Rocky Mountain Westy SVX conversion journal

ZimZam · Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:56 pm Post subject:

OMG. I gotta go take a cold shower! Shocked

As the Robert Palmer song says (and you're probably to young to remember it), "She's so fine/there's not tellin' where the money went."
The song is called Simply Irresistible. The song describes that baby so eloquently. Check it out on youtube. Easy on the eyes too.
_________________
'85 Cabriolet (Margo)
'87 Westy (Heidi)
'75 Porsche 911S Targa

"Nobody trusts anyone, or why did they put tilt on a pinball machine.”
- Steve McQueen
"It's just metal, when rusted and dented , anything you will do will be better. Stop being afraid. What they (VW) did many year ago is not better then what you will do now." -Ben

idahoskier · Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:27 pm Post subject:

_________________
85 Westy w/ 2.2L Subaru
91 Westy w/ 2.5L Subaru - sold

Rubber Tramp · Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject:

Here's the tachometer I'm using... I've always liked the race style tachs and I think it goes well with the 3.3 Cool

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

It has amber lighting, looks really cool. I'll get a night shot later on.
_________________
1985 SVX powered Westy - soon to be converted to syncro

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382910
^^^Rocky Mountain Westy SVX rebuild and conversion^^^

Rubber Tramp · Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:17 pm Post subject:

Finally got around to wrapping up the harness.

wired in a vehicle speed sensor simulator from here: http://www.enginewiring.com/catalog.htm
this eliminates the need for the mechanical speed sensor.

The engine is FINALLY COMPLETE!!!! well... almost... minus the throttle body. Turns out the butterflies are not perfect circles, they have a very slight oval shape. This is making it harder than normal to machine the butterflies within spec but will hopefully be complete this weekend.

It's probably safe to say at this point that I'll be turning the key in a week, two weeks max Cool

_________________
1985 SVX powered Westy - soon to be converted to syncro

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382910
^^^Rocky Mountain Westy SVX rebuild and conversion^^^

Rubber Tramp · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 1:54 pm Post subject:

BIG update this time!

The engine is finally installed! woo! Cool

RMW engine/trans adapter plate and studs:

RMW flywheel:

clutch disk and Stage 2 pressure plate. I used a homemade tool for the pilot alignment... well that didn't work too well, it wasn't aligned correctly so of course the trans shaft wouldn't go in. Next I bolted the pressure plate up loosely where the disk could be moved. Then I bolted the trans up loosely and torqued the pressure plate bolts through the starter hole... worked perfectly!

Trans drain plug:

I had a bit of a scare, and now I'm a bit worried... two chucks of metal fell out of the trans drain hole, they look to be parts of a bracket. There's another piece inside the trans that is too big to fit through the hole and I did everything I could to get it out without taking the bellhousing off. I really don't want to take the bellhousing off right now so I set it where it would attach to the magnet on the drain plug and hopefully it will stay there for awhile (not toooooo worried because I'm getting a syncro trans soon anyways).

Here's the SR0408X gear-reduction TDI starter, and the necessary adapter plate from Westy Ventures:

ahhhhhh look!!!! Very Happy

the beast has found it's way home:

and she likes it here:

It was a bit** getting this motor in! My dad and I spent probably two or three hours trying to get everything lined up and bolted in.

Here's the RMW carrier bar mounts...

rear mount, holes need to be drilled for those two bolts:

opposite side of the rear mount, bolts into the stock mount location:

front mount, bolts into existing holes:

front mount:

and with the carrier bar installed...
rear mount:

front mount:

RMW intake:

RMW air filter:

It has a slip fit design:

Alright that's all for now. I have Sunday and Monday off from work and am hoping to get everything finished those two days. The key should be turned VERY soon!
_________________
1985 SVX powered Westy - soon to be converted to syncro

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382910
^^^Rocky Mountain Westy SVX rebuild and conversion^^^

Franklinstower · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:01 pm Post subject:

I saw you are using the Enginewiring.com VSS simulator.

I used that on my EJ22. It worked great for the first few months, then I started having idle issues. The idle would hunt and fluctuate when I stopped at lights etc. It was very annoying. After reading about how the ECU "Learns" certain inputs, and from others on the Yahoo group that had similar idle issues, I became convinced it was the VSS - So I switched to Small Cars mechanical VSS. All of my idle problems went away went away almost immediately. Definately by the time I finished that tank of gas.

The simulator sends a constant signal to the ECU telling it you are always going 50 mph (or something like that). I think the ECU through its "learning" eventually messed up the idle circuit. The mechanical VSS tells the ECU actual speeds, and according to my B10 Scan tool, it is pretty accurate too. But the fluctuations in speed is what the ECU wants to see, not a constant like the simulator.

