1976 Bus Subaru Swap Project

[Krakowski]

This is my first post! A few months ago I purchased this 76' Bus for 1200usd, despite the exterior rust (which I have been attacking aggressively), underneath and inside was mostly intact.

I ripped everything out of the inside, ground the floor down to a paintable surface truck bed lined the floor to seal everything up for a proper floor later on.

Underneath the windshield had an enormous amount of rust as is to be expected. So I mig welded in a repair panel using my Miller multi-process, this was done only a few days ago, and I still need to grind off most of the welds. The thin rectangle patches were areas that needed replacing that the repair panel was to small to cover, so I patched in pieces of sheet metal.

I am really excited to join the community, I am 24 and I have longed for this for as long as I can remember. I am in school for welding and work as a mechanic part time. I plan on doing a full restomod on it, with ac and hopefully if my plans work out 250hp, I hope to put an EJ20 in it and add some substantial reinforcement to the whole thing. I still have a lot to think about as far as implementation. I will update throughout the way. One question I have to send it off is, how does Porsche Forest Green sound for the paint color?
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- 1976 Transporter
- 2013 Jetta 2.5se (Overheated itself into another dimension) RIP

[Shonandb]

Welcome! Nice to see another 76 getting saved. You seem to have the right mix of welding and mechanical skills to repair what needs to be done and the electrical is easily learned (with some study) in case you don't have that skill set.

Do a search under Subaru in the Bay Window Forum and you'll find a ton of swap info and a number of well documented swaps, maybe even a turbo swap in here somewhere.

Looking forward to watching your project progress!
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[nemobuscaptain]

[Krakowski]

[quote="nemobuscaptain"]

[Krakowski]

I have the front end mostly welded up and primed, I put a new windshield in it with new seals because itll probably be a little while before I paint it.

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- 1976 Transporter
- 2013 Jetta 2.5se (Overheated itself into another dimension) RIP

[Vee Dub Nut]

Nice work! Looks like it finished out well.
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Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2006

67 Beetle (TBD)

74 Transporter (EJ25 Swapped) - Build Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

See all my VW pics on Instagram @ vee_dub_nut

[Krakowski]

Just ordered probably the only full set of 15x6 15x112 et 37 vw steelies available atm. I followed notchboy's offroad setup and while its going to look amazing it was a huge pain to find them. For tires i'll be putting 215 75r15 all terrains, i'm on a budget so kumho's AT tire at 110usd is looking like an okay option for the moment. I just moved a few months ago, and I haven't brought my bus over to my new place yet since it has flat tires and rusted wheels. I'll post pictures once I get them on and the bus moved over to my new place. I've been working at a body shop welding on cars for the last few months and it has reignited the itch to work on it, hopefully I can have her running in the next year.
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- 1976 Transporter
- 2013 Jetta 2.5se (Overheated itself into another dimension) RIP

[Gashog]

My best, and only advice, regarding a subi swap, is to grab a wad of hunnies and send it to Don… and the bus too.

[Krakowski]

[Krakowski]

I just widened the hub bore on my passat wheels to fit the bus.

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- 1976 Transporter
- 2013 Jetta 2.5se (Overheated itself into another dimension) RIP

[Krakowski]

I finally got the wheels and tires on the bus and had it moved from my dad's place to mine. They look amazing even before the lift needed to prevent rub

Disregard the stickers I forgot to peel them off and I probably won't lol.

The wheels and tires

A lot more is coming for the bus now that I have it at my house. I feel a hole forming in my wallet as I type this.
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- 1976 Transporter
- 2013 Jetta 2.5se (Overheated itself into another dimension) RIP

[notchboy]

Looking sick brother
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[danfromsyr]

big motor
big tires
big bus
plan on going big on the transmission too.
it's better and cheaper to rebuild it before it's blown up and there's mixed shrapnel inside.
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[Krakowski]

[danfromsyr]

just do ample research

regearing a trans wrong would be like a 5 speed bike missing a gear
maybe too tall of a 1st
or too low of a 4th
or a big gap between 2-3 or 3-4

another view would be a 21spd bike with only 2 of 3 front sprockets..
again.. too low, too high or too big a gap..
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[danfromsyr]

also it is a shame that those 15in by 6in 5x112 ET37 rims are so uncommon

what is the part# on those.. make/model found on anyways.

I had a set and gave them to a friend.. thinking they were 'just passat steels' and haven't found another set..
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[Krakowski]

[metahacker]

there are these
https://gowesty.com/products/15-inch-steel-wheel-s...3989253285
but ET25 and 15x7 instead of ET37 and 15x6
so those special Passat ones should be better for fender clearance

[VOLTWAGEN]

I used

"4 Alcar Steel Wheels 9005 6.5x15 Et37 5x112 for MERCEDES BENZ"

Bought them on eBay and they shipped direct from Germany

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165649637524?epid=13017300938&hash=item26917ce094:g:QO8AAOSwn8djDKq9

Fit perfectly with 215/75/15 BFG's, no modifications needed

[modok]

You asked about blueprints for crossmember then the post vanished.
i was about to say........ sorry to say most of us would have no use for a detailed blueprint beyond pictures with a few material specs noted.

Most of the time these type of parts will be built in-place on the vehicle, because we DO have the vehicle, but do NOT have fixture tables capable of replicating the angles and dimensions of the vehicle.