The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hi guys,

As you all know im doing an EJ conversion in my touring wagon. I got a flywheel that was already hand drilled by matatak. When i took the old EFI 1.8 EA engine i saw that the flywheel i had and the EFI flywheel was different. Its sits lower, that is, it has a few mm less in height when placed on the ground. I think the difference is one is a carby flywheel and the other for an EFI.

I had the EFI flywheel drilled and bought a clutch kit to those spec before i saw the difference and possible issues. But now since its lower im worried that the starter teeth wont reach the flywheel teeth or make noise.

I want to use the EA gearbox on my car.

I heard that the EFI EA gearbox is different. Does that mean the EFI gearbox or EFI starter somehow compensate for that length?

I will be using a 12mm adaptor plate.
What do you guys think? would the difference cause problems or since im using the matching EFI parts its gonna be a perfect fit?

Thankin you in advance
Regards
Guy

I think either should be fine. Matatak's one was probably just skimmed at some point.
Would have been easier to just use his surely?

I got the flywheel bolted and i tested it. It works but the starter teeth only come up about 3mm on the flywheel. I used some paint on the starter teeths to see by how much.

Would that be enough? or will it wear/fail with time?
I know its hard to tell but id apreciate your thoughts.

thx

find a starter drive with one more teeth on it if mite fix it .

guyph_01 wrote:will it wear/fail with time?

You probably know the answer to that one. It won't last forever, but neither will the rest of the car, so I'd say it will be alright.

A few other thoughts:
-Do you already have the adapter plate? Could you make one out of thinner material? Trouble is the gearbox input shaft might then be too close to the crank.
-Have you looked at EJ or EFI L starters? Do they have more axial throw? Is the starter you have throwing out as far as it should?
-Do you have access to a mill, drill press or file (in order of preference)? Redrill your own flywheel.
-Have you asked Matatak how it worked on his car?
-I can't remember exactly what these cars are like, but on some the ring gear is a separate piece to the flywheel - is it possible the ring gear is slightly out of place?

phillatdarwin wrote:find a starter drive with one more teeth on it if mite fix it .

What?

Dane.

thx guys, For now the engine is in and its turning the motor without making any unusual noise. I'll just leave it like that and see what happens.

thx

Don't quote me on this but I think the starter motor spline actually shoots out and engages more when the motor is actually engaged. Just something I suspect but never bothered to confirm so not sure...

AndrewT wrote:Don't quote me on this but I think the starter motor spline actually shoots out and engages more when the motor is actually engaged. Just something I suspect but never bothered to confirm so not sure...

correct! The starter motor should not be engaged with the flywheel when it is not in use - ie when the motor is running or switched off = 99.9% of the vehicle's life.

If you're working out how to get the starter gear to mate to the flywheel while the motor is off you're doing it wrong. Take the starter motor off the gearbox, connect a set of jumper leads to the positive terminal on the starter and the negative to the body of the starter (near a bolt hole will do), put your foot on it, using a wire from the positive terminal (battery or starter) touch the wiring loom's "start wire" pin and you'll see your starter motor in action - just as it starts to rotate the gear on the axle will be thrown out away from the starter motor. This is the point where it engages the flywheel. If its not throwing the gear out then there is something wrong with the mechanism/solenoid.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Bennie