best engine upgrade to use with 4speed box

subie_1st_timer · Post by **subie_1st_timer** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:04 am

im gunna have to fit a new engine into the brumby soon. Altho i really like the little ute and do wanna keep it if i cant find a cheap new motor i dunno wat im gunna do

whats the best motor you guys recommend to use with the stock DR 4 speed? EA82T? will it bolt straight up? i think i seen once there is an adapter ring or plate someone makes to fit a EJ motor to the 4 speed?

want something with a little more poke than the EA81 and like something with fuel injection

cheers

Post by **Alex** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:29 am

youll blow the ea81 box pretty quick with anything other than an ea81. Get a ea82 dr box and a ej22. Itll make u very happy.

Alex

subie_1st_timer · Post by **subie_1st_timer** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:35 am

as my name suggests, wat model subies had the ea82 D/r boxs?

with the ej22 they turbo or N/A? dont bother me either way.

will this all bolt in with no mods or whats needed to be done for the conversion?

Subafury · Post by **Subafury** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:54 am

please readhttp://www.ausubaru.com.au/showthread.php?t=980
the ea82 box is from any L series mainly.

subie_1st_timer · Post by **subie_1st_timer** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:05 pm

read the thread... some good info but seems a lot more work and expense than what i was after.
i see the BYB gang have the EJ-EA box adaptors... if the EA box really so weak as been mentioned why offer the conversion? all i wanna do is a simple engine transplant without the hassell of making/changing mounts, tailshafts, making custom cv shafts etc etc. So im guessing the simplest solution is to find or reco another EA81?

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:33 pm

an EJ18 would probably be a good swap mate. Not a huge power upgrade, but definately an improvement. While you're at it though, it's not that much harder to use an EA82 5spd gearbox.

btw, there's no such thing as an easy transplant.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:58 pm

EJ18 is still a pretty huge increase in power...what are they about 90kw compared to the EA81's ~50odd?

If you want a decent engine upgrade go for an EJ motor of some sort. The non turbo ones are a good choice for a very good power upgrade but without going over the top.

Changing an EA81 to an EA82 is hardly an upgrade.
Converting to an EA82turbo is, but probably similar in difficulty to going for an EJ which is generally considered better all round, and just about the same level of difficulty in conversion. (and you have to do the dreaded chassis rail modification which every girl is scared of).

The 5spd EA82 gearboxes are plenty strong for these motors provided you don't thrash the crap out of them. All you need is an adaptor plate and minor mods to the EA flywheel and away you go. Advisable to upgrade the clutch too.

A non turbo EJ conversion (EJ15, EJ18, EJ20, EJ22) really isn't too hard these days with all the support available. If you stick with an EA gearbox you can avoid basically all the more difficult conversion work like custom CVs/driveshafts, tailshaft mods, shifter mods and crossmember mods. You just need the adaptor plate.

The conversion from 4spd EA box to 5spd EA box is quite straight forward, there is a writeup in the tech manual I believe. Agreed the EA81 4spd isn't very strong.

subie_1st_timer · Post by **subie_1st_timer** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:34 am

AndrewT wrote:EJ18 is still a pretty huge increase in power...what are they about 90kw compared to the EA81's ~50odd?

If you want a decent engine upgrade go for an EJ motor of some sort. The non turbo ones are a good choice for a very good power upgrade but without going over the top.

Changing an EA81 to an EA82 is hardly an upgrade.
Converting to an EA82turbo is, but probably similar in difficulty to going for an EJ which is generally considered better all round, and just about the same level of difficulty in conversion. (and you have to do the dreaded chassis rail modification which every girl is scared of).

The 5spd EA82 gearboxes are plenty strong for these motors provided you don't thrash the crap out of them. All you need is an adaptor plate and minor mods to the EA flywheel and away you go. Advisable to upgrade the clutch too.

A non turbo EJ conversion (EJ15, EJ18, EJ20, EJ22) really isn't too hard these days with all the support available. If you stick with an EA gearbox you can avoid basically all the more difficult conversion work like custom CVs/driveshafts, tailshaft mods, shifter mods and crossmember mods. You just need the adaptor plate.

The conversion from 4spd EA box to 5spd EA box is quite straight forward, there is a writeup in the tech manual I believe. Agreed the EA81 4spd isn't very strong.

thanks mate, was basically the info i was hoping for. im gunna go hunt down a ea82 box and a ej (non turbo) and talk to the subie bloke in newcastle (forgot his name tho....justin??? and or the boys at Cardiff subaru) and talk about the conversion with them and $$$. the car wont be thrashed and wont be doing a great amount of 4 wheel driving (not until i get the lift and taller rubber anyway) but even then still be more daily driver/parts run about/weekend getaway car than all out 4wd beast.

anyone have some ideas on prices for engine/box?

The adaptors are around $300 or so?

What clutch is recommended, and I take it it’s to suit a EA82? Price?

