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Double7Westy
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2015
Posts: 38
Location: Maryland
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 Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 2:07 pm Post subject: Upgrade advice to compliment Subie swap |
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Hey guys, Ive got an 84 Wolfsburg with 190k across country last year off just an oil change/tune up and regular maintenance and the bus was a dream the whole time. Over the last year I have been acquiring parts and saving for a full subie conversion sometime early next year or until the 1.9 finally dies and I am looking on some advice as to the best upgrades/priority of things to upgrade with it, I know opinions will differ a lot but im hoping some people have some real life experience with it and would like to chime in, to help me be "prepared" if that's possible with one of these haha. I will be installing/doing as many things as I can based on some good tutorials on here and in the interest of budget. Please call me out if anything is unnecessary or not a priority, or that I could save money on through a different vendor or brand, as long as its not crap.
Heres what ive already gotten
1993 Subie 2.2 70k miles- I plan on purchasing mostly KB conversion partsand going through the necessary internal maintenance steps suggested before install
All 4 go westy replacement springs (want to run 1 inch spacers would this cause CV problems?)
2 front bilsteins 2 rear monroes
16"steel Passat wheels with necessary spacers etc.
Go westy aux battery wiring kit and battery (not gowesty cant remember brand)
Thule roof bars
What I plan to get now (in order of priority)
Big brake kit
Upgrade headlights-cant decide between busdepot complete H4 upgrade kit or a south African conversion.
Full service of transmission (auto) and gowesty cooler installed.
Front or rear steel bumper with hitch attachment/tire swing out.
Pop top roof assist
Gauge lighting kit
Sink repair/upgrade kit.
Truck fridge to replace OG fridge (not working)
Thin flexible solar panel kit to hook up in line with aux battery
Overall, I am looking to have a total budget of about $3000 not including the subie stuff and am looking to make the best use of what Ive got from there.
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84 Wolfsburg Westy
90 Tintop |
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jacob.
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2009
Posts: 802
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Upgrade advice to compliment Subie swap |
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I don't see the point of putting a new engine in if you're not going to replace the entire cooling system. What good is a nice engine if it can't be cooled properly, which with 30+ year old equipment, it's probably not going to. Get the stainless pipes, a new radiator, new heater hoses, everything. When you're installing the stainless steel pipes, you have to drop the gas tank. I took this as an opportunity to upgrade my gas tank to the newer style with the 12mm outlet and filter after the pump, all new fuel lines, the whole shebang. No more whining fuel pump. With the new engine, nicer 16" mercedes rims with tires went on as well. After driving around for a week, I decided that while I was at it, I may as well re-build the front end. Engine ran great, great power, but the clunk clunk clunk on the front end made for a not so enjoyable ride. So new powerflex bushings on everything, new upper and lower moog ball joints, moog tie rod ends, all new hardware on everything, all old parts wire wheeled and painted.
Pretty much now that I've started, I can't stop. This shit adds up quickly.
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| RCB wrote: |
| jacob gets razzed a lot cause he has the only GEX engine thats lasted longer than half an oil change. |
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Double7Westy
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2015
Posts: 38
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Upgrade advice to compliment Subie swap |
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| jacob. wrote: |
I don't see the point of putting a new engine in if you're not going to replace the entire cooling system. What good is a nice engine if it can't be cooled properly, which with 30+ year old equipment, it's probably not going to. Get the stainless pipes, a new radiator, new heater hoses, everything. When you're installing the stainless steel pipes, you have to drop the gas tank. I took this as an opportunity to upgrade my gas tank to the newer style with the 12mm outlet and filter after the pump, all new fuel lines, the whole shebang. No more whining fuel pump. With the new engine, nicer 16" mercedes rims with tires went on as well. After driving around for a week, I decided that while I was at it, I may as well re-build the front end. Engine ran great, great power, but the clunk clunk clunk on the front end made for a not so enjoyable ride. So new powerflex bushings on everything, new upper and lower moog ball joints, moog tie rod ends, all new hardware on everything, all old parts wire wheeled and painted.
Pretty much now that I've started, I can't stop. This shit adds up quickly. |
Hey Jacob thanks for the reply, sorry I forgot to mention I will actually be upgrading the cooling components too, I was planning on the stainless lines from bus depot, and an upgraded radiator but hadn't heard about the gas tank stuff so thanks!
Ive heard mixed reviews on the bushings, some have told me that it wasn't worth it, I was planning on the springs and shocks along with a possible sway bar being enough.
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84 Wolfsburg Westy
90 Tintop |
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Double7Westy
Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2015
Posts: 38
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Upgrade advice to compliment Subie swap |
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anyone else?
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84 Wolfsburg Westy
90 Tintop |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17143
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 6:52 am Post subject: Re: Upgrade advice to compliment Subie swap |
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I second the front suspension bushings, even if you go with stock stuff. I replaced my front end (bushings, ball joints, tie rods, rack, shocks, springs) about 18 months ago and the difference was amazing. I no longer change lanes on the highway when near trucks or in high cross winds.... 
Also inspect and lube wheel bearings and CV's too.
You are welcome to stop by sometime and talk shop.....
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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unibagel
Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2004
Posts: 559
Location: Bflo, NY
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 10:59 am Post subject: Re: Upgrade advice to compliment Subie swap |
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Here’s what I did (it was a busy winter in the garage for me!):
EJ25 Swap, RMW Kit and Harness
Head gaskets, water pump, oil pump, tuneup, belts, etc…
AA Transaxle rebuilt transmission with .77 4th gear
Powerflex rear transmission mount
RMW SS cooling tubes
New 5/8” heater hose
New Fuel lines & vacuum lines
Cleaned fuel tank
New fuel filter
New clutch slave cylinder and line
New parking brake cables
Powerflex Front Anti-Roll Bar, upper and lower Endlink Bushings and Steering Rack Bushings
New upper ball joints,
Radiator Coolant hose kit, clutch slave cylinder, Brake Line Tee, Rear Brake Lines
Power steering hoses and RMW P/S Adaptor Line
Burley SS Front Brake Dust Shields
Hella Hi-Lo Horns
WeatherTech Rain Guards
T3 Technique Shifter Guide Repair Kit, Bosch wipers
ARB 2500 Awning
Rear 3 point seatbelts, GoWesty collapsible ladder
Blue Sea Aux Fuse box, Battery Ground Cables, Wire
Blue Sea Automatic Charge Controller
Basically anything that looked suspect got ripped out and replaced. 
Last year I did:
GoWesty zero lift springs
Koni Red adjustable shocks
15" Mercedes wheels with Yokahama Geolandar tires |
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