So be forwarned, if your SVX has idle issues down the road, You may want to try a mechanical VSS.

Paul
_________________
'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug

wasserbox · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:26 pm Post subject:

ZimZam · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject:

Just when I was needin' another hit, along you come and hook me up! Nice work dude. Like that blacked out manifold. Sa-weet!
_________________
'85 Cabriolet (Margo)
'87 Westy (Heidi)
'75 Porsche 911S Targa

"Nobody trusts anyone, or why did they put tilt on a pinball machine.”
- Steve McQueen
"It's just metal, when rusted and dented , anything you will do will be better. Stop being afraid. What they (VW) did many year ago is not better then what you will do now." -Ben

ZimZam · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject:

Rubber Tramp · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject:

zimzam

Paul, thanks for the heads up.
Has anyone else experienced idle issues with a speed sensor simulator?

Wasserbox, I wouldn't necessarily call it a problem, just a hassle... It's a very tight and precise fit. The way the motor was hooked up to the hoist made the LH side sag a few inches below the RH side, this is what caused it to take so long. It needs to be lined up perfectly for it to be bolted down.
_________________
1985 SVX powered Westy - soon to be converted to syncro

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382910
^^^Rocky Mountain Westy SVX rebuild and conversion^^^

blakeck2 · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 12:07 am Post subject:

insyncro · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:16 am Post subject:

RT,
That trans looks way too junkyard compared to that super clean motor.
Yikes. That oil plug is ugly too.
Go Syncro man!!!

Just teezin', looks really good.
I look forward to the next update.

dylan

Rubber Tramp · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:32 am Post subject:

insyncro · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:16 am Post subject:

Your time will come.
I just purchased another Syncro this morning.
Not sure whether it will be a restore or parts van.
I have to see it live to make that choice.

I have two Syncros being shipped in the coming weeks that are going to be donors for 2wd to Syncro conversions.
It is really becoming popular to do such.

If you are looking for a Syncro 7 pass. to add a top too, I will have something for sure.
I don't part the Syncro Westys, to valuable as a whole.

Safe travels and easy going on your move!
I too will be moving my personal shop to a new locaton this spring.
BIG move for me.

dylan

HeftySmurf · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:33 am Post subject:

All I can say is wow.....Very nice Laughing

_________________
-Lorenzo
90 GL w/ Bostig

Krautwagen · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:33 pm Post subject:

Rubber Tramp · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject:

Hey Dylan, I'm really only looking for a syncro donor for now, I really want my 2wd westy to become a syncro svx westy. Thanks and good luck on your big move! Where's the new location?

And thank you heftysmurf Very Happy

I LOVE what you have done to your van!!

Krautwagen, good luck with your donor hunting! I hope I don't end up taking the one you want... I won't be too far from you. I probably won't start until summer though, I need to pay down my conversion bills first, so you still have some time Wink

Welllllll, I wasn't going to post this but I thought I would so maybe someone else wouldn't make the same mistake as me. There were three roll pins that came with my RMW goodies and I couldn't find anything that they went to so I assumed it was something insignificant. Well I found out today that they need to be pressed into the flywheel to keep the pressure plate aligned. And as you can tell from the pictures I've already installed the engine/trans Twisted Evil

Mike and I think I'll be able to remove the starter and press them through the pressure plate and into the flywheel without dropping the trans, hopefully it'll be that simple! I'll find out tomorrow morning.

...just another minor setback. I'm still planning on turning the key in a few days!
_________________
1985 SVX powered Westy - soon to be converted to syncro

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382910
^^^Rocky Mountain Westy SVX rebuild and conversion^^^

insyncro · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:51 pm Post subject:

Been there.
You will work it out.

Wellington · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:35 am Post subject:

RT, had your first drive yet?

Rubber Tramp · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:00 am Post subject:

Today might be the big day!

I had some setbacks, and with a crazy work schedule I haven't had much time to devote. But Saturday was my very last day of work until I get to Colorado so I've been able to work non stop these last two days. All I need is a return power steering hose ( Twisted Evil

guy at the auto shop gave me a heater hose instead), figure out where to make the connections on the rear heater, connect a few wires, fill all the fluids, and hope that my battery is still alive after these 4 months.

keep your fingers crossed! I'm feeling pretty confident everything is going to work properly.
_________________
1985 SVX powered Westy - soon to be converted to syncro

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382910
^^^Rocky Mountain Westy SVX rebuild and conversion^^^


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Rocky Mountain Westy SVX conversion journal
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