Ride-On goes Subaru power

[skills@eurocarsplus]

that won't change anything. the selector shaft is where it is and there isn't much I can do about it. I sure as hell am not going to trim the selector shaft either. all in all it *should* be ok, but I will have to see once I get the engine plugged in, level etc. only then can I make a decision.

it's kind of sad that Subarugears doesn't make more bits and pieces for the install end of things. they seem to cater more to the beetle/buggy crowd. I have to wonder how much shifter rattle there will be by having a solid connection between everything. this would still be the case if you use the super beetle steering joint. I am going to suspect there will be some noise transmitted into the shifter.
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[TDCTDI]

While not ideal for CV angles, what about tilting the engine/trans assembly 2*-3* to raise the selector shaft?

Or, instead of cutting away at the torsion housing, how about slightly denting (or crushing) it where the shifter rides above it?
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[TDCTDI]

I meant the tube itself, not the metal above it. Kinda like when the impact jockeys over tighten the U-bolts holding the spring pack on a RWD axle.

Perhaps you could find a way of incorporating one of the early beetle shift couplers into the linkage.
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D111%2D711%2D175%2DB
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[captincanuck]

[pkrboo]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[RocketSurgeon]

Out of the two I have worked on, one was fine out of the box and the other did hit the torsion bar. We corrected this by adding a washer inbetween the trans “ears” and the subarugears mount. This rotated the mount a bit raising the shift selector a few millimeters.
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69 Westy

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

well, time for an update

got the BA6 belly heater out of there. (it's up for grabs if anyone is interested) and started mapping out a plan for the install. seeing this is my first 5 speed conversion, all of my "off the shelf" templates were useless. but, there was a lot of other things that needed to be changed anyways.

got to making the carrier

and welded my heart out

tacked up and ready to make the end plates. the Subaru 5 pushes everything back, so this wasn't in my box-o-templates.

almost done. need to make some gussets and weld those in as well

I had to surgically remove about 1/4" thick undercoating to actually mount the bar

but, it's in (temporarily)

I have to say, having a lift and a transmission jack makes the work less back breaking. in the end, I leveled the bus and made adjustments until I was happy.

getting the engine/trans level and centered was a bit of a chore. this is simply one of those things you just can't 'eyeball' and hope for the best. the goofy shape of the late bay engine bays isn't symmetrical so you just can't do it that way. I ended up measuring from the axle flanges to center all of it.

my exhaust system was tight to say the least. now with the engine shoved back, it is just going to get even tighter....

you may see in one of the photos the harness connector. I laid out the harness, because again the whole business is shoved back more than that of a 4 speed.

I am kind of glad the carrier is almost done. it is quite a lot of work to make them, test fit and weld, especially when you have a bunch of loose pieces. I wanted to make dam sure the engine/trans was centered before I welded on the end caps.
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[skills@eurocarsplus]

last test fit

look ma, no straps the reason for all of the in/out,in/out,in/out was to make sure everything was going to work. here's to hoping I didn't miss anything.

also got the fuel filler access panel all done

not sure why the supports look funny in the photo. it is on a odd angle, but trust me, they're straight

the gaps look big, but are only a fine saw blade thick. I 100% hated to do this, but the aftermarket forced me to. I just can't see the replacement ones lasting more than a year or so. they are so friggen cheesy. this will make replacement on the road a 2 second job....because he will keep on in the bus at all times...

also set the manifold on there so I can get an idea of where lines will need to run.

it is pretty much all laid out now. I have to clean up some cuts, but beyond that it's time to clean and paint the engine bay. we aren't going to paint the whole bay, just treat and touch up here and there.

overall, it is in good shape. there is this nasty poopy goopy hateful stuff in there that I will clean up and touch up as needed. the initial power wash took care of quite a lot of it, but man, I would need a pressure washer full of lacquer thinner to get this crud off.

after I get the engine bay all set, it's final assembly, wiring, build the exhaust etc...
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[plane_ben]

Look'in good Skills. Lots of mock up on this one aye?

