TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:12 pm

which is the best subaru engine that I can put in my '90 westy in Ca that is legal? and where is the close and best place to have it done? I live in San Jose area in Ca. thanks

Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:15 pm

Dude,

A 1990 to 1994 EJ22 (2.2 liter) is the ONLY Subaru engine the State of California legally granted a CARB exemption (Executive Order # D-428-1) for placing in a Vanagon/Transporter. In order to obtain the CARB exemption "plaque" you have to order the majority of the conversion parts from Kennedy Engineered Products in Southern California. With the exemption you can simply drive the vehicle to your local smog check station when registration time comes.

http://www.kennedyeng.com/

Good luck.

Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:31 pm

but that doesn't stop people from having the others legally approved too, just a little more difficult. I know of a 2.5 legally registered in a syncro in santa barbara, and a 3.0 there too.
Also 1995 2.2 obd 1 dual port exhaust, nobody is going to know it's not a 90-94. I just swapped out my tired old 91 with one of those.

Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:37 pm

levi wrote: but that doesn't stop people from having the others legally approved too, just a little more difficult. I know of a 2.5 legally registered in a syncro in santa barbara, and a 3.0 there too.
Also 1995 2.2 obd 1 dual port exhaust, nobody is going to know it's not a 90-94. I just swapped out my tired old 91 with one of those.

True..true....and true......the 2.2 is the path of least resistance....that's about it....

Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:01 pm

levi wrote: but that doesn't stop people from having the others legally approved too, just a little more difficult. I know of a 2.5 legally registered in a syncro in santa barbara, and a 3.0 there too.
Also 1995 2.2 obd 1 dual port exhaust, nobody is going to know it's not a 90-94. I just swapped out my tired old 91 with one of those.
In CA without out a pressurized fuel system, it is hard to believe those others are really legally done.

Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:08 pm

You also don't need to build the conversion from Kennedy parts to pass the BAR referee's exam. I built mine from a variety of sources---Small Car, Outback to name a few. If you are in San Jose, I would recommend the Alameda BAR referee. He is a very reasonable guy. Make sure ALL your emissions stuff is Subie---canister, fuel filter and airbox/filter. Do not mix and match VW parts for the emissions. He didn't care what I had for an exhaust or CAT. I installed a check engine light in place of my OXS dash light and had no codes when I did the exam. That impressed him. Stick with a 2.2 motor first. 2.5s are getting passed but its still risky---same as 3.3s.

Seth at Vanperformance (H&R) in Santa Barbara is the closest shop but there may be individuals in NoCal that might do it for you. Vanperformance does very good work.

Join the Subaru/Vanagon yahoo list and start looking for help and asking questions there.

Jeff

Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:13 pm

izzydog wrote: You also don't need to build the conversion from Kennedy parts to pass the BAR referee's exam. I built mine from a variety of sources---Small Car, Outback to name a few. If you are in San Jose, I would recommend the Alameda BAR referee. He is a very reasonable guy. Make sure ALL your emissions stuff is Subie---canister, fuel filter and airbox/filter. Do not mix and match VW parts for the emissions. He didn't care what I had for an exhaust or CAT. I installed a check engine light in place of my OXS dash light and had no codes when I did the exam. That impressed him. Stick with a 2.2 motor first. 2.5s are getting passed but its still risky---same as 3.3s.

Seth at Vanperformance (H&R) in Santa Barbara is the closest shop but there may be individuals in NoCal that might do it for you. Vanperformance does very good work.

Join the Subaru/Vanagon yahoo list and start looking for help and asking questions there.

Jeff

If you use the Kennedy "kit" then you avoid the BAR referee altogether. You pass GO and go straight to jail...I mean your local Smog Check Station.

Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:09 pm

I've met a couple of unnamed sources that simply just don't go to a referee and haven't had problems for years.

I've also seen (online) a couple of SVX conversions with CARB stickers.

Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:25 am

ChesterKV wrote:

If you use the Kennedy "kit" then you avoid the BAR referee altogether. You pass GO and go straight to jail...I mean your local Smog Check Station.

Sorry to burst your bubble on this one, .....this is a popular rumor....but it just isn't consistently true.

99% of smog stations don't have a clue what an executive order is, so the KEP plaque doesn't get you a free pass. Yes...you may get through sometimes but defenitely not all the time...my guess is one time in five tries......and if you should ever want to sell your van, you can give no assurances to the buyer.

The bar code sticker you get from the referee is the only guarantee of an easy time at your neighborhood smog shop. It's not hard to get.

Warren

Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:50 am

warren C wrote:
The bar code sticker you get from the referee is the only guarantee of an easy time at your neighborhood smog shop. It's not hard to get.

I've also heard of specific "Subaru Vanagon Friendly" smog test stations that turn a blind eye to conversions and other shops that simply don't have the intelligence to care.

Also, I've heard of taking a EJ25 block and putting EJ22 heads on it, which looks identical to an EJ22... but with a significant boost in horsepower (unbeknownst to the ref).

And - by the way - Warren C is "the man" when it comes to the topic of Subaru Vanagon stuff... seriously!

Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:49 am

warren C wrote:

....and if you should ever want to sell your van .......

Blasphemy....

Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:44 am

[quote="westy81"] warren C wrote:

Also, I've heard of taking a EJ25 block and putting EJ22 heads on it, which looks identical to an EJ22... but with a significant boost in horsepower

Yeah, I almost just went this route. Decided to just go with a whole jdm ej22 engine... cheaper

Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:52 am

The procedure at the smog shop when you have the bar code sticker, is a quick read of the bar code into the smog machine, a cursory visual check that the usual smog components are present, and the sniff test.....no muss, no fuss, ...as long as you're running clean of course.

westy81 wrote:
I've also heard of specific "Subaru Vanagon Friendly" smog test stations that turn a blind eye to conversions and other shops that simply don't have the intelligence to care.!

Maybe someone should start a private "off line" database of these stations. Any volunteers? I might consider it. P-mail me the locations.

westy81 wrote:
Also, I've heard of taking a EJ25 block and putting EJ22 heads on it, which looks identical to an EJ22... but with a significant boost in horsepower (unbeknownst to the ref).

Using an EJ25 block w/EJ22 heads requires special lower compression pistons in order to make up for the lower volume of the combustion chamber of EJ22 heads vs the EJ25 versions.

You can get a 2.5L shortblock, pre-assembled with the right pistons from Crawford Performance in S. CA. ...a bit spendy at $1800 but worth it for some who need/want the extra performance.....or you can get the pistons only and DIY if your capable to replace pistons.

This is a particularly nice option for those who already have their BAR code sticker from the referee and may have a tired EJ22 . You can use all your existing OBD-1 harness, electronics, and intake manifold.

One friend of mine upgraded his high mileage EJ22 (in a heavy Syncro Westy) with this shortblock and is extremely happy with the extra performance....which, primarily is increased torque at lower rpms...very welcome in Syncros.

The swap is not 100% foolproof at the smog station, of course, since the block has "EJ25" stamped right on top but it's not veryvisible under the alternator....unlikeley any local smog station will either notice...or care....but if you're paranoid, you could grind the symbol off the block.

Not sure I'd want to try to slip this block past a referee at the initial inspection, with the "EJ25" stamp showing, but it's a good option for "down the road".

With the number of Subaru conversions out there, the referees are getting pretty knowledgeable, although it seems that each referee interprets the requirements and exemptions of the KEP executive order a little differently.

Warren C.

Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:04 pm

yup same place, but they just quoted me 2100 (bout the same thing), brand new engine, turbo pistons to keep the same c/r.