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Christopher Schimke Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 5374 Location: PNW
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:14 pm Post subject: Something Truly Idiotic: Subaru install!!! |
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So last spring I developed this hair brained scheme to install a Subaru STI motor into my Vanagon. I had no idea what kind of adventure awaited me. Even though it isn't done yet, this has been one of the most challenging projects that I have EVER taken on. I'm usually one who is not shy about typing lengthy stories but I think that I will just keep my mouth closed and let the pictures tell the story this time.
Bringing the engine home:
Building the header:
Wiring hell..The label maker is my friend:
Adapting the speed sensor:
Shortened oil pan:
So that's all I have done for now. Things I still have left to do include:
Mount the WRX instrument cluster and make it look pretty.
Build the exhaust after the turbo.
Build the engine mount.
Install the damn thing.
Do smokey burnouts.
Buy new rear tires.
Race Eric in his Tristar.
Pay speeding tickets.
I'm going to have Daryl at AA Transaxle build the tranny with a taller fourth and a torque biasing differential.
That's it for now. _________________ "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] |
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D Clymer Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2005 Posts: 2978 Location: Issaquah, WA
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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Nice work! Looks like you're no stranger to metal fabrication. The header looks particularly good. I haven't seen anyone shorten an oilpan the way you did. Usually, people just cut off the bottom and weld a steel plate to it. You actually sectioned it and welded back the same base, didn't you? What are you going to do for an electronic throttle pedal?
David |
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Cat and Walter Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2006 Posts: 244 Location: Soutern Utah
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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you've got my attention! looks great! |
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M_atthewanderson Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 288 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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Loogy,
DAMN!!!!
your mods are just awsome. when i saw those headers my jaw droped. when i saw that oil pan i had to take a cold shower. I will expect to see you blow by me on the 5. for your hardest project you make it look so good in those photos.
matthew _________________ 1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon |
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M_atthewanderson Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005 Posts: 288 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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i need to see more photos!!!!!
funny i was just reading about the new sti forester _________________ 1980 2.0 Sunroof Vanagon |
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klucz Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2006 Posts: 1062 Location: Chicago, IL
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:06 am Post subject: |
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WOW...That is just too cool. That header looks sick. Nice work, man.
Was wondering, how come you decided on the TB diff?
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the STI is in the building."
I live not too far off the interstate and I can always pick out the STI's at night. That's some serious power. Congrats! |
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CF Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005 Posts: 802
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:17 am Post subject: |
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that is great . nice job
when will you start making a kit ? for the rest of us |
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Volksaholic Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2005 Posts: 1771 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:19 am Post subject: |
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Very nice work indeed! As others have stated, the header system and oil pan look very professional. The wiring harness looks clean as well... that's the kind of thing it seems most folks make a nightmare for all subsequent owners/mechanics!
Paul |
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Raynor Shine Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2005 Posts: 552
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:39 am Post subject: |
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nice fabrication work, and I really dig those headers. How much left to get it on the road?? |
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tikibus Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2006 Posts: 834 Location: Rochester, NY
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I'm not worthy...
Any time your in WNY, many cold beers await you.
NICE JOB! _________________ Happy Trails!
Mark
______________
Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC |
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Christopher Schimke Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 5374 Location: PNW
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:30 am Post subject: |
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Well thanks guys! I just wish I was further along on the project. You know, it's one of those things where you estimate X number of hours to finish a particular task and it ends up taking three times as long as you anticipated. Oh well, it's getting closer to install time with every completed task.
To answer some questions:
David,
Yes, I sectioned the oil pan and welded the original base back on including the relocated oil drain plug. I wanted the pan to look as stock as possible.
The DBW throttle will be the original STI assembly. It will mount on the front bulkhead and function exactly as it did in the Subaru.
Matt,
Trips to Portland and BC should seem much shorter now. But to be honest, I don't really like to drive all that fast on the freeway. I much prefer to tear up the back roads and twisties. I will add more pictures as complete more things.
8419p27,
The stock Vanagon differential is a horrible "one wheeler peeler" if you know what I mean. I suppose that it could be shimmed to tighten up the spider gears some but the TB differential seems like a better way to go. Maybe I'm wrong about that though.
