Starting my swap

rs4-380 · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:46 am Post subject: Starting my swap

Got a 96 impreza sport home tonight.

I actually feel bad, because there is really nothing wrong with it, and it would make a great winter/first car Crying or Very sad

I'm hoping my timeline on the swap is short because I can't fit the syncro inside my normal workspace, and cold weather and snow is coming soon. Considering the van currently runs great, and so does the donor, I am hoping that I can forego the usual small nagging torubleshooting issues that usually accompany a swap. I would assume that pulling the wbx is going to be the most time consuming part, and only because I can gaurantee that most of the bolts are rounded rusted and/or seized.

For what it's worth the wbx (87 2.1) will be for sale. As stated, it runs great and actually has alot of new parts.
_________________
Dave
87 EJ25 Syncro GL

Christopher Schimke · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:03 am Post subject:

Good luck with your swap. Take lot's of pictures and keep us updated.

I'm headed for a similar swap in near future. I have already built my exhaust, done my wiring harness and shortened my oil pan. All that's left is to find the time to install it.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

r39o · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:22 am Post subject:

Maine can get awfully cold. Might be a good idea to wait until Spring. You got the perfect Winter car now! OR, you could ready the Suby motor in your regular (warm?) work space and have it all ready to install in Spring. I understand removing the Suby engine carefully and the wiring, takes a good bit of time. Pluse getting all the parts together takes a good bit of time too. Once you get all the stuff cleaned, rebuild or overhauled and ready to install, it just may be Spring by then.

So just how cheap did you get it? Which year and model is it?

Have fun!
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

fatboypaul · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:40 am Post subject:

You might consider ordering everthing you need from the different vendors ASAP, are you familiar with Brent Weide's vanagon website? He lists everything one needs for a swap..... its a brilliant well written site. Good luck with the swap, I enjoy my conversion and the extra power everyday.

r39o · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:47 am Post subject:

Christopher Schimke · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:55 am Post subject:

http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

fatboypaul · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:55 am Post subject:

Try this,

http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/

I wouldn't have attempted my conversion without countless hours reading this guys well written website. Great sense of humour.

rs4-380 · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:06 am Post subject:

wow thanks for that link, I had done my research but never came across that.

I've ordered my conversion parts (smallcar) and my ej22 maintenance parts already so I expect to be seeing everything but the header by the middle of next week.

the donor is a 96 outback sport, it was 850$.
_________________
Dave
87 EJ25 Syncro GL

r39o · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:07 am Post subject:

THANKS. I have SO MANY sites book marked, I don't know what is what anymore even though I have them in many segmented folders.

A brief look revealed a couple of nice ebay searches. WOW there sure are a lot of engines to get.

Gesus, though, I am yet still torn as to what to do about an engine. Stock engine hot rodded or a Suby. Dang.....

Oh well, I got some other projects to finish first before I even get close to doing anything with our Vanagon engine.

Go have LOTS of fun!
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

joetiger · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:10 am Post subject:

Cold weather is a great time to do it.

I only say that because it was 17 degrees when I started my conversion. Here's my site, it's not all that informative, but you might find something you can use:

www.josephtrussell.com/Vanagon.html

A few tidbits that I learned from experience and with the help of the SubaruVanagon Yahoo group and Masters Brent Weide (www.weidefamily.net/Vanagon) and Tom Shiels(subaruvanagon.com):

Are you using the Smallcar engine mount or Kennedy? If using Smallcar, remember that the VW engine carrier is NOT symmetrical. it leans in a bit when installed the correct way.

Make sure to use threadlocker on those flywheel bolts. They will certainly back out otherwise.

The Kennedy intake plumbing pieces are hard plastic and it is a b*tch to get them to open up to go onto the Subaru intake as well as fit over the cut pieces of Subaru plumbing. Putting them in hot water softens them up enough to make them pliable.

Be careful not to break your brake booster valve when removing the VW engine--it's hard plastic and mine shattered into a million pieces in the cold because I wasn't careful.

The most important tip: Once you're finished, try not to go as fast as possible everywhere. You'll be a danger to yourself and everyone around you in a 105 MPH Vanagon Twisted Evil

Joe T.

lilweasel · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:32 am Post subject:

Sweet. I just got my EJ22 conversion running a month ago and just got back from a 2 week, 5,000 mile roadtrip. I am going to post details soon. I used smallcar mounts, tom shields coolant header and t-stat housing (very recommended) and the H&R accelerator linkage and radiator return line. Brent's site is the best recource I used. I'm still chasing a few codes. Give youreself plenty of time to do the wiring, as that was pretty time consuming.

Here's H&R for a few key parts:
http://www.vanperformance.com/catalog.htm

Also, I didn't end up getting a KEP radiator bleeder petcock, but will soon. That's highly reccommended.

joetiger · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:33 am Post subject:

I also used the Tom Shiels setup, and have had no cooling issues at all.

That radiator petcock is golden...Even non-conversion Vanagon owners should invest in one of those!

Joe T.

klucz · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject:

If you like the Suby, maybe keep an eye out for a WRX or STI motor, maybe even JDM. Then you'd have the best of both worlds. Good luck with the swap!
_________________
84 Westy 4spd sold

r39o · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:

OK. Here it is in print. My buddy is making me a $300 deal on an EJ22 he surgically removed with all the goodies from the car that are needed. Included is the wiring nail board diagram to roll my own harness.

This has offically put me over my indecisive hump. Well, almost, that is. I still am vasalating. But, heck, for $300 I sure could not get much towards a built Vanagon engine. A built Vanagon engine does not come too close to the power of the stock EJ22. Westy's need power. In my case it will be over 50HP more than my anemic stock 1.9 is doing. Won't that be a kick in the Arsche? Or, at least, I won't lose money if I sell the engine!

So here I too start to investigate this route more completely.......UGH....

I guess I will start with the harness. Or do I just spend the $450 or $750 other places want to this task? Heck I are an Enginerd, I ought to be able to handle a harness, eh?

See this is another one of the power of the internet things happening.

I am not sure whether I should be happy or lament the fact I got a lot of smarts to absorb.

Wish me luck......
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

levi · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject:

Did you also get the vin #?
With the auto tranny you might want to make the 2 cut modification to the governor to change the shift points. I did this and it made a big difference. Without the cuts it shifted almost immediately into both 2nd and 3rd.

r39o · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject:

wbx · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject:

Christopher Schimke · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:37 pm Post subject:

If anybody is looking for an alternative to SmallCar, check out Outback Motors. ( http://www.outbackmotors.com/index.html )

They deal in mostly sand rail applications but if you call and talk to them, they are very well versed in all facets of Subaru conversions. Their parts are top quality at very reasonable prices. They sell adapters, shortened pans, exhaust parts, etc. for Vanagon conversions. I purchased my adapter, flywheel and clutch from them. They were VERY helpful and curtious. Shipping was prompt and the parts are top notch.
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)

*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected]

levi · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject:

lilweasel · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject:

oh yeah, also pull a connector from the speakers while you've got the car. You can use it to hook up a laptop to your select monitor plug. I'm doing that soon. See below:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/b10scan/


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