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question about engine overhauling


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Ok, so i bought this great brat, something went sick with the fuel system (i have a thread about it stalling) and so i started pulling things off the car. I have a compulsion when it comes to removing and inspecting things... probably got it from work (former Marine jet mechanic).

The motor has over 200,000 miles on it and things are a bit gummed up i guess. I removed the egr valve for example to find that it was totally filled with soot. Like so filled that i did not even know that there were holes in it to flow exhaust through.

 

Old car, no big deal.

 

I am thinking about pulling the motor and breaking it down shotgun style for a good cleaning and a gasket replacement go-around.

 

Problem:

while i am comfortable working on my own car, have done all my work on my stage 4 wrx, and am pretty mechanical minded i have never got knee deep in to the guts of a motor..

 

Am i overly worried? How hard is a complete gasket overhaul? is that overkill? I have a very small oil leak that *may* be a oil pan gasket but it is looking like something a little more nasty that i want to kill anway.

 

And again, the motor is filthy with age and built up soot and grime. Not to mention that i am going to burry the POS "cant find parts anywhere for" webber carb and go another route.

 

I assume that i would have to buy a cherry picker and a stand, even though the motor looks like two small girls can lift it out with out even curling the toes in their jellies. no big deal.

 

 

So who here has overhauled a 1.8? what am i getting my self in to? ************er is probably going to come out anyway, i think i found the only spot of rust on the car, and its down by the motor. it has to die.

 

 

erik

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grab a book that carries all the torque specs for the bolts, rods, ect. and internals of your motor. you'll do fine if you've got a mechanical mind... the hardest things in my mind on subie motors are the vacuum hoses... but there are those who know their sh1t when it comes to that.

 

and just for reassurance, maybe go to a car parts place and pickup a good "how to rebuild engines" book. something that seems in depth. I've never torn into a subie motor as far as splitting the block, but I can't imagine it's more difficult than some of the ************ I've done on other people's cars!

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Hey Eric,

 

Why not start out with running some seafoam through the fuel system, and in the oil.

 

Do some tune up stuff like new plugs, wires, and pcv, how's the timing?. I don't know the carbed cars very well, but i pulled the engine on my RX without any prior experience, and did a overhaul, all new hoses, sensors, etc. I just asked a lot of questions on here. I could probably help you out if you need it and I have an engine stand if you want to borrow it.

 

 

--Todd

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If not a weber, what are you going to go with???

 

I mean no offense, but the weber is pretty much a staple of performance modifications for these engines. And, there are still parts out there.

 

Ebay is great... also check bow wow autoparts (they have several locations throughout the Puget Sound area)

 

Now, I've had my fair share of problems w/ my weber on my '86 wagon. However, by talking to informed people I was able to trouble shoot all my problems and now have an excellent dependable carb. Not to mention it hauls balls now.

 

The engine overhaul should be fairly easy as far as just doing head gaskets and seals. It becomes more complex when you split the block... something that i have yet to tackle. Doing gaskets could be a fairly easy weekend project.

 

I urge you to give the weber some more time... try rebuilding it, and reading up on some of the threads on jettings and such here on the board. I would also reccommend a good slightly larger y-pipe back exhaust system be put on. With those 2 things you will have a noticable increase in power.

 

If you go as far as splitting the block, new pistons, rings, etc... look into putting a new cam from Delta Cams in Tacoma in. Also perhaps look at finding some EA61 pistons. These will raise your compression ratio, and help squeeze some more ponies out of the brat.

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If not a weber, what are you going to go with???

 

I mean no offense, but the weber is pretty much a staple of performance modifications for these engines. And, there are still parts out there.

 

Ebay is great... also check bow wow autoparts (they have several locations throughout the Puget Sound area)

 

Now, I've had my fair share of problems w/ my weber on my '86 wagon. However, by talking to informed people I was able to trouble shoot all my problems and now have an excellent dependable carb. Not to mention it hauls balls now.

 

The engine overhaul should be fairly easy as far as just doing head gaskets and seals. It becomes more complex when you split the block... something that i have yet to tackle. Doing gaskets could be a fairly easy weekend project.

 

I urge you to give the weber some more time... try rebuilding it, and reading up on some of the threads on jettings and such here on the board. I would also reccommend a good slightly larger y-pipe back exhaust system be put on. With those 2 things you will have a noticable increase in power.

