Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Whatever you want to put in the back of your VW...
AKG1600
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by AKG1600 »

flatfourfan wrote:give or take 100k I'd say.
I'd say you're on the proverbial 'money' give or take. It'd take at least that much to complete the build to the appropriate level of finish.


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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by Dawie »

Are you planning to do the conversion yourself? Hope it turns out well for you.

By the way, i assume that you did your homework on Subaru. They have their issues as well. Head gaskets issues on 2.5L and others. Some say the engines with only 3 studs per cylinder (6 per side of 2 cylinders), have more issues. Not everybody agrees that the newer gaskets have permanently solved the problem. But opinions differ on that.

Guess which engine needs no head gaskets?
Staying Aircooled is so much nicer.
Do'nt assume anything- (While doing fault-finding).
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by AKG1600 »

Dawie wrote:Are you planning to do the conversion yourself? Hope it turns out well for you.

By the way, i assume that you did your homework on Subaru. They have their issues as well. Head gaskets issues on 2.5L and others. Some say the engines with only 3 studs per cylinder (6 per side of 2 cylinders), have more issues. Not everybody agrees that the newer gaskets have permanently solved the problem. But opinions differ on that.

Guess which engine needs no head gaskets?
I'm aware of the head gasket issue, but from what I understand those were on the series1&2 power plants. I'm thinking if I go EJ254('05+) I should be fine. There are the EJ22 & EZ30 options out there as well but I think the EJ254 will suit my application quite nicely.
The work on the conversion will be outsourced. Sadly, I'm not mechanically inclined.
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by Hloni »

AKG1600 wrote: However, my problem is engine choice, from the perspective of which engine offers the best fuel economy (a bug bear of mine I admit).
Brother man, I think the fuel economy money will go into the rebuild budget :)
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AKG1600
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by AKG1600 »

Hloni wrote:
AKG1600 wrote: However, my problem is engine choice, from the perspective of which engine offers the best fuel economy (a bug bear of mine I admit).
Brother man, I think the fuel economy money will go into the rebuild budget :)
As I said previously; 'I can live with sacrificing fuel economy; an acceptable compromise IMV.', so yes I'm happy for the money to go into the rebuild budget. :lol:
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by retrovan »

May be sounding like an old broken gramophone here but..... :roll:

The head & Hart aches you are planing for your self, at such a high cost, you will be able to make 3 type 4 motors BOMB proof. :shock:

If guys after spending less then 20 000 ZAR's are willing to fly with a single type 4 engine at 4000 feet, hell think what good odds you will get on a flat tar road...... :D

If you Balance the crank
Fit up-right fan system
Twin spark system (aircraft system)
electronic ignition
Electric fuel pump
Electric shut off solenoid
already has external oil filter
Improved air filtration
Stainless steel exhaust
Electronic fuel injection
Hydraulic lifters
228 clutch kit
That motor will be indestructible, and less then 20 K ZAR's
And the best of it is, you send your wish list and a cheque to IMPI, and you get your motor back in a crate.
And it will pop right in ... and... I can assure you...you will smoke any thing from the lights. :wink:
No shoddy workmen ship, no excuses for going over budget, and no pushing blame when the motor goes pear-shaped.
And here endith the sermon ... .. :puterwork:

Herman



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1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
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2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by Hloni »

Armen
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by flatfourfan »

If you Balance the crank (no idea on price)
Fit up-right fan system (dunno Armands current price, but I expect it to be around R3500-R4500 as you need the alternator stand as well)
Twin spark system (aircraft system) (no idea on price)
electronic ignition (R500 for the normal EMPI unit)
Electric fuel pump (R1100 Bosch)
Electric shut off solenoid
already has external oil filter
Improved air filtration (+/-R1500 for K&N's)
Stainless steel exhaust (R4000 for a half decent set up from TnT)
Electronic fuel injection (dunno what set up you're looking at, but injectors, ECU, manifolds, harness, throttle bodies + all the extras are hitting close to R8000) IF, you go for a lot of USED parts
Hydraulic lifters
228 clutch kit (R1500 last time I checked)

Without the lifters and the extras (that I have no idea on prce) and we haven't even touched the heads yet with valves/ springs or done anything on the cam, you're already looking over R20 000. Then you're looking at Armands labour as well as shipping costs which you haven't included in the price yet. Plus you're looking at the actual cost of a Type 4 motor to start off with......say another R5 000 for a decent one.

