TheSamba.com :: View topic - anyone done the subaru swap or know about it?

Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:41 pm

i know its not orig. or even volkswagen but you cant beat a 227hp daily driver. to have an engine with this power and reliability would be 2 cool. you can put more miles on it, less tinkering, and a lot of times its cheaper, ive seen complete engines new from 4,500-6,100 and thats not including those jap imports with low miles on them they are way cheaper. i am really interested in this swap and was wondering if anyone had any info on it or know where any is please let me know any help would be great.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:53 pm

theres a guy over on the cal look forum that has done that conversion his call sign is 73 notch very noligeible guy give him a shout. jeff d.

Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:08 am

Try these sites...both UK based but informative and specialise in engine conversions

www.tsrdragracers.co.uk
www.vwkd.co.uk

Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:06 am

Do a search in the late model forum I think there is a thread all about one a guy here did.

Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:49 pm

Subys are Awesome

Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:58 pm

It's not exactly a bolt-in, but it is certainly possible and quite a few have done it. Check out aussieveedubbers.com, shoptalkforums.com and germanlook.com for specific subaru conversion information.

George

Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:01 pm

thanks for info, it looks like a job but i bet it will be well worth the trouble!

Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:27 pm

Give a call to Brian Steele at Small Car Performance in Tacoma. www.smallcar.com

Small Car was a well known VW speed shop through the 80's (helped machine my first engine and heads) and ran a bad-ass B/MC 67 drag car.

Now they have switched gears and heavy into the Subaru/VW thing.

Hope this helps....

Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:43 pm

how mcuh would this cost without the engine? with?
estimetes? with...a 67???

not that im going to, just curious

Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:43 am

dog_jr911 wrote: how mcuh would this cost without the engine? with?
estimetes? with...a 67???

not that im going to, just curious

How much do you want to spend?

Cheapskate way, about $1500+engine+a lot of labor

Cadillac way, About $6000 or so.

Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:14 pm

heck, my motor makes 210 hp, runs on pump gas and has 200 ft-lbs of torque, it was less then 6 grand

Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:42 pm

You know I am the T-4 guy, but still love any type of conversion. I just got rid of my wifes 2001 Subaru Forester 80k and nothing but engine problems. Sensors, Heads had to be replaced. Over heating. Just not a reliable engine. If I was going to go water cooled I would think anything else. Did you see the Ariel Atom, Honda engine in the rear. The worlds fastest production car. If you have to do a chop job to get a watercooled engine in, then I would go for one with a single head. Honda RSX Charged, Toyota or even a VW GTI.

Subaru parts are extremely expensive. Why Subaru because it looks like a Water Cooled VW BOXER. If you are going that route think smart. Kennedy may have conversions other trannies. You still have to run water pipes and hack a way for a Radiator. I be the others are even less expensive to get your hands on.

Joe

Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:15 pm

nextgen wrote: You know I am the T-4 guy, but still love any type of conversion. I just got rid of my wifes 2001 Subaru Forester 80k and nothing but engine problems. Sensors, Heads had to be replaced. Over heating. Just not a reliable engine.

OTOH, I see other folks going 250K with Subarus with no problems at all. Like any car, lemons occasionally come along. I know far more people who swear by Subarus than swear at them.

Subaru did identify a problem with head gaskets on 2.5 liter engines made between 1999 and 2002. They issued a bulletin on it that specified the use of "conditioner" in the cooling system and extended the warranty coverage of engines so treated to 8 years/100,000 miles. Engines built after 2002 have been modified. Sounds to me like Subaru did the right thing here, unlike VW who basically told wasserboxer owners that the owners were at fault for their head gasket problems.

Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:00 pm

There always the Wankel (Mazda rotary). KEP makes a kit and it's a proven power plant.

A couple of years ago at the end of the Berg Rally (Classic Weekend) there was a very nice traditional looking cal-looker, but with rotary engine. Seems like it had a single Weber or Dell down draft carb feeding it. Had a custom built fat boy type muffler system and wasn't too loud like some rotary cars can be. Not sure where he put the radiator, but I didn't see it.

Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:43 pm

George there are two engine I personally would not buy again Saab and Subaru. Oh and my tranny went also. That was another failure but it had nothing to do with the conversion so I didn't add it.

You are right Subaru did the right thing. But you don't hear or see similar things happening to Toyotas or Hondas below 100k.

Hay I like reliable.

Joe

Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:01 pm

nextgen wrote: George there are two engine I personally would not buy again Saab and Subaru. Oh and my tranny went also. That was another failure but it had nothing to do with the conversion so I didn't add it.

You are right Subaru did the right thing. But you don't hear or see similar things happening to Toyotas or Hondas below 100k.

Actually, Toyota had a serious oil sludge problems with some of their 1997-2002 four and six cylinder engines that was causing failures as early as 30,000 miles. Toyota maintained that these failures were due to poor owner maintainence even in cases where the owners had carefully kept maintainance records. After a couple of years of stringing customers along, Toyota reversed its position, calling it a "gel" problem and finally made good with the affected customers. They still deny that their design was at fault but the problem magically went away after the 2002 model year.

No manufacturer is immune.

Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:05 am

subaru builds an exceptionally reliable engine, the head gasket failure was 1 in every 60000 units made, subaru engine are more likely screwed up by people who don't know how to work on them, i run a subaru dealership, most subaru dealer service managers have the up front okay to approve 1500.00 in goodwill money on every car out of warranty that is less then 10 years or 100,000 miles, that is standing behind what you sell
I have a subaru wrx that makes 487hp to the wheels and is 4 years old and have 50 road races on it, I am thinking of going suburu in the new dragster

Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:20 am

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=104973&highlight=

Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:03 am

George and Foxracing. Guys what can I say, My list on my 2001 Forester was Wheel Bears, Axles, head gaskets, Transmission, Radio, Rear wiper. Emission Senors. Oh and don't forget to click the gas cap at least 3 clicks or the engine warning light goes on and says on for days. As for the head gaskets I had to find it was a recall on the internet after the car was brought in. Never received a notice that I had to add an additvive to the antifreeze ( that was a joke ). If I didn't put the additive in the head gaskets would disintergrate and it was my fault, come on. This special additive went right to those gaskets and made them bullet proof????. Or maybe just last till the warratee went out or you sold the car so the next guy would pay. As for 1 in 60,000 failures on the head gaskets, well let me do my math. Wow Subaru must have sold a lot of cars - if you go to the rec.auto.makers.subaru I can find 6 guys right off not including myself.
The same for no foward gears on the automatics under 100k

The failure list on my 2002 Toyota Solara with 100k is-- 1 turn signal bulb at 80k.
Ok like you said No manufacturer is immune.

Like a T-4 in a bug OK the Subaru will be pushing nothing so sure it will last long. But the dual heads and belts just don't make things simple.

But you can understand my feelings after all that.

Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:07 pm

Quote: Like a T-4 in a bug OK the Subaru will be pushing nothing so sure it will last long. But the dual heads and belts just don't make things simple.

If dual heads and belts are complex......what about all the stuff you have to do to make decent power out of a type 4 and make it fit into a bug. A conversion is a conversion. Also, arent the type 4 guys trying to make a set of OHC heads?

Quote: heck, my motor makes 210 hp, runs on pump gas and has 200 ft-lbs of torque, it was less then 6 grand

Subarus make that stock and cost 850 bucks. They used to be 650 :cry:

Quote: Cheapskate way, about $1500+engine+a lot of labor

You calling me a Cheapskate? lol, ok ok, i am.

-Ryan