backwoodsboy Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Ok, I know that this has been talked about lots....but I need some advice before I either rebuild my EA81 or swap a motor. Heres the stats : 1986 brat - (86 means it should have the hydro lifters- right?) 140,000 miles. Endless tapping:banghead: . (more from the passenger side than drivers) I have replaced the manifold gaskets, and the oil pump (helped a lot....but noise still there) I ran thicker oil (10w40) and the noise ALMOST goes away when its run in the AM and the oil is thickest. I put a can of seafoam into the oil, and ran marvel mystery through the carb. Let that sit all night, then ran'er this morning till all the smoke cleared. STILL tapping!!! There is a percievable shake to the engine as well..... this might be a vacuum leak, I know....but I am really thinking that bearings are worn/shot? Is there anything Im missing....or have I exhausted all my options? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 What is your oil pressure at? Should be ~20+ hot idle, and 50+ at cruise. Before you do ANYTHING else, adjust the valves. Yes - I know you are thinking they don't require it, but the EA81 was retro-fitted with hydro lifters later in it's life. The adjusters are still present, and there is a procedure for adjusting them - such as when the heads are milled, etc. Do a search on here - I posted it once I think. It's not difficult, but involves waiting 15 minutes with each set of valves compressed for them to "bleed down" to adjustment pressure. Most likely either the lifters are in need of adjustment (perhaps someone didn't heed the warning labels on the valve covers and did a solid lifter adjustment procedure to them. Milled the heads and didn't adjust them, etc...), they are shot (unlikely), or the mains (more likely) and/or rods are shot and thus the lifters can't get good pressure. You can remove the lifters with the oil pan removed - they slide out once the pushrods are removed. The hydro lifter block is cast different to allow their removal where the solid block is not. I had to adjust the ones in my Brat after milling my heads. They tapped ferociously for a couple hours till they were bled out. Officially Subaru states it can take up to 2 hours (of running!) for lifters to expel all air and stop tapping. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsboy Posted May 13, 2006 Author Share Posted May 13, 2006 GD, Hey, thanks for the quick advice -much appreciated. I'll keep everybody posted as to what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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