Help/advice on Subaru swap on 82 westy.

[isurfahotline]

Hey so if anyone had some knowledge on this swap and wouldn't mind chatting for a few I have some questions. Some of it is with California smog laws and stuff so probably someone with knowledge of that as well. But the ej22 swap looks not to difficult with the conversion kit. Some of my questions are is there an easier swap to do? I talked to someone and she said the ej22 will pass smog no problem but the ej25 you have to go through some loop holes to get it registered and what not. Anyways I have a good amount of questions if anyone could help that would be awesome! Thanks!

[Vanagon Nut]

Is your Westy a diesel or air cooled engine?

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[isurfahotline]

It is an air-cooled one.

[Vanagon Nut]

I'd looked into doing a 2.2 Suby on my then air cooled '81 This was in 2008 and the 2.5 has come a long way since then but I see your comments re Smog. At that time, my reasons for considering that swap were that it was fairly well established and, it's a non interference engine.

Your first challenge will be to figure what's needed to swap from air cooled to water cooled. Though the parts required pretty much "bolt up" items like the heat exchange box at dash are a consideration. And "little things" like running new wires from engine bay to dash for oil pressure, coolant gauge, tach (not totally needed) and VSS, rad fan wiring, etc. add up in terms of thought and time put in. That stuff right there makes any swap more difficult or at least time consuming.

The 2.2 swap has been around for some time so bugs, issues related to a water cooled Vanagon to suby should be ironed out; buying a kit should help ensure a smooth(er) swap. Heck. I bet you can buy pre done wiring harnesses for that swap right?

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[isurfahotline]

Yeah so I was going to buy like a motor from a JDM depot. But they cut the harness. So I was up in the air about buying like a donor car and just taking out what I need or buying the long block peicing it together and buying a predone wiring harness. I would obviously have more reliability. I don't want to buy a subaru and put a motor in with 200k miles. So that's kind of where i'm at. Like up in the air with what route to go.

[termuehlen]

I am not aware of anyone with a California smog legal Subaru 2.5L conversion. It is the OBD2 system that makes it much more difficult to get smog approved in California. Every Subaru conversion that I know of is using OBD1.

More info here:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=502340&highlight=subaru+2.5+california

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about this over the phone.
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1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

[16CVs]

Hello young Grasshopper.

These are all realistic questions, But something that is and has been covered in a bunch of threads. Learn to use The FAQ's at the top of the page.
You will find an answer to 99% of the questions you have. Bottom line, the way you want to do it is the most difficult way to go. From converting from Air to Water and then sourcing an engine without a donor car and then looking for a harness and all the bits you'd need.
Unless you are really Mechanical and have lots of time I'd buy one done or spend the money on a proper A/C rebuild. There are builders who can build a proper T4 engine that will last with decent power at about the same price of a conversion.
Good luck on your project and be sure to post pictures as you go along as we all love photos.

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[Vanagon Nut]

[isurfahotline]

Thanks for the help! Appreciate all the quick responses. I'm sure i'll have more questions. So I will start looking for a donor. I knew that was the easiest way to go so that just kind of backed my decision on that.

[isurfahotline]

[nacradriver]

[isurfahotline]

[AZ Landshaper]

Definitely have Tom shiels do the wiring. He's a great guy that has made huge contributions to the Subaru swap community. You will almost definitely want the help of those in the yahoo Subaru vanagon group. tom started that group w another dude. He did my wiring and the beast started up first try. Whamo!!
He has been there to answer questions after the fact as well.
As we all move forward on the shoulders of those that went before us. You will likely move forward on the shoulders of Tom Sheils. He is a Subaru swap pioneer.
Want to know how to route your cooling system. Toms site. Want to know how to make the genny light work w the EJ 22. Article by Brent but found on Toms site. Want to know just about anything needed to make the suby push a VW van and Toms site will have details.
Have I made myself clear?
Join yahoo subaruvanagon and support your small mom and pop vendors , cause u just can't get this type of service from Walmart.
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Support Small Business.

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85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

tom sheils (from what I understand) is no longer doing harness work. honestly, I didn't want to bag the guy but he left me high and dry on an issue with a harness he did for me.

go to jeff robenolt if you do this. he does all the harness work for almost every vendor out there. great guy to work with
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[nacradriver]

[isurfahotline]

Hey does anyone know any places in the Los Angeles area
that is similar to SteelHead? I called them but it's just somewhat
of a mission. Was wondering if there is anywhere closer that has
knowledge of the swap like them!