Installing a Subaru into a Auto Bus

[hansie]

Installing a Subaru into a Auto Bus using a .003 trans. I need information on the swap , please. Any help Please.
Thanks Karl
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Karl Bower

[skills@eurocarsplus]

it's a steep learning curve for a successful swap. the info is out there, just search a bit and see what you feel comfortable with. you are going to want to get that trans re-geared...Subaru's don't like being strung out at 4k+ on the highway.

search my name, I've done a bunch
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[hansie]

Thanks Skills
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Karl Bower

[alaskadan]

I helped a gentleman restore and convert a 78 riviera automatic. We put in a 2.2 from a 2000 outback. Used a kennedy engineering adapter. Small car did the wiring harness. I had a custom radiator built that just fits up in between the frame rails ( air ducts removed), the ports are one on each side pointing rearward. Used the suby fans on the bottom pulling air down. I made a shroud but we never used it as temps were good. I used marine grade rubber coolant lines to the engine. Used vanagon coolant tanks ( if doing it again probly go rmw tank). Once we turned our attention to the trans for a reseal we found his ring and pinion were toast. I cant believe how bad they were, that trans had to have been just screaming! Luckily for him I had an 87 auto parts vanagon. We resealed it and put it in. Had to change the front mount and removed the oil cooler looping it temporarily for a remote cooler later. It was nice to drive. I only drove it at highway speeds a bit during the month i drove it while finishing the interior. 18 miles to town half of which is on the highway, 55mph speed limit. Average temps 195. Im sure skilz is right about gearing, actually we never even checked the gearing in that trans as it was our best option at the time. Sadly that gentleman died before getting to enjoy the van. His widow now is starting to drive it in the summer, I go and give the van spring check up for her. Her brother visited from outside last summer, he's a mechanic. He took it for a road trip and said its great to drive.

[danfromsyr]

there are ALOT of vanagon automatics running around on stock gearing with engine conversions. the Subie is 'mostly' just fine with the RPMs of the 010.
you can get different R&P sets for the 1976-1991 010 automatic. I don't know if that also fit the 73-75 003. but you can get a T-III 003 with a higher R&P ratio.

you can make some adjustment with larger diameter tires. but not really a huge rpm drop like a R&P swap.

https://countryhomescampers.com/product-tag/automatic-transmission/

[mike77777]

lived up by Epperson knob fr around 15 years. Remember a garage called "Wendys VW' right up the street from the NAPA in Homer. Mechanic named Jeff , from Cali. Real tough country on vehicles. Plenty of Subys around homer.
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patience and putty

[chittychittybangbang]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[danfromsyr]

really the DIY/junkyard swap quality has nothing to do with running rpms as much as just running. you're just poking fun at the lesser mechanically and financially qualified..

and if it runs/ran in that DIY 4th grade arrangement for any length of time or miles straight it's a TESTAMENT to how well the subaru runs and is adaptive.

most who lack the money or skills are over achievers in ambition

there's no and never will be a question to your skillset and level of quality.. but it's a small % of subie swaps in vanagons running around regeared..
as mentioned the vanagon AT has the same stock R&P as the 76-79bay AT.
and actually the same/similar as the 76-79 bay 4spd.

higher rpms can/will lead to increased oil consumption in some/maybe all subaru boxer motors.. I know some years were more of an oil issue from the factory in the cars even when new..

upgraded R&P solutions are available in 76-91 automatic and all years 4spd. I'm still not aware if the 73-75 AT can take the R&P upgrade.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

i'm not making fun of anyone. the o/p and I spoke. I want him to succeed.

running a Subaru at 4k+ isn't doing them any favors...in wear, oil consumption and cooling.

go take an outback on the highway at 4k and map the coolant temp. I did. it wasn't pretty.

the vanagon can get away with that to a point...as it holds 87 gallons of coolant...so it masks the issues.

when posts go the way this one is heading, people wonder why i'm tight lipped about how I do what I do. I am willing to bet I spent more time money and effort into reverse engineering these to survive long term in a vehicle that had no cooling system, let alone gearing that matches that of the donor.

people get away with this shit all the time...I get it. but the vast majority come back an ask why they have this or that issue at the end of it.... when it's "too late" and they don't have the $$ for a re gear. even DIY is an ez 7-10k these days...

so...if you want to putt around on stock gearing...go for it. the timing components barely make it to the spec'd intervals anyway....the cogged idler sounds like grit at 100k....so 1/2 all of your service intervals if you want to keep one of these on boil all the time.

it all depends on the expectations of the swapper. this guy just about nailed it in my opinion

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0


from his thread:

[XXX/Rx/RnR]

Your ATF will boil without a ATF cooler. When vanagons water cooled came out VW added a cooler to the auto box for a reason. I found a 090 and done the Audi upgrade cause my 010 was cooked after my first long trip with the Ecotec. Fan and T-stat on a big cooler that added almost 2 qts of fluid. More info in the Vanagon forum on automatics and Subi's.
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78' westy, 2.4 195hp ecotec, audi turbo a/t, a\c, 2 1/2" lift spindles, index rear, 930 cv's & axles, 225x65x17 BFGs ## 77' hardtop 2.0 T-4 duel 44 weber's, 225x50x17s ## 74' baha bug

[alaskadan]

[alman72]

skills- 87 gallons of coolant? is that a fat-finger or exaggeration? It cant really hold 87 gallons!

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[alman72]

so a skills subie conversion is all B button with no side of the track timeouts.

[Gregg in the 603]

Excitebike was awesome
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1979 Mexico Beige Westy auto
Dirty Dover, NH

[skills@eurocarsplus]