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Subauthing
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joosty_chin
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:05 pm    Post subject: Subauthing Reply with quote

Hey all, its been some time since I've been on here and even longer since I've last drove my thing. I have decided to take on a new task and over time adapt Subaru power to my thing. I have a 3 rib bus trans that will go into her as well as a V7 JDM Subaru engine and ECU.
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Still gathering parts and trying to figure out what trailing arms I want to use, how to adapt a speed sensor to communicate with the ECU, and other this and thats.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This is what she used to look like, but shes in a lot of pieces currently. Had her since 2001. I guess that's all for now. If anyone has done a Subaru swap in a Thing before I'd love to chat.

Cheers![/img]
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mondshine
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

I will be interested to see how this project progresses, especially your cooling system details.
For a speed sensor, maybe something like this would work:
(Here's a link to their photo)
http://www.pacificcustoms.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Scr...sion-parts

This guy has 9 or 10 detailed videos that might be worth a look:

Link

They're installed in Type 2's, but lots of useful info.

Good luck, Mondshine
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Ratt
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 8:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Yippie! Another Thingaru! I've got a 2.5l with 5speedbox in my 73. I've stalled for a bit. How are you doing your radiator!
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Ratt
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 8:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

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The single cam is a tight fit in the engine bay. I had to trim some of the metal around the motor to clear the heads. Additionally I've got a 3" body lift, which is needed unless you want to cut into your rear firewall. The intake needs to be reversed(pointing to the rear of the car) or it will hit the firewall too. I've got some more pictures of the body on the car somewhere. I've got a long way to go still. Pretty much I bolted in the motor and transmission then had to move across country. Ive got to do some work to my Dune Buggy before I return to my Subaru project. If you have any questions, I'll help with what I can.
Good luck!
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 9:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Well well well... I'm interested because I've considered a watercooled conversion in my Thing. I've got one watercooled Bus (see sig) but the Thing doesn't seem to lend itself to a radiator quite as well.

For a speed signal, here is another option. I originally installed one of these years ago to provide a speed signal for the VW Corrado (though the same as many many other VW systems) cruse control in my Bus, and later it was used to provide the TDI speed signal.

I've recently ordered a couple more off ebay to have one for my '73 Bus which I will eventually install cruise control in, and to have a spare.

Anyway, it is actually a GM part, but it installs between the speedometer cable and the speedo. It creates a speed signal for the computer(s). There are three hookups, + and - 12v, and the actual speed signal. Just cut the end off and hook up the wires.

GM 90148828 is the part number. They were available on ebay for significantly less than other sources.

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Dave Cook

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GI Joe
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:38 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Subie conversions are in my head as well..
I was very close to buying a SuperSubi late last year, but the time wasn't right.

I am not following why y'all say the Thing doesn't lend well to a radiator... We've got a nice almost vertical plane across the front, and a nice square wide trunk space behind it to allow for air flow...
I think removing the bottom well of the trunk, and shrouding the top of that area to direct the airflow downward and out the bottom.. And of course putting w grill of sorts in the front panel to allow airflow In to the rad...

I've seen a few watercooled Things with a Grill in the front panel.


Of course if you're trying to go stealth and not disturb the body, then that get a bit tougher. Wink
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:40 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

GI Joe wrote:
Subie conversions are in my head as well..
I was very close to buying a SuperSubi late last year, but the time wasn't right.

I am not following why y'all say the Thing doesn't lend well to a radiator... We've got a nice almost vertical plane across the front, and a nice square wide trunk space behind it to allow for air flow...
I think removing the bottom well of the trunk, and shrouding the top of that area to direct the airflow downward and out the bottom.. And of course putting w grill of sorts in the front panel to allow airflow In to the rad...

I've seen a few watercooled Things with a Grill in the front panel.


Of course if you're trying to go stealth and not disturb the body, then that get a bit tougher. Wink


And therein lies the problem!
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Ratt
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:46 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Bay guys run Dual radiators in the corners of their engine bays. That might be the right option with large fans.
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Ratt
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:48 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Bay guys run Dual radiators in the corners of their engine bays. That might be the right option with large fans.
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:57 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Ratt wrote:
Bay guys run Dual radiators in the corners of their engine bays. That might be the right option with large fans.


Well... I'm not sure that this setup actually ends up working well for very many of us.

I tried one radiator with a big fan and it didn't work, especially without the fan blowing continuously.

So I mounted it under the bus, like most watercooled Bay owners eventually end up doing.

Smile

There have been one or two examples of a perfectly-engineered engine compartment radiator system working (or so claimed, anyway) but it seems most of us watercooled Bay guys give up on that after a lot of trials and just mount it below.