 

If you go as far as splitting the block, new pistons, rings, etc... look into putting a new cam from Delta Cams in Tacoma in. Also perhaps look at finding some EA61 pistons. These will raise your compression ratio, and help squeeze some more ponies out of the brat.

 

i have not been able to find a rebuild kit for this webber.

there is no part number anywhere on the carb (i have it removed and was able to turn it all over to look), and when i go to ANY parts store or go online all i get is the hitachi rebuild kit... every place seems to have atleast 3 of them laying around. but nothing for my webber.

 

Why/how should i maintain a carburator that there are no support parts for?

 

your advice on that subject would be great.

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I guess I had a brain fart last night... Do you have the Carter-Weber (i believe it is a single barrel) or a Weber 32/36 (which is a 2 barrel)

 

The Weber 32/36 is the carb in which i was refering to. It is an aftermarket carb. If you have the Carter-Weber, which it sounds like you may, upgrade to a Weber 32/36. All my comments last night were in reference to that carb, not the Carter-Weber.

 

I would agree that the Carter-Weber is poo and should be buried.

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I guess I had a brain fart last night... Do you have the Carter-Weber (i believe it is a single barrel) or a Weber 32/36 (which is a 2 barrel)

 

The Weber 32/36 is the carb in which i was refering to. It is an aftermarket carb. If you have the Carter-Weber, which it sounds like you may, upgrade to a Weber 32/36. All my comments last night were in reference to that carb, not the Carter-Weber.

 

I would agree that the Carter-Weber is poo and should be buried.

 

no my fault, i was not clear on what i had in my car and you assumed that i had the 32/36.

 

i dont think that in its own right there is anything wrong with the carter-webber. Just that finding support for it is proving to be a challenge.

 

I plan on upgrading to a 32/26

 

hope we are both on the same sheet now.

 

erik

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2 small girls lifting it out is a bit far fetched, but 2 normal sized guys can lift it out no problem, the lump only wieghs 150lbs or so..

 

 

once its out replacing gaskets and such are fairly simple, everything that leaks on an ea81 is an external cover is all..

 

ohh replace the rear main seal when its out, will save a little headache..

 

if you have any questions post up here on the board, alot of us are more than willing to help another soob driver out..

 

 

as for carbs, i am gonna replace my friends 1 barrel POS with a 2 barrel ea82 carb and intake.. should give it a little more grunt and a smoother all around runing motor..

 

as for a weber 32/36 my wagon has one and custom 2 1/4" exhaust from the heads back.. makes a world of difference if they are done together..

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Oh... while its out... adjust the lifters! They should be adjusted every now and then. I dont have the procedure here, but I have seen it done before. Doesnt take long. Can be done at the same time as the valve cover gaskets are being done.

 

So the motor is disconnected from everything but the tranny, i need to look up what to do for that so i dont end up eating crap later on. Should be out before this weekend, that reminds me i need to order a gasket set.

I should have all sorts of brat parts for trade/free by the time this is over. I dont see alot of what i am pulling out going back in.

 

Erik.

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Ya all you need in there is a bare intake with a PCV system, carb, fuel lines and thats about it. Really dont need the EGR or Air injection system in my opinion. Ive been running without them on my GL wagon for years with no ill effects (though its never been tested for emissions)

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Semper FI,

 

Can't help with the overhaul... working on my XT Turbo... (New Heads)

 

But we Are brothers... Former Marine Mechanic..

 

 

Xoomer

 

Thanks man!

This Brat was my present to my self when i got out. I sold my leave instead of going on terminal, ended up with a 5000+ final paycheck.

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If you're going with the Weber 32/36, you'll have to get a different intake manifold (not to mention a Weber-to-intake-manifold adaptor). The best manifold is the one for the Hitachi two-barrel FOR THE EA82 MOTOR. Bigger opening at the carb base than the EA81 Hitachi manifold, therefore more air flow, therefore more power.

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but may I remind you guys that an EA82 carbed intake needs to be modified to work around the disty on an EA81 since its right in the way of the thermostat housing. I would swap over to an EA81 Hitachi 2 barrel intake and do a nice port on it.

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