, new pilot bearing, water pump, etc.. Should be here in 5 days:headbang:

My current ea82 had a hitachi carb originally. So would the pistons be SPFI? I was assuming no.. And yeah its a 5sp d/r. Tried out the Lo range in the mountains last week, pretty frackin awesome, now I just need bigger tires. I'm really digging the color too. Thinking about bedlining everything below the trim panels. I will search for GD's thread. Any kind souls care to link it for me?

I purchased this car from moosen a couple weeks ago. Wish I had read this thread first.. She's struggling. I don't think he ever hooked up the egr. This thing burns through oil like no other. Prob a quart a week, maybe more. Significant leaking from the driver head gasket, and valve cover. The car doesn't like to stay running after a cold start. May just be a matter of idle speed.. Gas mpg is good, ~27 around town. Any savings in gas I spend on oil though.. Got an ea81 I'm dropping in as soon as the gaskets get here.

Thought I would move from the meet and greet and start my build thread. So here goes. A little repeat info.. got this 87 GL a few weeks ago, paid waay too much, but I plan on having her for a while. I picked up an ea81 off of CL for $150. To do list: Reseal ea81 Swap ea81 in 2" suspension lift from BOSS 6-lug hub and drum redrill Replace front seats Took the ea81 apart tonight, got her all shiny Before After

So I took the heads off tonight, there was some oil residue on the block around the head gaskets. So I went for it. Gaskets are fine, but there was obviously some sort of leakage going on. The oil pump... is so damn stuck on there... I hit it with some PB blaster, hopefully that will do the trick. If the engine does indeed have only 80000 miles, should I still be getting a new water pump, and maybe a new oil pump? The rear main seal: The engine currently has bellhousing, flywheel and clutch still attached. I'm guessing I would have to remove all of these to get at the rear main? edit-ignore last question.. did some reading

Well how about that.. haha this whole swap just got 5 times easier. Thanks guys. About the heads.. like I said earlier, I don't have access to a good shop, cherry picker, etc.. So my thought was just reseal as much as possible while the engine is out, so I won't have to pull it back out down the road when/if something goes. Logically it makes sense, but if you guys who know your ea81s say I don't have to, I am willing to listen to reason/experience.

Alright, starting to take it apart tonight. Is it worth getting the heads planed/shaved while I have them off? Also, as far as the carb goes, there's a (32/36 dgev?) weber on my current ea82. I was planning on just swapping that over. Will that be a direct fit onto the ea81 intake mani?

Thanks subruise, I wasn't having much luck with the search on usmb. The google searching is working much better. I brought home this little beauty today. An EA81 I picked up for $150. It allegedly has 80000 miles, and was pulled out of a wrecked car a few years back. Look pretty clean to me. My original plan was to do a complete rebuild. But I am leery about splitting the case open. Is it worth checking the main bearings and cam with such low miles? Or do you guys think I will be fine just resealing all of the outer gaskets?

Thanks for the input. For the ea81 swap is there anything as far as the wiring goes that might give me some troubles? Also will I have to modify anything to make it fit my current 5spd D/R tranny? This info may be on the forum, and I plan on doing some more digging, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Hello everyone, I purchased my first subaru about a week ago.:cool: I got it from some kid who knew little to nothing about it. It's in decent shape, other than drinking about a quart of oil every 4 or 5 days. Rear diff was bone dry when I got it home, who knows how long it was driven that way :-\. There's also a mystery clunk/knocking in front drivetrain somewhere, sounds like c/v's but they look fine. So I've got a little work ahead of me. Looking closer at the engine, I noticed there is oil leaking from the oil pan gasket, drivers side head gasket and valve cover, and who knows where else.. So my question is, with no access to a real garage of any sort, is it worth it to try to reseal the current engine? Or I've found an early 80s pushrod style ea(81?) on CL for 200. I'm thinking about picking that up, rebuilding/resealing that one then renting an engine hoist when it's all ready to go. Any opinions here would be greatly appreciated. Plans for the car: I'd like to keep it as my daily driver(for now). So I'm going to start small, probably going to get the 2" lift from BOSS, 6-lug redrill swap, some bigger rims and tires. I would like to put an EJ22 into it at some point, just don't know if it is something that is within my abilities to do. I have read a lot about the swaps. Mechanically, I think I've got it, but electrical kinda scares me. Thanks guys Here she is cooling off at the top of our first trip into the woods.