| Which Subaru Engine is best for swaps in a 73 Westy |
| EJ25 |
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90% |
[ 10 ] |
| EJ22 |
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9% |
[ 1 ] |
| EJ20 |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
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| Total Votes : 11 |
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| Author |
Message |
fokker100
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2006
Posts: 149
Location: North of the border
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 Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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| I agree, the 2.5 is awesome and very close from a modern car in terms of acceleration, you will be very happy with this engine, which is also very fuel efficient. |
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hometurbine
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2014
Posts: 157
Location: Cincinnati
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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I also went with a SOHC EJ251 from a 2002 Impreza. I can't comment on the performance since I'm still in the middle of the build, but decided to buy a new (not remanufactured) short block and restored my heads. Mine is a hybrid of Skills/VeeDubNut/and Annie (Deathman68) builds....getting close...
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Bill
'75 Westy Bus with Subaru EJ25 engine
GE CT58-100 helicopter gas turbine
Tiernay TT10 APU gas turbine |
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curtp07
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007
Posts: 874
Location: Mass
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| Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 8:14 am Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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I went with a 2.5 from an 03 Forester that was in the family. Refreshed through skills loving hands (amazing job), and almost in the bus now. Benco transaxle is in, getting ready to mount. Harness reworked at autoventures.
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Subaru |
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vwwestyman
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5688
Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Convoy
Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2011
Posts: 312
Location: San Clemente
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| Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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It's been awhile now I've had the motor (Ej2.2 SOHC) successfully mated to my bus... several oil changes later and multiple long distance trips under it's belt I can attest to it's success.
My vote at the time would of been the EJ2.2, as back then not much info on the EJ2.5 was available. But honestly even the 2.2 with the correct gearing and tire size...it's plenty.
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1974 Westfalia
2.2 Subie
Benco 002 |
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Merling
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2008
Posts: 196
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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| I don't have enough experience to post an opinion but I'm working on a 70 bus that had a 2.2L conversion from a 93 legacy. The 2.2 is supposed to be extremely reliable and mine was running prior to tear down and no issues from a leak down test. Anyone know what the parts market is like for the 2.2? That will help me decide if I go with what I have or decide to find a 2.5 donor. |
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3482
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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| Convoy wrote: |
It's been awhile now I've had the motor (Ej2.2 SOHC) successfully mated to my bus... several oil changes later and multiple long distance trips under it's belt I can attest to it's success.
My vote at the time would of been the EJ2.2, as back then not much info on the EJ2.5 was available. But honestly even the 2.2 with the correct gearing and tire size...it's plenty.
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Damn! That’s pretty!
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music! |
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16879
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:39 pm Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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| Merling wrote: |
| I don't have enough experience to post an opinion but I'm working on a 70 bus that had a 2.2L conversion from a 93 legacy. The 2.2 is supposed to be extremely reliable and mine was running prior to tear down and no issues from a leak down test. Anyone know what the parts market is like for the 2.2? That will help me decide if I go with what I have or decide to find a 2.5 donor. |
2.2's are getting scarce at least here in the north east. 2.5's still a dime a dozen.
a 2.5 has a lot less going on in terms of goofy early jap emissions shit, such as vacuum hoses and whatnot.
had i not based my 70 build on a 2.2 frankenmotor i'd have gone with a 2.5 hands down. way cleaner install imho
since my 2.2 i have not installed one ever again. all 2.5's here
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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Vee Dub Nut
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2004
Posts: 1184
Location: Dallas, GA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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| TDCTDI wrote: |
| Vee Dub Nut wrote: |
I'm at almost 3 years in now, >12k miles, zero issues. |
At only 4,000 miles a year, it hardly seems worthy of a swap, much less bragging about its dependability. |
Wow.. real helpful reply there buddy! Typical Samba... 
Never claimed it was some sort of mileage record, and wasn't "bragging about dependability", just sharing my experience for the OP who asked for engine suggestions. I've got 4 different vehicles I split my driving between, and the VW's are just used for fun, not daily duties.
All that said, in my apparently un-worthy of being mentioned 3 years and 12k miles, I've touched nothing on the engine itself beyond oil changes. Seems like things are going pretty well.
I've driven my swapped Bus further, faster, and more frequently with less stress than any air-cooled Bus I've owned before it. Its being used for exactly what I built if for. Seems pretty "worthy" for swapping to me.
Good luck with your TDI swap!
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Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2006
67 Beetle (TBD)
74 Transporter (EJ25 Swapped) - Build Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
See all my VW pics on Instagram @ vee_dub_nut |
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Musicman811
Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2021
Posts: 31
Location: TEXAS
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| Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 7:47 am Post subject: Re: Which Subaru to Swap? Opinions |
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| I need to replace my shocks - and I am doing a Subi Swap - what are some good shocks? Should I upgrade? |
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