Paul,
The wiring was very important for me to get "right". I wanted it to be as clean and OE like as possible. I tried to mimic the way that Subaru did everything. Future owners (or archaeologists) should have no problem decifering what I did or trouble shooting if necessary.
Raynor Shine,
I would like to start the actual installation of the motor in about a month but with as unpredictable as the weather has been (read that, the kids are out of school a lot and no power), we'll just have wait to see if that is realistic or not.
Tikibus,
Thanks for the offer, you'll be the first to know if I'm in town. _________________ "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] |
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vwjedi Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2005 Posts: 1463 Location: G-ville, FL - hopefully on a trail.
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Hey congrats on the commitment to your Vanagon costomization, it looks like you will definatly complete the job with great results!
I love custom Dubz, not over the top lambo door crap but well engineered original projects. Have you seen this guy's WRX powered Vanagon befor?
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/543989
[GVideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1048229366952451146&q=steam+castle[/GVideo]
[GVideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2405882361924750398&q=steam+castle[/GVideo]
These Subaru projects get me amped up to complete the SVX conversion I have planned for this summer. It should be cake compared to WRX power, I long for the day I will be a pulling a boat to the Gulf and passing in the left lane!
Good luck Loogy! _________________ 1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on... |
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Crankey Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 2651
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:48 am Post subject: |
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wow, that's incredibly impressive Chris ! can't wait to see it happen ! |
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doppelganger2 Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2006 Posts: 1
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:43 am Post subject: |
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we need more pics vids everything ,that work is awesome .and i see scooby conversions all day.i have a t25 pickup with the ej22 that has done a 16.1 qtrand a caravelle with a 2.2 but gonna be leggy turbo later this yr |
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ChesterKV Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2005 Posts: 1725 Location: El Cerrito, CA
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:17 am Post subject: |
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vwjedi wrote: |
Hey congrats on the commitment to your Vanagon costomization, it looks like you will definatly complete the job with great results!
I love custom Dubz, not over the top lambo door crap but well engineered original projects. Have you seen this guy's WRX powered Vanagon befor?
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/543989
[GVideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1048229366952451146&q=steam+castle[/GVideo]
[GVideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2405882361924750398&q=steam+castle[/GVideo]
These Subaru projects get me amped up to complete the SVX conversion I have planned for this summer. It should be cake compared to WRX power, I long for the day I will be a pulling a boat to the Gulf and passing in the left lane!
Good luck Loogy! |
Is that white car a tricked-out Corrado ? I know someone who would be PISSED to see a Vanagon/Transporter beating a Corrado.. |
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Tristar Eric Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2004 Posts: 1241 Location: Portland, Or
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:20 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Race Eric in his Tristar.
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I've ben following your progress very closely and everything looks fantastic! Nice job on the pan.
It looks like we're going to have to put a "Turbo Vanagon" type of get together in the PNW soon. Since we have the most in the country!
A friend of mine recently said that once completed, you're Tristar is going to be the "swiss army knife of vehicles".
This is the year! (to finish these STI swaps)
Eric |
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RichBenn Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2005 Posts: 703 Location: Lake Tahoe, NV
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:01 am Post subject: |
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loogy,
You have my respect! Excellent work!
--
Rich |
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WRX_weekender Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2007 Posts: 22 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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Still love that header! Sounds like the hard stuffs all done.
Bryan
'85 weekender with '03 wrx motor |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3411 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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BRAVO.... excellent work..
nice header.. will you powder-caoted it..?
and will you open a Conversion Shop soon? let us know ...
dan |
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Crankey Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 2651
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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Eric Didier wrote: |
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Race Eric in his Tristar.
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I've ben following your progress very closely and everything looks fantastic! Nice job on the pan.
It looks like we're going to have to put a "Turbo Vanagon" type of get together in the PNW soon. Since we have the most in the country!
A friend of mine recently said that once completed, you're Tristar is going to be the "swiss army knife of vehicles".
This is the year! (to finish these STI swaps)
Eric |
that'd be cool I'm still stock but I'd love to check out peoples work |
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