My RMW suby kit build. DONE!

epaddler · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:13 pm Post subject:

tschroeder0, thanks for posting your conversion. I’m trying to decide whether to attempt this myself, order a turnkey, or pay the professionals, and this thread really helps. A few specific questions for you.

Did you purchase your engine, harness, etc., from a wrecking yard or pull it yourself from the donor car? Would you choose that route again?

If you ordered your parts from the wrecking yard, did you use the parts list that Smallcar has on its site?

I see you worked on the engine without an engine stand. Would you do that again, or invest $150 or so for a stand that rotates?

Did the RMW instructions cover prepping the engine compartment and determining what stayed and what was to be removed?
_________________
1989 Syncro Westy
My build thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=450246

theDrew · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:14 am Post subject:

Thanks so much for this -- I'm just starting down my own path of an EJ25 conversion using RMW's pieces.

Two questions --

1.) do I need to add to the coolant manifold a sender for the dash? Or does the subaru sender work for that?

2.) I noticed you put gasket maker on the coolant manifold connection to the block -- is that necessary or are you just being overly cautious? When I pulled mine off, there was only the rubber o-rings which I replaced. Should I pull it again and add the gasket goop to it as well?

Thanks! I hope to post my very own conversion thread once I get all the pieces assembled!
_________________
Turbo 2276 MS3X build http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=673125
1985 Vanagon Campmobile w/ 2005 EJ25

kalispell365 · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:03 pm Post subject:

BetaVan · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:39 pm Post subject:

Petervw · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 6:41 am Post subject:

GrindGarage · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:09 am Post subject:

Congrats on the swap. I have the same motor and love it. Just remember to change that belt again around 80k mi as these motors get a little extra power from the interference design. I went with all smallcar as RMW did not have the kit out yet.
_________________
-cliff

91 Vanagon AUTO
97 Single Port EJ22 all smallcar.com

tschroeder0 · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 9:48 pm Post subject:

hey all ,
sorry for not replying faster, I haven't been paying too much attention lately.

I did not use an engine stand but it would have been nice.

I went back to the stock temp sender for the dash because it reads closer to "normal" (which now means at about 3/4 when at running temp)

I did use sealer on the coolant manifold, but that's just my preferrence.

***Remember to replace your air/oil cover on the back of the engine with the metal one!!!!!

The engine runs great and I am getting really good mileage (23) even here in the mountains where most of my driving involves big climbs, I am however using oil.
This has been much discussed so I won't go over it in much detail but I believe during the winter I will be doing rings/head gaskets. If anyone has experience doing this please let me know.

*Grind- good tip on the early belt change.
Thanks,
Todd.

ProvoCyclist · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:11 pm Post subject:

Todd,
Thanks for posting this. Ive been out of the Vanagon scene for over a year, I had an 85 sunroof van that I put all my heart and soul in to (don't we all?), it had an SVX swap in it with the RMWesty kit.

I regret selling it every single day. Seriously.

So now I'm back in the Vanagon market, since my Passat is a total bore! I'll be doing the 2.5 with the RMW kit, so i'm really happy to have found this thread! Thanks again, and thanks for being so thorough in your documentation!
_________________
Clark
Current: 1986 Tintop GL 2wd, stock 2.1L, manual trans, Flash Silver LP7Y.

Past: 1985 Sunroof GL, 2wd, Subaru 3.3L, manual trans, resprayed to Diamond Silver L97A

coclimber · Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:14 pm Post subject:

tschroeder0 · Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 7:30 am Post subject:

I'm not sure how anything could be 100% plug and play since You would always have to connect to the wires in the J(unction) box that had to be disconnected when the original harness was removed?

coclimber · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:16 am Post subject:

tschroeder0 · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:45 am Post subject:

As I said in my write up, this a very small issue, I would not base the decision to buy or not on it. The quality of the RMW kit has proven to be excellent.

malibu · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:33 pm Post subject:

jbnova · Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:13 pm Post subject:

Plus, you'll be able to get the RMW kit with a Tencent exhaust in the not-too-distant-future. An email I received from RMW said as early as winter.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=544047&start=40
_________________
1986 Westfalia Weekender
2wd; Bostig RG3
GoWesty (H&R) 1.5" Lift Springs + 0.5" pad in rear.
Bilstein Shocks
16" Mefros, Cooper Discoverer AT3 (215-70-16)

beardfoot · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 10:26 pm Post subject: Re: My RMW suby kit build. DONE!

Thank you! This is the best. These photos are great and super easy to follow.


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