Carb'd Subaru Baja

[63 ragtop baja]

Hola, Como Estas?

Well guys, I am looking to dropping a subaru ej(20 likely) into the butt of my 63 rag top. I am aware that buying a donor subaru and taking my time pulling the ecu and harness then pulling the engine and that slow methodical process. Then I would have a heartless donor car to dispose of as well as another process of the install and wiring and blah, blah, blah...

So!, my question is simply. Would there be any real problem with pulling the engine and blowing off all that wiring BS and just carbureting the sucker? I mean really, its bad enough swapping that good(cough) ole aircooled 1600 out for a water cooled quirkless engine but why-oh-why do I need the extra 5 pounds of control equipment in my baja?

Q&A's greatly appreciated.

[ts39136]

only thing is ignition, how to control the coil? But, it's been done.
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[63 ragtop baja]

but how?

do you know directly of a project where it has been done or do you know directly how? if so please feed me the info.

[ts39136]

[63 ragtop baja]

I would be more for the distributed option because if I'm running carbs instead of the ecu why not wash my hands of electronic ignition all together.

Problem though.....where to find a distributor for the ej?

[euromog]

I have been researching what is currently being done with Corvair engines in aircraft. They have come a long way. Some people are taking Subaru engines that have to use a gear reduction prop drive out and installing Corvairs! The Corvair has so much low end power they don't need gear reduction. The Corvair conversion is lighter and MUCH smoother. You can get a core for as little as $350 and the replacement parts are CHEAP. Modern seals for the engine make them oil leak free. Reverse rotation cams and essential conversion parts are availible from Clarks and other places. You can get Pertronix ignition for the stock distributor and manifolds to run single two barrel or four barrel carbs. I have had to straighten out quite a few strange running issues on Subaru engines that are still running the factory ECU. Some replacement parts are only found at the dealer and are expensive. Aftermarket EFI system would be much better but that is more money.

[ts39136]

[63 ragtop baja]

I think I am coming to that point. If it was as easy as buy the parts and secure and engine I would without hesitation because it just sounds neat to me and I would get a kick out of having an ej20 carb'd in a beetle.

Now my problem is that subaru's are premium in my area of socal and getting what I need from a salvage yard would be impossible. I've been looking at picking up a wrecked 2001-later impreza but I dont know how to get it from an insurance company.

[GS guy]

Already a rudimentary kit available for this. It's a dual IDF carb install with Megajolt ignition control. Seems to work great!
http://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=132524
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[63 ragtop baja]

have found a 1998 legacy gt2.5 in my area for just 800 greenbacks. so i plan to pull that sucker in the next week and start taking out the harness...

wish me luck

[ts39136]

[Dale M.]

Let me see, you want to replace modern efficient EFI with old school poor efficiency carbs and doctor up "something" to work as ignition....

I convinced a friend (competitor) into putting a Subie with EFI (ripped from donor) into his Auto-X car and now instead of me beating him at each event, he beats me at the events........

I do not see a advantage or a performance gain here....

Dale
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[veeweeman]

I agree, if you're gonna replace the VW air cooled motor at least make it count...I personally would do a 4.3L Chevy V6 conversion, gobs of torque and you can easily run a carb or EFI...tons of after market options and very reliable...all I'm saying is that if and when I was to ever replace the air cooled power plant I sure ain't gonna replace it with another 4 cylinder.

[ts39136]

x3, go with efi.
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[63 ragtop baja]

[ts39136]

[63 ragtop baja]

[ZackN]

My mom had a old 80 somethin subi for YEARS. Put over 330 thousand on it and it still ran PERFECT. We ended up getting rid of it because it was soo old and she considered it an 'unsafe' vehicle for us kids. I guess the (only) lap belts and broken exhaust didnt have a chance against that 4wd system
She got another subi. 200+ on this one already They make good engines, just keep the efi.

[ts39136]

Hey '63,

I got to thinking. You should approach the JB weld company and offer to build the carburated subaru with all JB weld. Have them send you a case of 100 tubes or more to build the manifolds, distributer mount, etc. You might get them to sponsor you. Then offer to tell your story and show off your ride for payback.

I've seen worse ideas; It just might work!
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[63 ragtop baja]