As for the above engine killing all...........not quite. The mild type 4 that I had on loan from Armand simply would be left behind if put up against my current stock 2.0 8v set up.

I think that we have to be realistic here. Doing an air-cooled motor is NOT cheap, my buddy Dirk Muntingh does basic rebuilds on a type one and you're looking at about R14 000 for that. Remember also, if you have any issues, (not saying that there will be, but you have to think about it) with the motor, then you have to ask yourself, who is going to look at it for you????

My only regret with my water-cooled conversion, is that I didn't do it sooner.

Follow your heart man..........
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by Bugger »

I'm also with flatfourfan a decent fuel injected Type 4 motor will cost you in the region of R35K to R45K as a matter of fact any conversion will be in the same ball park
a Subaru conversion with all the bells and whistles for reliability +-R45K
A 2L Long block Golf motor in the back of the gia will be strong and reliable fuel efficient and gives very good power
and the advantage of it all is you can sit on the Highway at 6000 RPM the whole day with out destroying the 2L Golf motor

My Personal Favorite as mentioned before if you go Water cooled is a Well built 2.1WBX then Rotary as the normal Deck lid of a Beetle closes with a WBX and Rotary/Subaru and then
I will go for the Golf

I have done a 2l Long block in a Microbus and it ran very well with all the weight of the bus and Fuel economy was 10Km/L from the 6Km/L before

Different strokes for different folks choices are difficult to make sometimes so that is why it is good to do proper research to what you want to do
Adapterplates Available for Rotary in Beetle and others aswell
And Special Boxes built for Rotary Conversions and Scubies
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AKG1600
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by AKG1600 »

Compliments Of The New Season ACVWSA!

So glad to see we made it. I'm pray that we all have a positive 2013.

FlatFourFan & Bugger. Thank you for your input, it's greatly appreciated.

I had a long hard look at my Ghia project and assessed what it was I wanted out of it. I've been sifting through all the information I've been gathering, weighing my options (Type1, Type4, watercooled) and keep arriving to the same conclusion:
For the environment in which I want to use the jam jar, the watercooled option is the way forward; and of the watercooled options available Subaru makes the most sense to me. So that's where I'm at.
I understand that the N/A motors will more than suit my needs. I'm in no rush so I think I needs to invest time in making the best choices for me.

If I may ask Bugger, why do you favour the Subaru 2.1 over other possible solutions (EJ20/22/25)?
Is there something particular which you like about the specific set up to which you refer?
Last edited by AKG1600 on Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by Bugger »

Compliments to you and everyone else

I am talking about a 2.1 WBX Microbus motor with std VW Fuel injection which work the best out of experience in a Beetle or would be same in a Ghia
I prefer to use the EJ20T single turbo motor when going Subaru as it is a good power plant and less hassles and most of them have steel gears where the 2.5 have the plastic gears that get damaged in the shipping containers with the motors bumping against each other on the sea if not packed right
I have heard of to many guys that went 2.5 and had gears break and motor is then Kapoet so if you do go 2.5 then replace gears immediately when doing the conversion not cheap insurance but insurance
Adapterplates Available for Rotary in Beetle and others aswell
And Special Boxes built for Rotary Conversions and Scubies
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King Morakeys
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by King Morakeys »

HI guys please help, just bought a 1975 vw beetle and it's a non runner so I wanna know where can I take it for a conversion preferably for a Subaru engine, I am located in Durban and the beetle is in free state. Please help.
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by flatfourfan »

speak to bugger.................^^^^
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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by Bugger »

HI

You can give me a Bel and we can chat about your Wish list and Buget

Best and economical conversion is a 2L 8V Golf Motor
0826008663
Pierre
Adapterplates Available for Rotary in Beetle and others aswell
And Special Boxes built for Rotary Conversions and Scubies
Pierre
082 600 8663

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Re: Planning A Subaru Conversion...

Post by Rudi Raaths »

Read through this whole post to only find out on the last page that it is four years old. However I am quite curious as to the poor Ghia's outcome.
Does anybody know if it is still running somewhere ?
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