Subaru swap guide/info

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[71SubaruBeetle]

I am swapping an EJ20X into my '71 Super Beetle and it is a JDM engine. I am new to the world of swapping and was wondering what ECU's will work with this engine?

On another note, I know that this is too much power for the stock transmission. How hard is it to modify the stock transmission to be able to handle it? Otherwise, what is the suggestion for a transmission for it?

Any help I can get would be awesome!

*I do not have a donor car, I purchased the JDM engine from someone that purchased it and would not fit their vehicle.

[mauricemonge]

I had to google this one. Looks like your best bet would be to find an ecu from the correct engine, but people have also used an ej255 ecu. The wiring harnesses from a usdm harness (wrx/sti) will work,

Remember that the ej20x runs ACVS, and you'll need a harness, or modify a harness to run that. The ecu might also need a tune if you're not running the stock one.

Since the harness is the same as the usdm one, you can easily get an aftermarket ecu and harness and tune, but that gets expensive.

What are your goals for power?

[rmengr1]

for the VSS on an ODB11, Will it work using the Subaru transmission with a reverse ring and pinion (Subaru Gears)? if you keep the stock vss it will run backwards but seems like that wont matter. its counting pulses... shouldn't care which direction the sensor is turning. anyone have experience with this?

Thanks
Bob[/quote]

[gprudenciop]

Doesn't matter it will work! It's a pulse signal. I am running subarugears transmission no problem....
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[mauricemonge]

Working on my mid engine setup now. Still have a lot of little things to work out, but all the big stuff is there. My block in the shop is sleeved and the bottom end should be good for 700+hp

[av8shunmeckaneck]

[bruceo98]

Hello, new here and have a couple questions about swapping a Subaru motor into a 62 bug i just got.i see most cut off he rear body panel and the rear of the quarters to make it easier to install the motor. what do you do to put that back on? Weld it back up after the swap? Dzus tab it? Looks like some have a bulging rear body panel put in place of the stock one. where do i buy that from? Also i still have to get a motor and want as much stock hp as possible. which motor and year Subaru would that come out of? body cutting and replacing body parts aren't a problem since i own a body shop and been doing this for 45 years.Fabracation isn't a problem.Also , how do you lower the car without it looking like the tire are about to fall off (Cambered in alot).Does someone make a kit to lower it and still be able to get a correct alignment?Thanks

[ekacpuc]

[bruceo98]

What would i need to convert it to IRS? I plan on using a Rancho PRO STREET Trans and i see they sell them in swing or IRS. What else is required to convert? Thanks for the reply

[ekacpuc]

[mauricemonge]

You don’t need to cut all of the back off, but it can make it easier. I use dzus fasteners to put everything back together.

Converting to an IRS is probably the only way you’re going to get your wheels flat. I think you could do a tranny raise, but I don’t know what’s involved in that.

You’d need IRS trailing arms, to cut and weld in the inner pivots for them. The correct spring plates and torsion bars, axles, spindles and bearing, and a tranny. I did mine myself, and it’s been done often if you search.

As far as power, the 2.2’s are around 135-140hp I think, and 2.5’s make 160-165hp. Adding a turbo is always an option, the NA motors will take 5-7psi just fine. Or going with a turbo motor to begin with can get you 225-300ish hp.

[bruceo98]

Yes I plan on a turbo motor . I’d like to make around 250-300hp . I just sold my turbocharged mustang race car that made 1300 hp so I’d like to build a street car with a lil go power. I’ve always liked VWs so I decided to build something a little different .thanks for the replies .

[locutisj]

Wow! Crazy amount of good information here. Thanks to all that have contributed.
I have a ‘68 Baja that lost the engine (VW) a while back so want to do a Subi swap.
I recently got a great deal on a 2006 Outback. 187k miles and fairly good shape but had transmission problems. Great donor car. Then afterwards I ran across a video about Subi swap and near the end the guy mentioned that 2005 on models have a transponder system in the gauge cluster. I really don’t want to include all the donor gauges in my ‘68 Beetle swap. Can this transponder be deleted assuming my ecu can be flashed?

[Dusty1]

I'll keep this short so no one misses the point:

A plain vanilla normally aspirated Legacy motor makes two or three times the power of a stock VW 1600 dual port. A built Type 1 or Type 2 transmission is pretty much mandatory.

We don't build high performance vehicles to drive conservatively.

Here comes the word problem:

Question: How many burnouts can you do with a stock EJ25 bolted up to a stock IRS transaxle?

Answer: One.

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[mauricemonge]

[Dusty1]

[locutisj]

Thanks, mauricemonge. I've been reading thru some of iWire's stuff and as Dusty1 said, sheer volume of text to read/gloss over, so I'm sure I am missing stuff.
I don't plan on burning up the quarter mile or challenging Mustangs, my Baja is just for fun riding around and the occasional easy to mild off roading. There aren't very many off road trails in NC, at least that I'm aware of. We do however have mountains so a little more power would be nice.
With that said and from what information I have assimilated I'm thinking I may have made the wrong choice with the 06 Subaru. I don't have a lot of free cash to spend on purchasing standalone ECU's and readymade harnesses, hence my reason for getting a donor car.

[mauricemonge]

[Dusty1]