First Posting! Question about 84 GL Brake Rotors, etc.

[RedRat]

Hello out there to all you Subaru nuts! This is my first posting on this (awesome) site.

I have a couple questions that some of you may know the answer to:

Is there a compatibility issue between the stock front brake rotors on an '84 1.8L GL Wagon (the "vented" kind, I believe) and the stock front rotors on an '82 or 83 Wagon or Brat (non vented). Does anyone see a problem with putting the stock rotors from an '83 1.8L onto an '84 1.8L?

Also does anyone know if the '84 1.8L engine (EA81) is different that the '82 or '83 1.8L? Specifically, are the valves and rings the same size?

Thanks for any and all help!

-dan

 

1984 GL 4WD Hi/Lo, Weber carb, Pushbar, Hella 500's, Sunroof, 184K, slight attitude.

 

1991 Legacy AWD wagon, 280K! Great soccor mom mobile.

[TheSubaruJunkie]

The newer EA81 would probably have larger valves if it had hydrolic valves. If both engines have hydrolic valves then there will be no difference.

 

The rotors are not a direct swap, you must use the calipers from the same era as well. You might be able to use the solid rotors with vented calipers, but if you have solid rotors right now and want to use vented, you'll need to swap over the calipers.

 

-Brian

[Ratty2Austin]

there are a few differences...

 

80-82 EA81 heads have smaller valves, solid lifters, and they have 2 extra bolts down below the valve covers that bolt the head to the block. (they are reallllllly small and pretty much usless.. probably were there for extra brackets or something.)

 

83 and 84 they changed the EA81, got rid of the little bolts, and i belive the valves were larger. still used solid lifters..

 

***except***

 

A/T subarus had hydro lifters before '85,

 

after 85 (Brat, and hatchback only in the US, till 87 and 89) they used hydro lifters in all EA81s and big valves

 

 

(not 100% sure on the accuracy of this info- but its what I have learned over the time i have been tinkering with these very engines and reading up on them in the various shop manuals)

 

 

as for brake rotors, they should be interchangeable for all EA81 modles.. you may need to keep the particular calipers+mounts with the respected rotor types (sold rotor with solid caliper parts, and such) but i have been able to swap them out for one another... (good to keep them the same for both sides of the car too!)

 

another cool thing- rear disc breaks from all EA82 Turbo cars (4wd or 2wd) will bolt onto any EA81 rear arms.. assuming you grab all the parts from it. backing plates, caliper mounts, disc. (this replaces drums woohoo!) and you dont have to worry about proportioning valve stuff, brakes on a subaru are cross connected (RR+LF/LR+RF)

[RedRat]

Thanks guys for the info! Yeah, I'm pretty sure that my 1984 EA81 engine has hydraulic valves. I saw some cheap valves and rings (and solid brake rotors, new, too) on ebay for a 1982 and 1983 EA81, and was wondering if all the years were compatible.

 

I just picked up a 1982 EA81 engine that was pulled from a GL with a bad tranny. Supposedly ran fine when pulled, something like 150k on it. It has the alternator, H2O pump, stock carb, air filter and distributor all attached, and came with the starter. And the clutch too, but that is likely toasty. $40 later it is sitting on a couple blocks in the back on the 84 GL and moving down the road again.

 

Should make for a fun rebuild for a soobie newbie like me. It probably doesn't need a rebuild (these things run like the energizer bunny, eh?) but it could make a good learning project.

 

Should I bother? Or just drop it into the first perfect hulk I can get my hands on and cross my fingers?

 

Cheers fellas!

 

Dan

Bellingham, WA