what subaru engines are available for conversions?

[camo westy]

Subaru lifters chatter due to too thick oil viscosity.
5W-30 is the oil to use, the motor was designed to operate with that weight oil.
I have had several Subarus, one is in my Vanagon, 10W-40 or 10W30 both make the lifters/valvetrain rattle, especially when cold, switch to 5W-30 and the noise is gone...instantly. I know the old theory thicker is better.. not so, I have a Subbie Outback with 150K miles, motor runs just fine, always had the reccommended 5W-30 oli in it.


If you want more power, and live in the left coast state of radical change, I suggest a bastard conversion, use the OBD1 fuel injection/engine management on a late single cam 2.5. It works just fine, the difference in displacement is not enough to have adverse on the ECU. 30 more h.p.

There are more happy Vanagon drivers with Subaru conversions than all other conversions put together. The Bostig is nicely done, but you will pay for it. 6 cylinder Subarus, also great , but ya better rebuild the tranny up front, or you will be repairing it shortly. Ticos are for purists, and hev had some vibration issues.

One other note, more power means you will need more brakes.

When I did my rehabing on my 85, I put Van-Cafe big brakes on when t he Subaru motor went in. I also replaced every wear item (all bushings, balll joints) on the suspension, and installed Bilstein HD shocks, with new springs
Yup... she is nice and tight, goes up hills real fine. Fun being able to shift down to 3rd at 55 mph and accelerate fast.

[goffoz]

Ditto camo westy

I read the posts and am following the path
Svx with 50.000 mi freshening(seals and belts) syncro locker tranny, refreshed and regeared by AAA. decoupler from Kirk
Clks with lugs from Loogy
.Small cars mounts and adapter.
Van-cafe Big brakes on, but not tested
...and soon a reversed manifold..gotta find the $$
and still working on the wiring...sheeesh!!!

Thanks to the forum for all the good advice..priceless
See ya @ Syncro-de Mayo 2008
Owen

[odell]

So,

I'm still waiting to get an answer from the Yahoo group and I'm going to post this in another spot on Samba so I apologize if you read the same sounding paragraph twice but has anyone ever put an EJ255 in a Syncro? I assume that there is enough room and that the mounting points are the same as the other EJ25 engines but I'm still going through the data. Follow up questions would be;

Clutch recommendations, since the EJ255 puts 250 hp what would an appropriate upgrade be?

Harness issues? ... Assuming I have all the parts is it the same retro fiting the harness and ecu like it would be with a normal 2.5L?

Has any one ever purchased the conversion kits from smallcar.com? Has anyone had any work done there? Any feedback?

Does anybody have any bad feedback about AA transaxle? I assume not since I have only heard good things?

[Wellington]

Odell, I'm sure the stage two clutch that SCP sells for the 3.3 will work out for you. The 3.3 is 230hp, so 30 more....
Here's a better idea, Using an RJES bellhousing allows you to retain the Subaru flywheel and clutch, so the proper clutch set up for your motor is being used. Cost of the bellhousing is about$1100, apapter plate, flywheel $500, stage two clutch, $350. Ya a bit more but the reviews are great.

[shenan-agon]

[Gorge Runner]

Certainly, outside the Vanagon world there have been a ton of turbo conversions--I'm thinking mainly sand rails and from mostly from JDM sources.

Check out these guys:
http://www.outfrontmotorsports.com

As far as Vanagons go, both the 2.0l WRX and 2.5l STI motors have been successfully installed, but none that I know of have passed CARB in CA. Definitely ask Smallcar--they are familiar with the WRX conversions.

WRX Vanagons here:
http://www.vwrx.com/

STI Vanagon here:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2301589

Another alternative is the 1.8 VW turbo, and this shop is in Sacramento. So, I'm sure they can advise on the feasibility of a turbo in CA.

http://www.stephansautohaus.com/vanagon-division/

You live in CA, and it seems that everyone with a street legal turbo-Vanagon does not (with a very small handful of exceptions). And I think you'll notice the majority of posts on the yahoosubaruvanagon site are concerning the 2.2l conversion since most live in CA. So the absence of information about the ej255 and ej257 is actually part of the knowledge base.

So, I'm not sure what I'm trying to say, but you have some hoops to jump through if you try a turbo conversion in CA.

Good Luck!


Marc

[AVM]

Hey friends!

So I'm working on trying to get my hands on a Subaru engine so that I can convert my '85 for my move from Oregon to Colorado in mid October. I want to put in something reliable because this will also be my daily driver once I get out there. I've tried in vain to track down the elusive 2.2. I have a guy out here that's willing to help me get a nice, shiny 2.0 from Japan, but I've popped around on the forums for anything about 2.0 conversions, and I'm not really coming up with anything.

Thoughts for a conversion project newbie?

[bobbyblack]

This guy is awesome.

http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm

There are literally dozens of engines that can work. The pool dries a bit after 2003 or around there, but the EJ25x series all work. Colorado doesn't have an issue with what engine you put in, that is California.

Plenty of info on vanaru.com or busaru.com too.

Good luck.

I got he Kennedy kit, it fits well.

-bobby
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[wesitarz]

You are better off to get a whole running car so you can salvage the engine,harness and ECU altogether.
John Lemley if he's still in business is in your area http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/

[wesitarz]

[Jake de Villiers]

[hogan029]

[danfromsyr]

Don may not get in the vanagon forum too often..
but here's his take on JDM engines from a post last week.. I'll assume he'd say the same thing this week.

[Captain Pike]

[AVM]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[tschroeder0]

Just finished my second conversion a few days ago , first was my 85 weekender now in my 90 syncro...my 2 cents.

Find a 2000-2004 SOHC 2.5, moderate miles are fine. Pull the heads have them redone, put in new pistons and rings, head gaskets, water pump etc...None of that is at all that hard to do, no special tools needed, just basic skills and patience.

Get a harness made from Jeff at AutoVentures, they are the absolute best out there, truly plug and play. Period.

IMO the RMW kit is still the way to go for simplicity and quality, also Alex at RMW who handles orders is a great guy to help you order and sort out any issues along the way.

There are many,many years and types of Suby engines that can be used but the SOHC and the years I listed are tough as hell, easy to work on and find parts for, and the wiring harness is one of the easier to make up or have made, not to mention all of the info here on troubleshooting those years.

Good Luck, Todd

[kguarnotta]

stupid question here - on this subject.
I have an '86 syncro that a previous owner installed a subaru legacy 2.2 motor with a kennedy conversion.

All is good and fine. But I always like to think of the future. If I ever had an extreme issue with this motor - will I need to get another 2.2 subaru to replace it? Or can I get any subaru motor - or rather what year/type motors can I use without having to replace the whole conversion kit?
_________________
-Kevin
Lincoln, MA

'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper

[joetiger]

[MarkWard]