A Thing, being smaller and lighter than a Bay, might generate less heat and have a better chance of this working.

Also, one could potentially build/alter the scoops to push air through the radiators much more easily without significantly changing the Thing's appearance.

I've thought about the space above/around the transmission as a place for a couple small radiators to potentially work.
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ThingOw181
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 5:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

I'm partial to radiators on Things. Very Happy

Here's how I did mine- it's below the plane of the rear body lines, so it's pretty stealth. Then again, I had to cut out most of the package area for the tall Ecotec.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I started originally thinking something like this would work better:

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And I was all dialed in to do a custom grill using a piece from a Rabbit MK2 if I remember right:

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Anything is possible, just need to be creative. I wanted to minimize the visual cues of 250 hp, let the blower whine lead the way.

Hope that helps!
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mondshine
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 6:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

More food for thought...
VW tried this:
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More impossible engineering Shocked

The Rabbit grille looks interesting, or maybe something like an Iltis grille.
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GI Joe
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

I like the Iltis grill idea... Stamped metal is what I had in mind... And paint it body color, it wouldn't be very obvious.... I'm thinking vertical slots cut between the vertical ribs on the nose..... All painted body color..
*shrug*... Just where my ideas have gone.... Wink
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=60
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 5:53 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

GI Joe wrote:
I like the Iltis grill idea... Stamped metal is what I had in mind... And paint it body color, it wouldn't be very obvious.... I'm thinking vertical slots cut between the vertical ribs on the nose..... All painted body color..
*shrug*... Just where my ideas have gone.... Wink


Yes, I suppose that could look nice. I was thinking of the one I saw with a bunch of 1 inch holes drilled in the front; I didn't like that!

The rendering of one with a Rabbit grill... I didn't hate that either.

So when is someone going to get started on this?!?
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ThingOw181
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 9:25 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

The Iltis grille was one idea as well. And as Joe mentions, it would be easy enough to just cut out between the ribs and add a painted mesh.

My issue was running the water lines. I didn't want them inside the car. I've seen it done well, running along the tunnel and wrapped in insulation, but that adds complexity- more air to burp, more leak points, etc. There might be enough room in the tunnel, if you're willing to perform surgery. Otherwise I have seen them running under the car, in line with the tunnel. I considered this too, using a piece of say 2x6 box tubing to run the lines inside. Ultimately I decided on simplicity. I'm hopeful it will stay cool.
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Ratt
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 9:27 am    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

vwwestyman wrote:
GI Joe wrote:
I like the Iltis grill idea... Stamped metal is what I had in mind... And paint it body color, it wouldn't be very obvious.... I'm thinking vertical slots cut between the vertical ribs on the nose..... All painted body color..
*shrug*... Just where my ideas have gone.... Wink


Yes, I suppose that could look nice. I was thinking of the one I saw with a bunch of 1 inch holes drilled in the front; I didn't like that!

The rendering of one with a Rabbit grill... I didn't hate that either.

So when is someone going to get started on this?!?


Working on finding a rabbit grill and playing with my spare nose panel.
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joosty_chin
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 1:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Hello again all. I just got off the phone in regards to parts ordering for this project. It will go slow as time and money present themselves. Everything engine and transmission wise will go together nice and smooth. You are all correct that the radiator part will be a challenge without hacking the body and I personally havent fully thought it (cooling) all the way through. What I do know is I want to have it looking as "VW" as possible without it looking like a hack or swap. The wiring as well will be challenging but I have a complete wiring harness and ECU that match the Subaru engine that will be used, so almost everything should be on hand as far as key components go. The turbo location may be up in the air at the moment too, but time will tell.

Cheers!
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 2:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

ThingOw181 wrote:
The Iltis grille was one idea as well. And as Joe mentions, it would be easy enough to just cut out between the ribs and add a painted mesh.

My issue was running the water lines. I didn't want them inside the car. I've seen it done well, running along the tunnel and wrapped in insulation, but that adds complexity- more air to burp, more leak points, etc. There might be enough room in the tunnel, if you're willing to perform surgery. Otherwise I have seen them running under the car, in line with the tunnel. I considered this too, using a piece of say 2x6 box tubing to run the lines inside. Ultimately I decided on simplicity. I'm hopeful it will stay cool.


So which option did you consider to be the simplest?
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ThingOw181
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 8:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

I went with the rear radiator. With the Ecotec inlet/outlet that worked perfect with the Jeep Cherokee radiator I am using. I'm going to enclose it all but I'm still hopeful it should stay cool.
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vwwestyman
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Subauthing Reply with quote

Well I think we all would certainly appreciate some pics!!

Is your radiator more or less in the place of the engine compartment lid?
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Dave Cook

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