I just picked up a water boxer Subi swap job this weekend. Guy is going to purchase everything from a company in Phoenix that buys up the low mileage engines out of Japan. Good reputable business for the last 25 years or so, deal mainly with the sand and buggy crowds. I get to install it all and make it run.
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I'm at the age were "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

thanks!

yes, the 5 speed was way more than I expected in terms of what had to be done.

the time spent was staggering, BUT those who know me and how I work, I don't go for the "git-r-done" approach. I have learned quite a lot from this. I have been doing my best to kind of split some time with ride-on in terms of the fabrication. I just don't think I have it in me to bill him for every hour.

then there were surprises around every corner....the crushed tank being one of them. original rubber brake hoses were another. as I have said in the past, no one has brought me a perfect bus, and that isn't a dig on the bus owner at all....it's just the truth. Daveark's bus was the same deal...bad ball joints, old brake hoses etc etc etc....we are putting a LOT of power into these, so EVERYTHING need to be fresh...by no way is it a money grab, it's a safety thing.

I have had to work a bit backwards in some areas, like the mock up. typically I have the engine in and out 1-3 times with a swap. this one has been in and out around 7....transmission roughly 10 times. I don't mind though....I am working with a great guy.

one word of advice I would give you...if you are doing a swap for anyone...screen them, and screen them hard. if you have 1 doubt the guy is an asshole, pass on the job...you don't need the money that bad, or the aggravation that comes with it. I have been screening people who want the swap. I'm not being arrogant but trust me when I tell you that having the right person makes these swaps fun. it's like a marriage....shit WILL go sideways on all of these conversions....I have done enough to know this. it's how both parties handle it that matters.

the absolute worse part is you don't know what you're getting into until you dive in. there is stuff that is impossible to see until you dive in.
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[wcfvw69]

Looks great so far. I can't remember and I'm too lazy to go back and look. It's getting a 5 speed suby trans too?

If so, that will be a fun bus to drive. Question Don- are these Subaru conversions quieter inside the cab vs. the original stock VW engines with stock mufflers?
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[Xevin]

Nice job skills. Can you find my previous owner, rip the can opener from him, and punch him in the throat. Thanks. You the best

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Keep on Busin'

[Ride_On]

Xevin, you sure about the can opener? Looks a bit like the outline of an anvil dropped from 20ft? 😀

Awesome work Skills! The fun parts are underway...

I had a ride in Skills Deluxe and, yes, definitely quieter than our 77 Westy. His has the same muffler and similar sound deadening, but ours has the Westy interior, so should be even a little quieter still? Wait a minute... Skills... you said the kids wouldn't be able to hear us talk! That could be a downside... (we have to yell back now, so very much looking forward to a somewhat more peaceful ride.

And yes, Subarugears 5sp. Figured if we are going to go, we better do the full deal.

And supporting what Skills said about interviewing your swapee, from the owner perspective, we had the same thought - very much a must to know who will be doing the work, how they work and communicate, and ultimately see if you could work with them if and when the fan gets stinky. It's an old vehicle, shits gonna fly at some point 💩💥☔️
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1977 Westfalia 2.0 FI Skills EJ25 w SubaruGears 5sp
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=687254
2018 Golf Sportwagen 4MO DSG (Dieselgated 2013 Golf Wagon TDI DSG)

[skills@eurocarsplus]

Hey Bill! As ride-on pointed out, yes...scary quiet. Don't forget, we are turning about 3k at 70...not 3800/4k like the air cooled mill spins. That right there is an iimprovement alone.

Add the sound dampning and its real nice. I am sure the camper mattress will only help kill more noise. Honestly, they are a treat to drive when you don't have a fan spooled up to make air flow over the engine. Ride-on has been fantastic to work with when the shit did hit the fan. Pretty sure there is no more fan hitting shit in store for us at this point
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[scrivyscriv]

[ROCKOROD71]

can a seal for the trap door be added? Even like a thin vacuum hose cut down the middle and pushed onto the panel edge, sort of like the trick for bumper guard seals? Theoretically there shouldn't be a problem but I would worry about fumes in the cabin if a hose cracked or something...
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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

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