Im confused tho, do I have to modify the chassis rail or not with the EJ or, is that only needed for the EA82 motor? (not fused either way)

Also what your saying is when using the ea box with the ej, I can still use my stock driveshafts/cv’s, trans crossmember etc WITHOUT modifying them?

Point · Post by **Point** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:00 pm

if you're not going to do any serious offroading, then the matching EJ AWD box would be the better option. No mucking around with adaptors and clutches, and you get drive to all 4 wheels all of the time. You will have to make a gearbox crossmember anyway. From what i've seen the AWD Libertys seem to go as far offroad as the Ls and MYs with no centre diff.

you won't need to mod chassis rails for a sohc ej.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:18 am

If you leave your original EA81 gearbox you don't need to make any modifications to other driveline components at all. Infact you don't even have to remove the gearbox for the conversion.

If you plan to go offroad then go for the EA82 5spd gearbox. It's arguably the best offroading Subaru gearbox - it has proper low range and a locked centre when 4x4 is engaged, they are cheap to buy, easy to source and will handle a non turbo EJ motor's power very well with sensible driving.
Yes there are some driveline changes required to fit this box - read the guide in the tech manual.

Adaptor plates check the forsale section, there are two threads detailing pricing etc. If you are keen it's very easy to make your own out of Aluminium however ally is getting expensive to buy too.

Clutch, you can get away with using a "heavy duty" EA82 clutch (like what is supplied for use with the EA82turbo motor but this still isn't really good enough and won't last that long. Best to get a custom pressure plate made up to Liberty pressure specifications (about 1700pounds I beleive). This isn't expensive if you can find a clutch place to do it. Cost me about $300 to get one done including a brand new clutch disc.

If your car is going to be primarily for on-road use go the extra mile and convert to AWD EJ gearbox. This is a more involved conversion but also means you don't need a gearbox adaptor plate, and can use a standard EJ clutch, no specially modified ones.

To fit an EJ motor into an MY you DO NOT need to cut the chassis rails - you just need to stick with a SOHC motor (ie, ONE cam per head). It's only the Quad cam EJ motors (two cams per head) which are too wide and need the chassis rails cut/widened. The SOHC motors (the ones which fit) are the most common non-turbo EJ motors.
Yes shitty EA82's also need the rails widened, although these are only SOHC motors it's just the way they are designed which means they ended up quite a wide motor.

Pricing wise, you can pick up an EJ22 with wiring loom and ECU for about $500 with about 200,000kms (still heaps of life left). Don't pay much more than that unless it's got very low kms and a full service history etc.

subie_1st_timer · Post by **subie_1st_timer** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:40 am

AndrewT wrote:If you leave your original EA81 gearbox you don't need to make any modifications to other driveline components at all. Infact you don't even have to remove the gearbox for the conversion.

If you plan to go offroad then go for the EA82 5spd gearbox. It's arguably the best offroading Subaru gearbox - it has proper low range and a locked centre when 4x4 is engaged, they are cheap to buy, easy to source and will handle a non turbo EJ motor's power very well with sensible driving.
Yes there are some driveline changes required to fit this box - read the guide in the tech manual.

Adaptor plates check the forsale section, there are two threads detailing pricing etc. If you are keen it's very easy to make your own out of Aluminium however ally is getting expensive to buy too.

Clutch, you can get away with using a "heavy duty" EA82 clutch (like what is supplied for use with the EA82turbo motor but this still isn't really good enough and won't last that long. Best to get a custom pressure plate made up to Liberty pressure specifications (about 1700pounds I beleive). This isn't expensive if you can find a clutch place to do it. Cost me about $300 to get one done including a brand new clutch disc.

If your car is going to be primarily for on-road use go the extra mile and convert to AWD EJ gearbox. This is a more involved conversion but also means you don't need a gearbox adaptor plate, and can use a standard EJ clutch, no specially modified ones.

To fit an EJ motor into an MY you DO NOT need to cut the chassis rails - you just need to stick with a SOHC motor (ie, ONE cam per head). It's only the Quad cam EJ motors (two cams per head) which are too wide and need the chassis rails cut/widened. The SOHC motors (the ones which fit) are the most common non-turbo EJ motors.
Yes shitty EA82's also need the rails widened, although these are only SOHC motors it's just the way they are designed which means they ended up quite a wide motor.

Pricing wise, you can pick up an EJ22 with wiring loom and ECU for about $500 with about 200,000kms (still heaps of life left). Don't pay much more than that unless it's got very low kms and a full service history etc.

if i do it and keep the vehicle on the road, id still plan to do some 4wd'ing so having the dr ea82 box would be the way id be going with it.

price wise for the EJ's ive seen so far from wreckers and importers has been around $1100, unsure on km tho so im certainly looking in the wrong spot if they only worth around the $500 mark (and more my price range) any suggestions on where to look?

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:35 am

ebay and internet forums.