TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1965 Double Cab to 2011 Subaru WRX 2.5l Turbo w/ SubaruGears

Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:33 pm

So let me begin by apologizing to the purists for converting this 65' to a HP junky but I just can't help it. I want to relive my youth cruising an old bus down the freeway, I just don't want to do it at 51 mph max speed. Prior to reading much about conversions (just had a general awareness) I decided to find a Subaru set-up I could milk for 300 HP reliably. After scanning Ebay for weeks and coming up with only leads to JDM I came across Turbo Imports in Buda, Texas by way of craigslist. It turns out they part out many Subaru, BMW, etc (low mileage late model stuff). I live in Austin 15 minutes away so off I went. You will see in the pictures a very badly damaged 2011 Impreza WRX.. but fortunately it was ripe for the picking. James at Turbo Imports tested the engine pre-extraction then picked all the wiring, drivetrain, and computer components. I highly recommend these guys prior to Ebay. I'm not going to say what I paid for all this, but it was a much better deal than JDM and the guys provided great service for me.

So as the dream becomes a reality the issues I have initially spotted after scanning forums are:

1) 2011 is a wiring problem as it uses CANBUS for the Speed Sensor so finding a way to simulate that will be tricky.
2) Not much info out there on conversions of this nature on Split Buses. Anyone with links, photos, etc. please let me know.
3) I want to minimize fabrication of mounts etc. Suggestions on motor and trans mounts would be great. Suggestions on rear and front suspension are welcome. I will be putting her on bags if possible.
4) The never perfectly answered question of where to put the radiator.

I will post more pics as the project evolves. Thanks to all who offer suggestions on her set-up.

Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:49 pm

I will be watching this one for sure :popcorn:

Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:19 pm

You know you can get more than enough horsepower with a lot less hassle building a high performance air cooled engine, but I suspect that is not the real issue here.

Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:33 pm

I think the real reason to build a subaru engine for your bus would be the fact that it will hold together for 200,000 miles. It will essentially last till the end of time in a vehicle that you only drive 5-10k a year.

gas mileage is great, power is great, sure plenty of reasons to go through the hastle.

i myself do not need that much horsepower, will never build one, but i do get why people do this.

waterboxers are installed for the very same reason

Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:49 pm

cjsmitty wrote: I will be watching this one for sure :popcorn:

What do you mean you'll be watching it? I'm planning on sending all this on a flatbed to you next week! Seriously though, looking at sending the shell for paint to Smitty's.

Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:54 pm

Braukuche wrote: You know you can get more than enough horsepower with a lot less hassle building a high performance air cooled engine, but I suspect that is not the real issue here.

Yeah, you can build air-cool motors w/ plenty of HP but there is too much maintenance. I want to be able to take her up to Colorado and back without having to rebuild something. This engine has 36,000 miles so its broken in and has another 200K with minimal maintenance.

For anyone asking why would I do this??? B/C I couldn't find a V8 that would fit!!! :lol:

Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:58 pm

mandraks wrote: I think the real reason to build a subaru engine for your bus would be the fact that it will hold together for 200,000 miles. It will essentially last till the end of time in a vehicle that you only drive 5-10k a year.

gas mileage is great, power is great, sure plenty of reasons to go through the hastle.

i myself do not need that much horsepower, will never build one, but i do get why people do this.

waterboxers are installed for the very same reason

Thank you for the input. I like it… "I myself do not need that much horsepower, will never build one, but I do get why people do this."

Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:07 am

vwaru wrote: cjsmitty wrote: I will be watching this one for sure :popcorn:

What do you mean you'll be watching it? I'm planning on sending all this on a flatbed to you next week! Seriously though, looking at sending the shell for paint to Smitty's.

Well then hurry up :D

Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:31 pm

cjsmitty wrote: vwaru wrote: cjsmitty wrote: I will be watching this one for sure :popcorn:

What do you mean you'll be watching it? I'm planning on sending all this on a flatbed to you next week! Seriously though, looking at sending the shell for paint to Smitty's.

Well then hurry up :D

I have been speaking with Brad at Engine Logics in Houston. He has been able to make me feel comfortable he can wire in a computer (aftermarket ECU) and harness that will run this late model electronics ridden mess. I should see the DC delivered Friday and we can talk body work . While I am in the midst of molestation I think I want the roof windows converted in.

Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:53 pm

Your thread has put me over the edge, I have wanted to do this for a long time. So how much on the conversion are you doing, or is a shop doing it all? What is your planned time frame for this project?

