1970 Subaru FF-1 Project car

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:15 pm

Well I got the tank installed, but still didn't finish the fuel pipe. When thats done, I'll take some more pics.

While I've got the suspension off, I'm going to lower it so even more pics after that :p

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:43 pm

Fuel tank installed:

Still needs more plumbing of course, but that will come later when the drivetrain is in.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:37 pm

Got my engine/transmission mounts sorted out finally. I ended up just putting bolts straight through in order to attach the rubber along with some sticky stuff to hold the bushings in place just enough. Its pretty sturdy, I stood on the motor and jumped up and down to make sure it was solid, LOL!

Anyway, I'm leaving the rear transmission mount alone for now. I still haven't figured out which transmission I have to use. I figure now I can deal with the rear transmission mount not being attached because I discovered it really doesn't do much and I can install it later or have one custom made if I use the frankenstein transmission I built.

I'm still not 100% sure the frankentranny will work, I still have to figure out what to do about the clutch spline and whether or not the larger spline will work with the throwout bearing and even if the flywheel has the correct number of bolt holes for the motor. I'll check more of this in the next couple days. I REALLY don't want to rebuild the original transmission... Its going to take alot of work to make it look pretty.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:13 pm

OK, I have some serious drivetrain issues I need to figure out before I can continue...

1) Bellhousing issue #1: The original bellhousing will bolt onto the 1400 block BUT there is a 1mm gap of open space when installed meaning it doesn't seal properly and oil will shoot out and also not being sealed might mean less structural reinforcement.

2) Bellhousing issue #2: The original bellhousing is 16mm narrower than the 1400 bellhousing, which means in order to use the 1400 bellhousing, I have to move the front engine mounts 16mm farther forward (I figured out how to do this, but I'm concerned about the effects on the engine mounts and drivetrain weight distribution)

3) Flywheel: The 1400 engine has a 8 bolt attachment point for the flywheel, the original flywheel is a 6-bolt (but the 1400 flywheel is 8-bolt). The original flywheel only fits in the original bellhousing because its ALSO narrower than the 1400 flywheel by 16mm. If I somehow could use the original bellhousing, I'd either have to swap the mounting point for the flywheel with the original one (Can't do that myself) or have a custom flywheel made (also can't do myself).

4) Clutch: The original clutch has a smaller spline than the main shaft of the transmission I built (main shaft from a '83 FWD). So to use the transmission I built, I need either a custom made clutch of the right size or to swap the spline somehow. It does appear to fit the 1400 flywheel just fine, but I'm not sure about it due to the 16mm depth difference.

5) Transmission: The transmission I built I discovered several issues with...
#1 The clutch/mainshaft issue as mentioned.
#2 The rear housing is ~5" longer than the original rear housing, meaning the shifter assembly will move ~5" farther back inside the car.
#3 Also due to the rear housing, the transmission mount location is different, meaning I need some sort of custom job in there.
#4 Lastly, just discovered today, the actual connection point to the shifter assembly is 45 degrees in the other direction from the original transmission, meaning the shifter assembly won't connect correctly.

So basically, I have to either re-assemble the old transmission to bypass the transmission/clutch problems but end up with the original extremely high gearing, or have a custom clutch, transmission mount, AND shifter linkage made :unamused:

And the engine/flywheel, I'm just not sure about. The easiest solution is to move the motor mounts forward and use the 1400 flywheel/bellhousing, but I'm not certain how they will work with the original transmission. I'm not going to even try to rebuild the old engine. The other option is to have the original bellhousing modified to fit the motor, and a custom flywheel made.

My biggest problem right now is being unemployed, so the cheapest options are the best but often the most difficult and I don't have anyone helping me in-person with anything so its difficult to make decisions on the fly and not make huge mistakes (I'm sure I've made some mistakes I don't know about yet, it seems for everyone one thing I do I end up making 2 mistakes I have to fix).

Keep in mind I still have to have the heads rebuilt, and shave them in order to use the Weber manifold which might have adverse effects on compression that I'm uncertain as to the consequences about...

fuldamobil · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:18 am

Hey, this is the guy with the wagon again. Do you happen to have a parts book with part #'s? Also, how could I get that valance from you? I'm starting to get to work on the car. I managed to find one right front brake cylinder on Ebay like you got. Still waiting for the other front one and the master.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:04 pm

fuldamobil wrote:

Hey, this is the guy with the wagon again. Do you happen to have a parts book with part #'s? Also, how could I get that valance from you? I'm starting to get to work on the car. I managed to find one right front brake cylinder on Ebay like you got. Still waiting for the other front one and the master.

