IsLegend9 Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Taking apart an EA81 engine that most likely has a broken bearing - seems as if it got caused by a poorly changed oil filter that was changed before I got the car. But looking closer into the cylinder heads and the oil pan makes my dad and I think that's not the main reason of the problem. Took the heads off and we're looking at this sort of thing on both cylinder heads, but only in the exhaust ports. We did have some exhaust and cooling problems - mainly the car going through coolant very quickly and what we are almost positive was a head gasket needing replaced. Would just those two problems explain the huge buildup of what appears to be carbon or whatnot in those ports, or is it something more? Massive sludge on the top of the cylinder heads. Goes pretty "well" with the sludge in the next picture. Tons of sludge in oil pan. This was pretty sad to find when we took this off. This is what was beginning to make us think it wasn't just the oil filter that was the initial problem. Yet another disturbing sight was the oil pump screen. What is probably at least 40-45% of the surface area covered in carbon buildup and bits of sludge. But we're not just talking something that could be wiped off with a shop rag, this stuff was legitimately caked on and possibly through to the other side. That'll take quite a while to clean up, since we didn't end up getting a replacement in the replacement EA81 block we got. Just looking for some thoughts from the guys who probably know Soobie's a little better than me [this is an engine we're replacing from my first Subaru] and my dad, who's a British car enthusiast. What kinds of things were really going on in that engine? I'm glad we got a new block to replace it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Yikes. The last engine I saw that looked this bad was 45 years ago. Next to impossible to get this much build up if the oil was occasionally changed . Almost makes me think the PO used nondetergent oil in this engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsLegend9 Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share Posted August 8, 2010 Yikes. The last engine I saw that looked this bad was 45 years ago. Next to impossible to get this much build up if the oil was occasionally changed . Almost makes me think the PO used nondetergent oil in this engine. Interesting thought. My dad had a thought that the PO hadn't changed it for maybe 10-20k miles, which to me is just terrifying. I've only had the car for about 2700 miles and the place we got it from claimed they changed the oil right before they sold it to us. The nondetergent oil could make sense though. Anyone have an idea about that carbon buildup in the exhaust ports? It's about the same amount of buildup on both heads and only in the exhaust ports. The other two ports are almost completely clean. If it helps, it's an auto transmission on an '81 GL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 What was the mileage on the engine? Like John said, it looks like a high mileage engine. Bad valve guide seals, valve seats and bad rings could also be the culprit here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Overheating and oil failure. Probably cheap oil and never changed it. Oil breaks down after a certain number of heat cycles and turns to tar basically. Nothing a good hot-tank won't fix. But the internals are probably trashed. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsLegend9 Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share Posted August 8, 2010 Mileage on the car is around 92k. Not sure about whether or not the engine is the original engine yet. As we've been taking it apart, it's seeming more and more like someone went in there and did something and didn't tighten things up correctly - the oil pan screws were barely tightened and one light tap with a rubber hammer took it right off. Appreciate the replies so far, this is just the start of an engine replacement project. I'll keep on putting the pictures up the further we get into the old engine if curiosity peaks. Just so you guys know, here's a picture of the car... Got it in November with less than 90k miles on it, went from there and drove it up until April when it ran into problems and hasn't run since. Engine failed because whoever replaced the filter before me didn't take the gasket off of it and it caused the oil to siphon out of it and, without realizing it, it got driven when it had little to no oil and there went the engine. About 300 miles or so shy of a change, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doobieryan Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 That just goes to show you the conditions in which qn ea81 will run. It took someone making the mistake of leaving the gasket on the block to kill the engine. Even tho the internals looked like that!! Go subie go!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsLegend9 Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share Posted August 9, 2010 Alright, a bit of a bind [literally] we're in here. We had to take the torque converter off with the engine when we removed it. The problem is that the engine doesn't turn, and in order to take out the 4 [i think] bolts on the torque converter, the engine has to turn. The only place to view the bolts is through one place on the shell. Any suggestions from someone who's done that before to help at all? One way or another, the torque converter has to be removed to split the block safely, and the engine doesn't turn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Are the spark plugs removed? Turns easier without compression. Once you get it to turn, remove the starter and remove the TC bolts thru the hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 If the engine doesn't turn - you are probably not going to be rebuilding it. It will be thrashed inside and these engines are neither worth the effort to recover from that level of abuse, nor is it an easy proposistion - very few places are setup to bore these engines, etc. They are plentiful in rebuildable condition but your's is likely not. Just find a good used one and drop it in. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 GD is right, don't bother. That engine was ran with either cheap oil or the older formula Penzoil and abused with little or no oil changes. Years ago I had an Olds 307 I had to rebuild for a guy and he just swore up and down his wife always changed the oil, so he didn't understand why the bearings were shot. Both oil drain back holes in the heads were plugged, there was 3/4" of sludge in the lifter valley and the #6 rod journal was 1/4" smaller that it should have been because she drove it for TWO WEEKS while it was "making a funny noise". Unfortunately there are uneducated/lazy/ignorant people out there and what you have is the result. Sad..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsLegend9 Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share Posted August 9, 2010 Nah, we're not looking to rebuild the busted EA81 we have. We do realize it's probably beyond the point of safety, but here's the situation we're in. a: My dad and I have a reconditioned replacement short block, crank, rods, and new pistons, camshaft, etc., all set to assemble. b: The heads are off the old engine, and they are what's in the picture at the beginning of the thread. c: From what we can tell, apparently the crank is seized on the old engine, keeping it from turning. d: We need to reuse the torque converter, flywheel and rear engine plate (not correct term, but I don't have the book with me) on the "new" block. Those are parts we didn't get, hence why we need to remove the TC and put it on the new engine. e: There just doesn't seem to be any availability of used EA-81 engines in upstate New York, which is where we're located. These cars all seem to still be living life wonderfully on the West Cost, which is where we got the engine [Washington state] and there's nothing over here at all. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Well, the heads are definitely rebuildable. Hot tank them and they'll clean right up. As far as the torque converter, you only have two options. One, force the engine to turn over if possible. Two, since you don't care about the case, get your safety glasses on and your 3lb hand sledge out and bust the bell housing. You can't slit the case because there are bolts on the back. I hate to recommend destruction of a case, but..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 If you like, I could hook you up with all the parts you would need - I have a good TC and bell-housing, etc. Shipping wouldn't be too bad on those. I have like half a dozen EA81 engines and some are never going back together - mostly I am into the EJ's and am converting most of mine over. I have a TC from a good front wheel drive auto as well. PM me if you are interested. I may have other EA81 stuff you are interested in and not just engine parts - I have a large parts collection and I've been doing EA81's for my personal vehicles for years. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsLegend9 Posted August 12, 2010 Author Share Posted August 12, 2010 (edited) GD, I'm gonna end up taking you up on that offer. I sent you a visitor message and will send you a PM once the buddy list request thing goes through. This forum is set up differently than the others I've been on so that's why it took me so long to figure out how to send you a PM. If you would rather just dart me an email, my email is IsLegend9@gmail.com. Edited August 12, 2010 by IsLegend9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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