The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

I read some time ago the few improvemnts you can make to get the most out of your ea81.

In my case the engine is in great condition. It has had a new weber 32/36 and a new electronic dizzy. The exhaust was custom made with the cross over connecting pipe. Timing was at 8 degrees but have increased it to around 11-12 degrees and 98 octane. New red 8.8mm plug leads have replaced the old ones.

From what I've read standard spark plugs have a gap of around 39 thou ". Iridium spark plugs come in 0.8mm and 1.1mm being 34 thou" and 44 thou" respectively.

So regardless of the advice I read in these pages (I think by Steptoe) I purchased the 0.8mm ones. My engine has a great idle and the iridium plugs did also but no noticable change. But there was a little mid range power increase and high revving seemed to be smoother.

A couple of weeks and a lot of kms under my belt I decided to buy the 1.1mm ones and just instal them without any change to anything else- to see what change would take. I did this after a tail wind to shepparton. So witha head wind home after installing the new plugs I was surprised with the trikes ability to hold 110kph against that head wind with less effort. Mid range power was noticed with the trike accelerating faster.

So based on this I would recommend the iridium plugs with the 1.1 gap.

I've ordered a MSD blaster coil which has an extra 10,000 volts over the 30,000 volts than the standard coil. Then I'm at the end of my engine upgrades (unless others think of more) except maybe a future dyno tune because I think that since the last time I had Tweety dynoed several upgrades have been made. I believe it is still running a little rich.

I've gone back to the vacuum large filter as the standard weber fiter was clogged with dust. sitting behind the radiator dust from a dirt road is blown onto the filter. th large filter with the hose allows for colder cleaner intake air at the side of the radiator and also seals better.

Tweety wrote:In my case the engine is in great condition.

And so is the rest of tweety I've still got plans in the back of my head, but the minster of fun and finance says no way at the moment - on the principal that I have too many projects at the moment - and a HUGE desire to get a targa top brumby!

Tweety wrote:I've gone back to the vacuum large filter as the standard weber fiter was clogged with dust. sitting behind the radiator dust from a dirt road is blown onto the filter. th large filter with the hose allows for colder cleaner intake air at the side of the radiator and also seals better.

Tony, this would look SICK with a chrome pipe as the intake between the carb and the pod filter

I should also dig up those parts I was talking about! I'll check them out tomorrow - from memory it was the alternator mount, single crank pulley instead of the multi one you've got at the moment, and a power window switch so I can poke my head out the top of the roof again with the convenience of using a switch to open the roof rather than use the wrench thing

Cheers

Bennie

thats the 3 bits Bennie. That'll be great. then in the future will drop by.

you'll ge tthere mate. I've seen some Brumbies in really nice condition...trouble is they seem to be owned by older farming wives and likely never sell em.

will keep my eyes open.

Tweety wrote:thats the 3 bits Bennie. That'll be great. then in the future will drop by.

you'll ge tthere mate. I've seen some Brumbies in really nice condition...trouble is they seem to be owned by older farming wives and likely never sell em.

will keep my eyes open.

I'm keen for the targa brumby with the glass in the roof like Sunnie the Brumby I had at yours

Cheers

Bennie

In my experience old Subaru engines love Iridium spark plugs - I use nothing else in all of mine. The extra cost is more than balanced by the long life and better performance.

The gap of 1.1 is what NGK recommend for these engines too.

I canna say it was I making any recommendation for iridiums as I have never used 'em . In the distant past i think i have tried increased gaps but that makes coil work harder than it needs to at times and may make it poo itself. I use lesser gaps for LPG nowadays.

I wonder if you are a good candidate to source another EA81 and build it up from scratch with 1.0mm (40 thou) oversize pistons and some ported heads, why not polish as well ! A bit of a 'service' grind to up the compression , try a 16/56 cam (seeing as though you tow don't go any wilder like my 20/60)

The crispness of a fresh engine in an EA81 is excellent. It may also be prudent to (where'd I get that word from ?) to ensure you get a solid lifter OZD EA81 not the hydraulic liftered imports due to lifter availability and solids go harder

Thanks for sharing your findings Tweety.
Stepto I have a very similar engine out the back which hasen't fired a shot yet.
It was built for aero use buy my Dad and myself but may find its way into my Brum.

Thanks Revmax.

Steptoe said

"I canna say it was I making any recommendation for iridiums as I have never used 'em . In the distant past i think i have tried increased gaps but that makes coil work harder than it needs to at times and may make it poo itself. I use lesser gaps for LPG nowadays.

I wonder if you are a good candidate to source another EA81 and build it up from scratch with 1.0mm (40 thou) oversize pistons and some ported heads, why not polish as well ! A bit of a 'service' grind to up the compression , try a 16/56 cam (seeing as though you tow don't go any wilder like my 20/60)

The crispness of a fresh engine in an EA81 is excellent. It may also be prudent to (where'd I get that word from ?) to ensure you get a solid lifter OZD EA81 not the hydraulic liftered imports due to lifter availability and solids go harder"


the cam and other work in another ea81 will be considered in a couple of years frankly. have other things on my mind including tweety and guppy going up to Darwin on the Ghan and around the WA coust then back to Vic. There is also the vague thought of building a trike myself with a Hyundai i30 1600 turbo diesel (I have one) but it is a foggy dream. $$$$$

Fitted the 1.1mm iridium plugs. Cant say I noticed anything different except is seemed to rev out easier. Still at 12 degrees. 4mm past the mark on the pulley. then got a msd blaster 2 coil. also no difference except revving our easier still. and the front wheel lifts more meaning getting power down is a little easier. am content now. well of course I'm not....contentment will lead to boredom!!!

I've been busy ordering spacers for under the airbags of the rear suspension. thats due to the high negative camber and inside tyre wear. The suspension isnt adjustable like the beetles irs etc.

oh, and steptoe it wasnt you with the ea81 mods but that baron von chiken knicker guy!!!