Subaru 2.5 conversion in CALIFORNIA...?

VeeDubDaySpa

Before I get slaughtered for asking, I've searched thesamba pretty extensively - also poked around on the Yahoo group, also researched small car and kennedy - I realize that this conversion is seemingly impossible to LEGALLY pull off in California.

With all that said: I want to do it. Laughing

My wishes for this post are to only get feedback on HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I'd rather not hear how I should stay VW or go with the ej22 or an 1.8T...

Have you pulled it off?
_________________
North American Hightop Installer/Distributor
Current stock (5)
Hot Water Systems
_______________________________________
90 Syncro NAHT Vanagon RHINO
86 "Syncro" Van DIAMOND
87 Syncro Hightop WestyCamper ROCKY (for sale soon)
79 bay window OLIVER

j_dirge

syncrodoka · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:19 pm Post subject:

Slaughter him!!!

It depends on where you live in CA, i have seen a few. I think they were from rural areas where they only smog at sale or something like that. Confused

Franklinstower · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject:

Can't you just buy the kit from kenedy to get the carb sticker and use a 2.5 long block instead of the 2.2?

Or go the franken route with a 2.5 block and 2.2 heads, intake, ecu etc. That way you would be using all the kenedy stuff. small car states they build a carb legal 2.5 (although I doubt it is really carb legal, since the executive order was for a 2.2). Give them a call and ask how they do it.
Disclaimer:
I'm from Washington, so I haven't real experience with this idea or with carb.
_________________
'89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug

skivan · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:15 pm Post subject:

70coupyel · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:43 pm Post subject:

I was looking in the classifieds,a few days ago, and seen two 2.5 being sold from Calif. I was thinking WTF?? Shocked

_________________

AnmlMthrM60 · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject:

Outfront Motorsports claims they can make a 2.5 run off a 2.2 harness. Isn't ODBII the reason we can't use the 2.5? If they can make a 2.5 ODBI, why not?
_________________
Justin
-------
86 Syncro - 2.2L WBX
69 Bug - 1776cc

syncrodoka · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:04 pm Post subject:

If you have a BAR sticker or the KEP EO they would both say EJ22. If the smog tech looks and sees EJ25 there could be issues...
I have had techs check the engine code cast in the block before.

Syncrozilla · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:05 pm Post subject:

Lots of people are running around ca with 2.5s but very few are fully legal. I only know of 1 that went through the referee many years ago. The current letter of the law states that no changes are allowed to the OE exhaust until after the cat(s) period. That means factory manifold and Y pipe. Yeah that fits good on a vanagon. If you can get around that one there are several other challenges as well like getting monitors run without codes etc.

When the 2.2 on my syncro goes out (still runs great so I'm not motivated to pull it out) I'll probably put a 2.5 in but I'm not going to try to get it legal. I just tell the smog guy it's a 2.2. I know where the guys are who don't pay attention or don't really care.

Good luck getting yours through (no sarcasm intended).
_________________
Please do not message me on TheSamba. Use my email, [email protected]

r39o · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:18 pm Post subject:

As a moderator I have to say this is likely illegal and I am tempted to lock unless it can be shown how to LEGALLY do this.
_________________
"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)

AnmlMthrM60 · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:25 pm Post subject:

I don't think anyone is looking to do anything illegal. If gone about incorrectly, yes it would be illegal (like claiming the sun is the center of the solar system Laughing

). No the 2.5 is not legal in CA (yet...). Does that mean we can't question it? Can't we look at this thread as what's right, what's wrong, and why? No one is posting a step by step process to commit a crime. I do see a potential problem with hinting at the ole swap-a-roo or list shops that "don't check". The OP just doesn't want to take no for an answer and stated he wants to know "HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN". If he didn't want to try and do it legally, he probably wouldn't have asked at all. Armed with the proper knowledge, maybe he'll rally the troops and start a campaign to make it legal... Likely? No. But hey, things won't change if we don't question them. I mean the earth is flat, right?
_________________
Justin
-------
86 Syncro - 2.2L WBX
69 Bug - 1776cc

syncrodoka · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:44 pm Post subject:

1.8T OBD2 motors are legal- what are they doing differently?
Fair referees? different stock exhaust used?
I thought there was something about the tranny needing to go with the OBD2 motors?

I would love to figure out a loophole to do this LEGALLY.

VeeDubDaySpa · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:07 am Post subject:

AnmlMthrM60 · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:13 am Post subject:

wildenbeast · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:14 am Post subject:

This is my understanding of how the legal 2.5 works as well. Last year I was interested in buying a hardtop Syncro from Simi Valley. I test drove it and the PO was a Samba member as well. He gave me all the info from the person who did the conversion and I researched it a bit. Here's some info I got from Smallcar;

The engine is an OBD1 2.5 with brand new 2.5 short block. The heads, harness and ecu would be from a 90-94 Legacy 2.2 possibly 95..
It is not a high compression engine, premium fuel not required. 160 hp with 155 lb/ft of torque.

edgood1 · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:52 am Post subject:

The 96-99 ej22 and dohc ej25 harness and ecu are interchangable at least for US market engines. 95 *might* be but I have no experience with that one. Not sure if this helps because I think only 90-94 ej22 are allowed in cali
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia

trihartsfield · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:21 am Post subject:

Let me preface this with I am not as mechanically inclined as most on this forum and really do not completely understand all the details of such a swap but I have a question:

If the new OBDII engines are legal in the orginal vehicles what makes the swap so difficult to get legal in CA? It does not make sense that the older car engines are better at emissions than the newer ones. (before you go there I know, I know-------CA!!!!!)

Chris
_________________
1971 Transporter-SOLD
1982 Westy Will grow up into a TDI

syncrodoka · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:32 am Post subject:

'95 rings a bell. Something about them not being required to be OBD2 by law until '96. The early 2.5 motors were the ones with head gasket problems but replacements are supposed to fix it.
I need to do some looking, thanks for jogging the memory.

ftp2leta · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 8:09 am Post subject:

It take one guy with guts, late 2.5L have way less emission. Now make a sniffer test of both (earlier 2.2 VS late 2.5L) and go fight. Something is dead wrong in CA. As for the illegal part of doing so, p-mail me as we can't make it public (and I agree)
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

Jon_slider · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 8:14 am Post subject:

I believe it is legal to have a 2.5 in Cali as long as it is registered in a non-smog county.

Here is an older post about that
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4961993#4961993

and here is the list of non smog counties.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3818726#3818726

afaik, a vehicle must be smogged when first entering california, but not when it moves to a non smog county in Cali.

I dont know why the 1.8T is legal and the 2.5 is not. Ive heard the new CARB rules require the fuel tank sensors from the subaru, to be added to the vanagon fuel tank. Does the 1.8T not have a fuel tank sensor?

And about the stock exhaust requirement from the cat back, for a subaru, how do they get around it with the 1.8T?

Maybe beetsport and vwhead can help guide us, they do legal 1.8t's
I am absolutely not an expert, just my opinions based on what I believe to be true.
_________________
My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Subaru 2.5 conversion in CALIFORNIA...?
Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Next

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Next
Page 1 of 8