Ride-On goes Subaru power

[Ride_On]

[Xevin]

[Abscate]

That guy with the Thor hammer and driveshaft has some serious anger management issues...
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.ssS!

[wcfvw69]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

yes, this thread as been left for dead due to the deadline. no joke, I have been on this till the wee hours of the morning trying to get it dialed in.

overall, not sure what I think of the Subaru 5 speed. it's neat, the hydraulic clutch is cool but here is the reality....or at least the way I see it. you simply CAN'T hammer thru the gears like you could a "normal" car. what I have decided is the limiting factor is the 34 foot shift lever hooked to 87 feet of shift rod. add to that having pedals the swing thru the floor make it impossible to speed shift it.

now, all of you in sambaland are thinking "what an asshole...out beating the shit out of this poor guys bus" and you would be right....to a point. truth is it's part of the deal. we had 1 snafu with the trans that the builder is aware of. I have been in close contact with him and am following his procedure to a T in terms of break in.

if it's going to break or explode, it's going to do it on me....not Ride-On. and if it does, I will keep it all winter if need be. it's my responsibility to test these things. every conversion gets a minimum of 200 miles before I cut it free.

other than a little shifter chatter (nowhere near as bad as I thought it *should* be seeing it's all 1 solid shift rod) the shifting is clean, precise. clutch action is smooth, and clutch starts to grab a bit higher than a cable operated clutch would. but seeing there is no adjustment, it "is what it is"

overall, (for once) I don't know what to say. it's a tough call for the added expense and HEAVY modifications for the Subaru 5 vs the reworked 4's I usually use. pro's are the shifting feels more precise, and a bit of a shorter throw. hydraulic clutch is nice for sure. cons are the expense, modifications and goofy CV angle (which so far, they have not complained) again, I dunno. I was hoping I would come here with moist tingly man bits saying "you HAVE to do the 5 speed" but in reality I just can't say it...and not sure if it's a cost thing or a modification thing. my claim to fame with these conversions was reversibility....that was blown right out the window with the 5 speed for sure

we did LED's in the cluster as well (and, this is a pic of starting mileage)

I wanted to make a video, but traffic has been nuts, and wind...holy shit the wind....

5th gear going down I95

and for the first time in 2 years (man, has it been that long?) dumpy bus stopped by....to brag about not doing anything but adding gas to his conversion (and oil changes)

I would have loved to have had my bus in the photo, but it's in 1,000 pieces as I had to borrow parts for Ride-on's bus (long, miserable story)

so, I will continue to plow the miles on this, change the gear oil and she's off to the great white north. overall, it was an epic amount of work....not only the conversion, the nagging little issues that kept cropping up. other than some more brake work, and suspension work she's a mover and a shaker for sure. need to fix some air leaks, but otherwise comfortable inside the bus. the look on peoples faces still make me grin when I pass them....up hill...at 80
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[curtp07]

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Thank you for posting....I'm excited!
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Subaru

[Chochobeef]

I imagine there is a lot of pull left there to go past 90? But i'm sure it would suck driving a brick down the road and as you pointed out, a gust of wind and you will fly into a ditch.

I like the 34foot shifter remark (perhaps meant 34 inches?) With all the time you've spent on this, I see one happy person in the end and thats what matters right?

Now you have more data and info on another type of conversion.

Congratulations to Ride-On (and yes you to)

[skills@eurocarsplus]

No..I meant 34 feet

I am excited about it. Ride On will be blown away for sure. The 5 speed is nice to drop a gear and blow around someone but we are talking a bus...not a bug or ghia. In the end it drives clean and tight...and that's what matters
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[gs2]

As always, looks great.

A quick question for Skills.

What is your engine of choice to do a swap?

Over the years you have used a few different models. Which do you like the best after it is installed?

I looked long and hard at doing an ecotec conversion but at this point I'm thinking Subaru and I'm not familiar with all of the options on engines.

george
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I don't care if you lick windows,
Or occasionally pee on yourself.
You hang in there, sunshine, you're special.

[tristessa]

[Heliconman]

Thanks again for the report,

Great work indeed. Seeing what you went through to add a gear I think I will keep my 4 speed if I ever undertake this project myself. I don't think I have the skills to fabricate all that was needed to make the 5 speed work. Plus I like the idea boy it being reversible back to air cooled if desired.

[Xevin]

[quote="tristessa"]

[vwwestyman]

I don't like to drive my Bus super fast really, but I have very little patience for following someone who cannot maintain a set speed (especially when they are driving a vehicle that should be able to do that easily). So those people do get passed, and it sure is nice to be able to know I will be able to get around them swiftly and with little drama.
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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[danfromsyr]

you mean like non-converted VW Buses

[tristessa]

[vwwestyman]

[KentABQ]

[Tram]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

I spoke to ride-on about my thoughts on the 5 speed. I am not bagging on it at all, but I guess I had higher expectations of it. it's slick, no doubt...and I think the install went well overall. but, for the casual swapper a properly re-geared 4 speed is just fine.

and honestly, much past 80, a bus is a real chore to handle....swapped or not, we can all agree on that. I am pretty sure ride-on will crap his pants when he gets behind the wheel. it's a totally different bus. it should serve him and his family quite well for a very long time. it is a fantastic bus condition wise...one all of us wish we could find. to have a near perfect battery tray says a lot about how well cared for this bus is.

I have enjoyed working with ride-on....through the good and the bad it seems we had each other's backs. it's very rare you get the opportunity to work with a person like that. he deserves the celebration here, not me. it was his vision thru my hands that made it all come together.

I love the bus....I can really appreciate the survivor vibe. everyone gets all hot and bothered for my blue bus, but truth be told, it's too nice. I use it, don't get me wrong, but having a survivor that is used more than a perfect bus is just more fun.

still putting miles on her. I will take some photos of how clean this is...it's pretty nuts.
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[vwwestyman]

I'm a little sad to hear that you're un-impressed with the 5-speed.

It does seem to me that, just as good quality engine parts for stock engines have dried up, transaxle parts will too. Indeed it does seem that some of the parts are getting harder to find. Thank goodness for Weddle and others who have kept them an option for as long as they have.

But as those parts do eventually go away, it is good that other gear box options are being developed.

Is there a similar option for a Subaru auto box? Autos are a little lame in my book, but top-of-head, it seems like some of the fitting would be easier.
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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing