TheSamba.com :: View topic - Something Truly Idiotic: Subaru install!!!

Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:40 pm

very sharp. i wish i could have a touch of skills like that. good luck the rest of the way. i'll make sure to keep and eye out for the progress!

Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:15 pm

Thanks again guys! I'm a stay-at-home-dad so you would think that I would have LOTS of time to get this thing on the road, huh? WRONG!!!
It's very difficult to get things like done sometimes but it will get done. I will be sure to keep updating as things progress.

Although many of the major things are done, quite few time consuming things still need to be done. The engine cradle and post turbo exhaust are next. Those two things kind of have to coincide since they both try to take up the same space on the drivers side. Then it will be on to the gauge cluster. After that there isn't anything else I can do without pullling the van in a ripping out the old, tired 1.9.

As far as the header, yes, it will be coated.

Hey Bryan, is that you? You know, "Bryan" from the other site? If so, it's good to see you here. How are things with your conversion?

Eric, a TURBO T3 get together would be really cool. It is amazing how many of them are running around in the NW. Your first WRX Vanagon is what prompted me to do mine. My van is kind of a turd body wise but hey, it looks less conspicuous that way, huh?

Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:16 pm

I have seen countless "previous owner did it" engine conversions in my life time, and almost always they are a freaking nightmare to deal with. Your commitment to doing it "right" ought to be required viewing for all considering such an endeavor.

Keep up the good work!

Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:42 pm

Amazing

Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:57 pm

Loogy is crazy! I've known him for a large portion of my life and has always surpirsed me in what he thinks of.

He's the one who pushed me over the edge when it comes to cars. And thanks to him, I have a cut up Chopped Beetle that sits in my garage!

I BOW TO YOU!
:twisted:

Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:19 pm

Hmmm... I know I'm crazy, but I distinctly remember on this thread seeing pics of a custom fire extinguisher holder that Loogy had fabbed up. Where did they go?

Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:30 pm

are you shure your not thinking about the project over on the Vortex ? I know that guy has shots of a fire extinguisher mounted on the seat pod.

Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:44 pm

I was kidding about the fire extinguisher holder. Loogy had fabbed up a SS muffler mount but now the pics are gone.

Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:39 pm

Looks like we lost a bunch of stuff in the crash. Here are the lost photos plus some new ones.

Muffler mount:

Post turbo exhaust. All stainless:

The exhaust still needs the welding finished. It's just tacked for now. The reason that I am waiting to weld it is because I have made a change to my plan. I have decided to run an RJES ( http://www.rjes.com/ ) bellhousing instead. This will change the length just slightly due to the elimination of the adapter.

My reasons are twofold. Nothing against the people who manufacture the adapters but RJES' bellhousing is a much better solution from an engineering and strength standpoint. The RJES bellhousing allows me to use the stock Subaru flywheel, pressure plate and starter. Which brings me to my biggest reason for changing from the adapter - the clutch!

The Subaru Sti uses a 240mm clutch set-up which is quite a bit larger than the stock Vangon's 228mm clutch. In the future, I plan on steadily increasing the power output of my engine to hopefully fulfill my goal of having a 400whp (450-475hp at the crank) Vanagon. I need the clutch to be able to support that much power. There are 228mm clutches out there that can support that kind of power but they are nowhere near street friendly. Because I can use the Subaru based clutch components, I will have a much wider selection of pressure plates and flywheels. The clutch disk will be a custom piece that RJES supplies.

If a person was using a normally aspirated Subaru engine, the RJES bellhousing provides the same ability to use the stock Subaru flywheel, pressure plate and starter. The non STi Subarus use a 225 or 230mm clutch. The stock VW 228mm clutch disk works with either of these and street friendy heavy duty 228mm VW clutch disks are available through the aftermarket.

I just ordered the bellhousing on Tuesday. I'll post some pictures of it when it arrives.

Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:53 pm

that thing is looking pissed! hOLY CRAP MAN. Nice work.

Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:10 pm

Oh damn! And 400+ horsepower! :shock: So hot!

Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:18 pm

I can't get this stupid look off my face loogy! You and Eric D. (check out the www.vwvortex.com in the Vans/Transporters section) have totally made my simple 2.2L subaru conversion look like a drop in the bucket.

Nice work, keep the pictures and progress shots coming. I love this stuff!

Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:28 pm

I'm sorry if this was already covered, but what year/model are you putting this thing in? Incredi!

Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:16 pm

you've taken care of getting the power to the transmission, but how are you planning on getting the power through the transmission? (boom?)

Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:33 pm

Is that going to take the muffin for the "World's Fastest Vanagon"? Definitely in the running.

Go big or go home.... I think I hear my mama callin'.

Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:09 pm

rs4-380 wrote: you've taken care of getting the power to the transmission, but how are you planning on getting the power through the transmission? (boom?)

I think that a UN-1 from Denmark is on it's way.

Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:03 pm

That loop around the axle is something special.

Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:55 pm

klepic wrote: Loogy is crazy!

Look who's talkin'! :D

picklestein wrote: I'm sorry if this was already covered, but what year/model are you putting this thing in? Incredi!

It's going into my '84 turd daily driver.

rs4-380 wrote: you've taken care of getting the power to the transmission, but how are you planning on getting the power through the transmission? (boom?)

The plan is to run a European 5 speed with a Peloquin diff. and a 4.14 r&p from Europe. With uprated 3rd and 4th, the TB diff. and the stronger r&p, it should survive just fine. I'm usually pretty easy on trannies, no side stepping the clutch, smooth shifts, etc, so I'm not too worried about it.

fuzzymath wrote:
That loop around the axle is something special.

Yeah, it's kind of sexy lookin', in a mechanical sort of way, huh?

I didn't want the exhaust to have to make a super sharp turn right after the turbo so going around the axle was a good alternative. Plus, I kind of like the way it looks (like anybody will be able to see it once it's installed).

Anybody want to buy a new adapter with a stage II Kennedy pressure plate?

.

Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:13 am

340-700 HP..just in case anybody hasn't seen this site www.xcceleration.com ...makes for an interesting read

Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:16 am

loogy wrote:
Anybody want to buy a new adapter with a stage II Kennedy pressure plate?

pm sent