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Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:37 pm

Hello, just wondering what the difference was between this engine and a WRX powerplant for a vanagon?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33615&item=7986252727
Also, is this a good price for this engine?
Thanks
-Bob

Sat Jul 16, 2005 6:31 pm

wrx is turbo and has less low end grunt.....as far as that ad tho....it looks like they're trying to mislead people. It says KIT as if it's ready to go into your van, but there's no kit included, just the engine,WTF!

Sat Jul 16, 2005 7:01 pm

I see that now -about the ad being a bit misleading. Thanks for the input!

Sat Jul 16, 2005 7:18 pm

Not so sure it is totally misleading. Kit might be used a little loosely but...it does come with the harness and ECU..etc..... Its a huge jump start if you are considering a swap. Those items can be expensive.

Sat Jul 16, 2005 8:54 pm

I have seen these auctions a few times in the last year. It freaks me out that they don't say what the mileage is. I installed an 3.3 in my van last year and have messed around with a few of these things now, and they have a bad oil consumption problem especially at high miles. SO, be careful, you can actually search car-part.com and find plenty of yards nationwide that will give you a comparable deal. To make a comment related to a similar post about cost and stuff, I did my whole conversion for $3500, but I did a lot of it my way. Also, this auction should be described more as an "SVX engine kit" than a "conversion kit" because it's not gonna adapt itself to your van. You're gonna need to buy, make, or modify a lot of parts. Thw WRX is a beast, but more suited to a lighter van like a Carat or Wolfsburg. It lacks the low end required to move a heavy camper or worse a Syncro camper. Liable to blow that little 2 liter to bits. The WRX requires almost complete fabrication to fit. No one makes parts for it besides the basic KEP plate, which is the same as for the other model Subarus. The WRX even requires moving the slave cylinder bracket. Don't consider this conversion if you can not fabricate.

Sat Jul 16, 2005 10:00 pm

Subaru/vanagon yahoo group is a good place to learn about this stuff. A 2004 2.5 has 165 usable HP. A friend, here in knoxville, has one.

Sat Jul 16, 2005 10:19 pm

I wouldn't mess with the 2.5 unless you know what you're doing. You're getting into the obd 1 or 2 there, and more important, that phase 1 (or is it 2?)engine has the warped head issue. You don't want to buy an engine and then find that. The 1991-1994 2.2 engines are almost indestructable! I've got one in my 86. which im in the process of selling..........hate to let it go.

Sun Jul 17, 2005 6:56 am

[quote] Quote: I wouldn't mess with the 2.5 unless you know what you're doing. You're getting into the obd 1 or 2 there, and more important, that phase 1 (or is it 2?)engine has the warped head issue.

The 96-99 2.5l is a DOHC phase 1 With head gasket issues, exhaust gas into coolant. 2000-2004 phase 2 SOHC. Unless there was severe overheating the heads don't usually warp, depends how soon it is diagnosed and gaskets replaced or "just a few more miles and then I'll do it"

Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:51 pm

don't mean head gasket....head warp. That first 2.5 had a design flaw that allowed air to be trapped in the coolant by the head if it wasn't bled properly, and then 10 seconds is all it took to warp the heads. 1500$

Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:09 pm

levi wrote: The 1991-1994 2.2 engines are almost indestructable! I've got one in my 86. which im in the process of selling..........hate to let it go.

Hey Levi,
what is your mpg like in the '86 and 2.2 subaru?
how many miles have you put on it since doing the swap into the van? and i'm assuming it is very nice to drive?

thanks, i've been looking for something just like this.

Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:39 am

The suby is amazing....it gets about 3 mpg better than the stock wbx, and has gobs of power. How do you figure that?? It's been about 2 years I guess. I'm going for an 89 syncro westy and having a 3.3 svx put into it, so its adios to the 86. And yes, it's great driving it, but honestly, as much of a difference that the engine made, the wheels/tires/suspension did even more for the handling. Just put it on ebay tonight if you want to see what was done to it.....