I have been looking at this for about a year:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=377708

there is some go info in.

Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:40 am

Quote: run this late model electronics ridden mess. :lol: :lol:

Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:44 am

vwaru wrote: So let me begin by apologizing to the purists for converting this 65' to a HP junky but I just can't help it. I want to relive my youth cruising an old bus down the freeway, I just don't want to do it at 51 mph max speed. Prior to reading much about conversions (just had a general awareness) I decided to find a Subaru set-up I could milk for 300 HP reliably. After scanning Ebay for weeks and coming up with only leads to JDM I came across Turbo Imports in Buda, Texas by way of craigslist. It turns out they part out many Subaru, BMW, etc (low mileage late model stuff). I live in Austin 15 minutes away so off I went. You will see in the pictures a very badly damaged 2011 Impreza WRX.. but fortunately it was ripe for the picking. James at Turbo Imports tested the engine pre-extraction then picked all the wiring, drivetrain, and computer components. I highly recommend these guys prior to Ebay. I'm not going to say what I paid for all this, but it was a much better deal than JDM and the guys provided great service for me.

So as the dream becomes a reality the issues I have initially spotted after scanning forums are:

1) 2011 is a wiring problem as it uses CANBUS for the Speed Sensor so finding a way to simulate that will be tricky.
2) Not much info out there on conversions of this nature on Split Buses. Anyone with links, photos, etc. please let me know.
3) I want to minimize fabrication of mounts etc. Suggestions on motor and trans mounts would be great. Suggestions on rear and front suspension are welcome. I will be putting her on bags if possible.
4) The never perfectly answered question of where to put the radiator.

I will post more pics as the project evolves. Thanks to all who offer suggestions on her set-up.

We need more input if you want answers to some of your questions.

The canbus thing could be a problem as all modules need to be speaking with each other all the time.
Are you planning on mounting it up mid engine? The rad could be mounted above the transaxle. the heat tube could be repurposed to forced air to the rad.
For the engine/trans management a stand alone system would be much easier than trying to make the factory set up work as intended.

I gotta say though, it is a great idea and I will be checking in on this one often.

gordo.

Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:21 am

flemcadiddlehopper wrote: vwaru wrote: So let me begin by apologizing to the purists for converting this 65' to a HP junky but I just can't help it. I want to relive my youth cruising an old bus down the freeway, I just don't want to do it at 51 mph max speed. Prior to reading much about conversions (just had a general awareness) I decided to find a Subaru set-up I could milk for 300 HP reliably. After scanning Ebay for weeks and coming up with only leads to JDM I came across Turbo Imports in Buda, Texas by way of craigslist. It turns out they part out many Subaru, BMW, etc (low mileage late model stuff). I live in Austin 15 minutes away so off I went. You will see in the pictures a very badly damaged 2011 Impreza WRX.. but fortunately it was ripe for the picking. James at Turbo Imports tested the engine pre-extraction then picked all the wiring, drivetrain, and computer components. I highly recommend these guys prior to Ebay. I'm not going to say what I paid for all this, but it was a much better deal than JDM and the guys provided great service for me.

So as the dream becomes a reality the issues I have initially spotted after scanning forums are:

1) 2011 is a wiring problem as it uses CANBUS for the Speed Sensor so finding a way to simulate that will be tricky.
2) Not much info out there on conversions of this nature on Split Buses. Anyone with links, photos, etc. please let me know.
3) I want to minimize fabrication of mounts etc. Suggestions on motor and trans mounts would be great. Suggestions on rear and front suspension are welcome. I will be putting her on bags if possible.
4) The never perfectly answered question of where to put the radiator.

I will post more pics as the project evolves. Thanks to all who offer suggestions on her set-up.

We need more input if you want answers to some of your questions.

The canbus thing could be a problem as all modules need to be speaking with each other all the time.
Are you planning on mounting it up mid engine? The rad could be mounted above the transaxle. the heat tube could be repurposed to forced air to the rad.
For the engine/trans management a stand alone system would be much easier than trying to make the factory set up work as intended.

I gotta say though, it is a great idea and I will be checking in on this one often.

gordo.

I have to agree had I been the one to do this job for him from start to finish installing a stand alone system in this build would have been my first choice.

