EA82 worth rebuilding?

fishboy · Post by **fishboy** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:03 pm

G'day all.

I've got a pair of old L series wagons (one will be for spares), both engines run okay but each have ~450,000kms. They seem to be getting quite tired and gutless with such mileage on them.

I was thinking - maybe I could drop the engine out of one and set out having it reconditioned/rebuilt. What do you think? I know a lot of people have said just to stick the much more modern EJ22 in it, but I kind of like the simplicity and ease-of-understanding that comes with the old carby motor (I'm slowly teaching myself the basics of car maintenance & repair).

Thoughts?

And any idea how much such a rebuild might cost?

mud_king91 · Post by **mud_king91** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:56 pm

to do it your self i think my last rebuild hit 1500 so it depends on what you do how you do it and if you do it yourself but i think 600- 1000 is normal i think... iv never rebuilt a flat

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:10 pm

Mud_King91, What was some of the things you spent the money on? Machining? Parts?
Kinda wondering how much i might pay for the EA81 rebuild.

mud_king91 · Post by **mud_king91** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:31 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:Mud_King91, What was some of the things you spent the money on? Machining? Parts?
Kinda wondering how much i might pay for the EA81 rebuild.

i was in a head shop at the time so all head and regrind/machining was free or heavily discounted... Otherwise it was 600 for conrods (i bent them) 300 for pistons/rings 180 for a vrs gasket kit 120 for bearings 220 for a turbo and then just consumables

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:50 pm

compare a rebuilt EA82 to a used EJ and should be better off.

If you are gonna assemble it with bits done by machine shop, rebore, new pistons etc, heads done, new water pump timing belt kit - likely to be about 1500 and less depending on where you buy bits - US ?

mud_king91 · Post by **mud_king91** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:26 pm

steptoe wrote:compare a rebuilt ea82 to a used ej and should be better off.

If you are gonna assemble it with bits done by machine shop, rebore, new pistons etc, heads done, new water pump timing belt kit - likely to be about 1500 and less depending on where you buy bits - us ?

fleabay!!!!!

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:54 am

call a local machine shop, they can give you a price for a rebore, hone, crank linish is usually all that is needed, head service plus possible guides, valves etc.

The cruncher for EA82 is the HVLA (lifters) mad not to renew. Can be up to $45 each times 8 ! A guy in the US Mizpah can reco them at about $5 each plus about $20 post and handling but need to post yours to him as he is low on cores, or was.

Venom · Post by **Venom** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 9:06 am

A rebuild might not fix the sluggishness. Thats probably got more to do with the condition of the ignition components and the carburettor and there's not much point rebuilding a motor and then putting a 20 year old carburettor on top of it. I reckon' you'd want to get all of that sort of stuff in top condition and working as best as possible, then if the motor really shits itself then get it rebuilt. You might find its not work getting the carb done, in which case it's not really worth getting the motor rebuilt.

fishboy · Post by **fishboy** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:36 pm

Thanks Venom - I didn't realise that it could be the carby / ignition causing the sluggishness. It makes sense that I should go over these first.

I cleaned the points and replaced the plugs - is there more to servicing the ignition than this?

And where to begin with the carburetta? Is it easy enough to pull apart and service with the help of the workshop manual - or am I better off taking it to an expert?

mud_king91 · Post by **mud_king91** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:22 pm

carbs can be complex but nothing a camera cant fix as for ignition try advancing it a little bit

mud_king91 · Post by **mud_king91** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:24 pm

try some pro strength carb cleaner or a brake fluid water mix