Subaru swap. Why not switch to carburation?

[TheRustyRabbit]

I'm still contemplating what direction I want to go with my 1972 bus. The 1.7L maybe savable, but I've been looking at everything from type one conversions to Subaru swaps.
One thing that confuses me is why no one has offered a simple carb swap for the EJ22 or EJ25. It would seem to be an easy way to cram that modern engine in without the need for an ecm. Is it due to the ignition system? I can't recall if they are both run by the same ECM on that car.

[adventurebob]

The ECM runs everything. Don’t fear the ECM, there’s plenty of laptop timers for it. Hang out on some subbie sites, lots you can do with it.

[busdaddy]

Indeed, carbs would be a major downgrade in performance and economy, not to mention all the other things that would have to be modified if you ditched the ECM.
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[vacca_rabite]

The simple reason is that the engine was designed for fuel injection, and many of the benefits you get from a modern engine would be lost if you moved it to carbs.

For instance, you will never get the fuel mileage or clean burn or partial zero emissions running with carbs.

With the stock wire harness being easy to get and aftermarket EFI being so readily available (even for specific Subaru to Bus swaps) its kinda crazy to try an adapt carbs.

Zach
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1972 T2 Bay Westy in restoration
1976 Porsche 914
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[notchboy]

[Abscate]

When I asked my mechanic if he worked in carbs he said he has cut out bagels but still enjoys pizza.

Carbs are done in modern engines
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[notchboy]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Manfred58sc]

Carburetors are done,done,done. You fight like hell to keep stock set ups running and starting. Ethanol eats the kits, boils dry in the heat, attracts moisture. And you never really know how much booze is in the stuff you buy. Independent state testing in Colorado found up to 28%. FI cares not and will happily mix about anything that gets past the fuel pump.

Interesting that the carb set up had no belt on it..who knows if it actually ran
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[Xevin]

OEM Subaru carb. I think they stopped using those in the U.S. in 1990.


Link


Skills next Subaru conversion on my Rusty 72.
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[Abscate]

There is a crying need for a new Bears video

“ I would like to put a Subaru engine into my VW van….I mean, Bus….”
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[Ceckert64]

[Wildthings]

My Suby swap in my '91 Vanagon has been running for 10 years at this point, the FI has preformed flawlessly from the get go. Why should I want to get back to wheels having wooden spokes and tires made from steel bands?

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[jtauxe]

Carburetors are nasty in terms of emissions, inefficient with fuel, and are a real PITA in the winter.

How about considering a conversion to electric? It is quite viable, and has a lot of positive aspects. The main negative is the matter of range, which kind of rules it out for campers, especially.
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[airschooled]

EV conversions are extremely viable if you don’t drive more than 200 miles in one sitting/day. That number scares people, but let’s be honest: how many of you drive your buses that far every day anyway?

The cost factor (25k diy, 110k turnkey,) is still leaving those conversions to people with more money than spare time in their lives. Those folks aren’t going on cross-country drives. Let them be the coal mine canaries for the next few years.

Robbie
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[nemobuscaptain]

[notchboy]

[TheRustyRabbit]

Interesting. I have no issue with F.I. at all. I started as a mechanic at the dawn of that era and for me Carbs are not something I really like working with.
That said It just seems to me that the hassle of rewiring a CAN harness to work with a Subaru engine is going to be a pain.
I'm on a tight budget but am blessed to live in an era with plenty of late 90's early 00's Subaru's to pick from. It' would be a project and a half so I just want to be sure its what I want to tackle.
Power and economy? Ya, I'm good with that, but as a life long mechanic, I yearn for simplicity as well.
The name "The Rusty Rabbit" relates to my life long love of 77-80 VW Rabbits with the best fuel injection ever made. The Basic non electric CIS system. Such a wonderful system and a thing that was done without the needs of huge piles of vac lines or dozens of electric do-dads. Pure perfection!
I'll keep everyone posted on the direction I go, but I feel like I'm leaning towards a Subaru swap if the type 4 that this old girl came with turns out to be too far gone.

[Shonandb]