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Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:27 am

ALIKA T3 wrote: I found the pic I was talking about that green van,louvers between tail lights
http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=70002224.jpg 8)

A side note on this modification ( mine pictured at the bottom of page 15 of this thread).

After long days of driving in hot weather it was hard to sleep as the engine
stayed warm for so long. I would jam the liscense plate open with a stick
and notice a significant difference in how quickly the engine would cool.
My plan is to put fans in the holes to aid cooling down.

Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:31 am

Back from Japan!

I really love this place... Everything is so cool !! technology everywhere.

I really loved the Suzuki / Subaru Sambar model turned into VW bus

Looking at it closer thoses are rear engined 4wd vans 600 cc supercharged... too bad they don't have a stronger version (2.0l for exemple) because it will be just perfect for the vanagon!!

I was missing few bits for my conversion ( some connectors, pedals, HD starter...) , I have everything now to keep going on my vanagon.

GSB

Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:40 am

Greg,

how many engines did you purchase while over in Japan? you were there for how long? looks like fun!

i love those little VW bus' in the picture. can you import those here?

Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:52 am

Welchmaster wrote: Greg,

how many engines did you purchase while over in Japan? you were there for how long? looks like fun!

i love those little VW bus' in the picture. can you import those here?

I was there 8 days and picked up 10 engines. I have no idea about importing this fake vw's but somebody that have experience with car import can do that for sure.

GSB

Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:57 am

Those are importable (is that a word?) for off road use only. There are always a few sambars or similar vans on ebay. BUt for the most part they are not road legal, although some states let you register them as alight vehicle like an ATV.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=mini+truck&_frs=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m359

Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:42 am

Welchmaster wrote: Greg,

how many engines did you purchase while over in Japan? you were there for how long? looks like fun!

i love those little VW bus' in the picture. can you import those here?

We have some of those here in BC, but for the US I have heard that they have troubles importing right hand drives.

You can get a Sambar here for less than $4500 or one of those VW looking Sambars for about $5500-6000

Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:34 pm

Greg,

why 10 engines? are you selling them? how did you ship them back to the states?

Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:19 pm

Hey,
If you take 1 engine 10 or 50 the paperwork is the same and is very expensive.

Because I'm the first to have this engine in the state, the other Subaru diesel nuts just came back to me begging me to get 6 engine. i just decided to have 4 more.
I was right to do that 2 more just got sold :shock: and I have 2 left!

Shipping is shared container

GSB

Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:24 pm

i heard recenctly, subaru won't be bringing the Boxer TDI into the US market for at least another 1 1/2 years. Like fall of 2012 at the earliest, but it could be even later, like fall of 2013. I have been waiting since 09 when it was announced to be here in 2010...not for a conversion, just to replace my audi. Nice to hear you have done what Subaru has declined to do!

Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:07 pm

so will the engine pass of US regulations OK? im sure i know the answer already, but just curious.

Greg,

expensive to go to Japan? any new pictures of the Van?
love your passion!

Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:50 am

Thank Franklinstower.

Welchmaster,

Thanks, Japan is very expensive, more expensive than France! public transportation, gas if you rent a car.... food is cheap and so good.

What do you mean US regulations? each states are different so for my case in TN I have no problem throwing any engine I want to.

Here in TN just oppacity is mesured for diesel I'm not woried about that.

I've been delayed with painting the van due to some welding that I have to do, mainly the dual tank filler that I got inspiration from Dai Syncro: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=448324&highlight=dai
I should receive that filler housing in my mail box by the end of the week :D

and for the engine bay vents. I'll go to pull a part soon to cut vent grill from car hoods.

Can't believe it, I got 50000 views this morning on that thread. I'm very glad people like it!

GSB

Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:17 pm

syncrogreg wrote:

Because I'm the first to have this engine in the state, the other Subaru diesel nuts just came back to me begging me to get 6 engine. i just decided to have 4 more.
I was right to do that 2 more just got sold :shock: and I have 2 left!

Shipping is shared container

GSB

Are these "Subaru diesel nuts" putting them into Subaru's or are you talking about guys with Vanagons?

Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:28 pm

I prefer keep that confidential. Customer privacy fisrt!!

GSB

Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:23 pm

syncrogreg wrote: I prefer keep that confidential. Customer privacy fisrt!!

GSB

You mean the kit airplane guys you've been talking about in this thread? Congrats on 50k reads, probably the same 150 or so samba members poking this thread waiting to see it run.

Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:50 pm

BlackDogVan wrote: Congrats on 50k reads, probably the same 150 or so samba members poking this thread waiting to see it run.

Many thanks to the 2600 unique viewers that have been following the thread and helping me!

GSB

Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:57 pm

I've been reading all your posts and decided I should create an account just so I could say how much I'm enjoying watching your progress. You do fantastic work!

I was curious if you have any plans to do a 2WD, or do you think it's even possible?

I noticed you have what looks like a Faro arm for digitizing. One of my first jobs involved digitizing wood patterns for Bayliner boats using a Faro arm. Must really come in handy for your project. I'm doing some stuff with the David Laserscanner and have plans to scan some Vanagon parts for my own projects.

Anyway, keep up the great work and I look forward to seeing it when it's finished.

Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:24 pm

I would also like to know how well this conversion would translate to a 2WD van. Can you tell at this point if the higher trans location of the 2WD will still allow it to fit under the engine cover?

Keep up the good work!

Hans

Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:06 pm

hdenter wrote: I would also like to know how well this conversion would translate to a 2WD van. Can you tell at this point if the higher trans location of the 2WD will still allow it to fit under the engine cover?

Keep up the good work!

Hans

Vanderbuilt, You pseudo is awesome I love it !!

the David Laserscanner look like a cheap and fun alternative for private use but will not trust the accuracy for mechanical assemblies.

Yes you will be fine for 2wd, with the shortened aluminum casted oilpan that I'm working on right now you will have plenty of ground clearance. The problem of lid clearance is solved for 2wd. It will just seat gently under the lid with no interference.

GSB

Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:24 pm

Your trip timing was spot on, hope your contacts & friends over in Japan are doing ok.

Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:42 pm

Yep,sounds not that good over there..... :cry:
A co worker has family over there,no news so far....
Everything went ok in HI

Engines shipped already?