PMed you!

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:51 pm

These should better illustrate some of the problems:

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Mon May 09, 2011 12:37 pm

Good news!

Just ordered a custom clutch plate

I'm working on assembling the front brakes now along with the misc. bits attached to the transmission. Next up after finishing that, having the head work done and swapping the camshaft and then assembling the drivetrain and installing it

john · **Posted:** Mon May 09, 2011 5:15 pm

Sweet! Can't wait to see it finally move under it's own power. :mrgreen:

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Mon May 09, 2011 7:18 pm

Still a ways away from that... But Its getting there at a reasonable pace now.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Tue May 10, 2011 5:07 pm

The clutch I'm getting is going to have to be a solid-disc clutch (IE not sprung), anyone thing thats going to be a huge issue?

john · **Posted:** Tue May 10, 2011 7:35 pm

Kostamojen wrote:

The clutch I'm getting is going to have to be a solid-disc clutch (IE not sprung), anyone thing thats going to be a huge issue?

What do you mean by "issue"? It'll be stiff, and "touchy", but also grab very well. Ever driven a car with a "race" clutch?

If it's not your daily driver, I think it'll be alright once you get used to it. :tu:

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Tue May 10, 2011 9:55 pm

My Impreza had an ACT clutch and lightweight flywheel for 6 years or so, so ya. It was a sprung clutch though, so I'm curious about the difference.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2011 7:33 pm

Ran into a little problem assembling the front brakes...

One of the spring pin caps was missing, and are unavailable as far as I can find and nothing else matches so far. So I tested out a cap and spring from a late model car (2000+) and the pin is the same width so the cap fits fine but its a bit close to the shoe and I don't know what will happen running different springs like this:

Also, took a couple other photos of the rebuild transmission and axles I also assembled:

My one concern with the axles are that the boots near the hub connection are from a later 70's car and aren't 100% the same, they don't seem to like to turn as well as the original ones did. I saved the original ones just in case.

john · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2011 8:08 pm

Kostamojen wrote:

So I tested out a cap and spring from a late model car (2000+) and the pin is the same width so the cap fits fine but its a bit close to the shoe and I don't know what will happen running different springs

Should make zero difference. The pin will flex to the inside if need be. :tu:

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2011 8:56 pm

Awesome. I didn't think it would matter too much since it doesn't actually do anything other than hold the shoe on.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2011 7:58 pm

So I split the block tonight to get the camshaft off...

Glad I did, the sealant used on this thing is crap, and there are a TON of metal shavings! I'll get it cleaned out.

Oh, and its SOOO much easier taking apart a brand new block vs. old and rusted :p

Yesterday I got my new engine mounts... They are actually from Landrovers! They are the PERFECT size for my car and what I'm doing. I'm using these instead of the read urethane blocks I had cause they have metal discs on top and bottom giving extra support to the mounts and how I had to change them because of the wider bellhousing.

Toyohead · **Posted:** Sat May 21, 2011 2:50 pm

Wow what a nice rebuilt and car

john · **Posted:** Sat May 21, 2011 5:36 pm

Kostamojen wrote:

Awesome. I didn't think it would matter too much since it doesn't actually do anything other than hold the shoe on.

Interestingly enough, they are basically only there to hold the shoes in place until you get the drum on. Once the drum is on they do very little.

Kostamojen · **Posted:** Sat May 21, 2011 6:53 pm

Ya, thanks for the advise on that, saved me a ton of hassle.

However, now I have an oilpan issue

I was going to use the original 1100 oil pan cause its designed to fit under the car correctly, but the oil pickup turned out to be NARROWER which means I can't use it.

The 1400/1600 oil pan/pickups I have are huge in comparison, and will stick out under the front of the car quite a bit, and the pickups are longer too of course...

So I either have to use the 1400/1600 pan and pickup, or use the 1100 pan with a modified 1400/1600 pickup.

Anyone know how to do brazing?

1970 Subaru FF-1 Project car

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