Either way I cant wait to see this all come together. =D>

Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:20 am

flemcadiddlehopper wrote: vwaru wrote: So let me begin by apologizing to the purists for converting this 65' to a HP junky but I just can't help it. I want to relive my youth cruising an old bus down the freeway, I just don't want to do it at 51 mph max speed. Prior to reading much about conversions (just had a general awareness) I decided to find a Subaru set-up I could milk for 300 HP reliably. After scanning Ebay for weeks and coming up with only leads to JDM I came across Turbo Imports in Buda, Texas by way of craigslist. It turns out they part out many Subaru, BMW, etc (low mileage late model stuff). I live in Austin 15 minutes away so off I went. You will see in the pictures a very badly damaged 2011 Impreza WRX.. but fortunately it was ripe for the picking. James at Turbo Imports tested the engine pre-extraction then picked all the wiring, drivetrain, and computer components. I highly recommend these guys prior to Ebay. I'm not going to say what I paid for all this, but it was a much better deal than JDM and the guys provided great service for me.

So as the dream becomes a reality the issues I have initially spotted after scanning forums are:

1) 2011 is a wiring problem as it uses CANBUS for the Speed Sensor so finding a way to simulate that will be tricky.
2) Not much info out there on conversions of this nature on Split Buses. Anyone with links, photos, etc. please let me know.
3) I want to minimize fabrication of mounts etc. Suggestions on motor and trans mounts would be great. Suggestions on rear and front suspension are welcome. I will be putting her on bags if possible.
4) The never perfectly answered question of where to put the radiator.

I will post more pics as the project evolves. Thanks to all who offer suggestions on her set-up.

We need more input if you want answers to some of your questions.

The canbus thing could be a problem as all modules need to be speaking with each other all the time.
Are you planning on mounting it up mid engine? The rad could be mounted above the transaxle. the heat tube could be repurposed to forced air to the rad.
For the engine/trans management a stand alone system would be much easier than trying to make the factory set up work as intended.

I gotta say though, it is a great idea and I will be checking in on this one often.

gordo.

Thanks. I decided to have Outfront handle the computer issues. They are a month or so away from completing testing on new system to deal with speed sensor, CANBUS, drive by wire etc. German transaxle for the 091 w. Adapter. Wagons west on front and rear suspension. Smittys on the body and possibly other things. Going red and black. Fast and bagged.

Radiator most likely on an actuator in the bed or below. No on mid-engine but I'm curious...?

Fri Feb 28, 2014 3:19 pm

Hi been evolving my bus for a few years now done the 2.5 nice and torquey but not able to take the high rpm's I needed ,currently running a built 2.1 at 560 bhp but adding nos and a bigger turbo a gt 35 for this season (money permitting) and should be around the 700bhp mark
Running a built 091 from bears ( Paul at bears motor sport a legend and a really nice guy) with a peliqiun diff all the out put shafts stub axles are c/m axles I had built eqaul length ,used a rejes bell housing conversion (allows you to use subaru clutch/starter) syvec's ecu the best ecu on the market by far, raised the engine 4 1/2 inches and across by about 2 inch
I forget most of the stuff I have done to be honest but the cooling was the biggist problem which kept raising its ugly head , the main issue is uniterupted air flow that has not been bounced about before it gets to your rads then after that I tried to get a vacume after the rads so it pulled the air through as well as pushed it works really well on the road fans sits at about 90 in trafiic 96
I will put some pics up if you like once I get to grips with it sorry not to computer literate

Fri Feb 28, 2014 4:11 pm

Change your thread title please. How about "Type 265 on Steroids" instead.

What's up with all the non bus thread titles! Everett?

(and this was the edited post)

Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:18 pm

Do a search in the "Reader's Rides" Forum for "Porsche Powered Double Cab". The work this guy put into his truck is unbelievable. I think it would be an inspiration to you. Most of the general work to modify his truck to be mid-engine would translate easily for your build. His Fab guy and he both do eye-popping work.

Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:06 pm

kombisutra wrote: Change your thread title please. How about "Type 265 on Steroids" instead.

What's up with all the non bus thread titles! Everett?

(and this was the edited post)

It's fine, it says "1965 Double Cab" in the title.

Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:45 pm

I agree, "1965 Double Cab On Steroids"... or "500 Horse Power Double Cab"

Wow, I feel like a dick, but I just can't help it. When I come to this forum, I want to go back to the fifties or sixties, but lately, if I'm not attacked by a 914, it'll be Bay Window era Pinzgauer trying mate with a split bus cadaver... now there's this thread. I'm fine with all the creativity, but if we could keep the overtness of it all, kinda' on the DL... it would be easier on my mind.

Fri Feb 28, 2014 7:31 pm

Somebody needs some Stateside R&R like yesterday :wink: !