First Startup Subaru Flat 6!

[rennch]

I think it sounds great!


https://youtube.com/shorts/W8mWmfdM2t4?si=FfoRTZvueTa_jvTo


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ben parrish]

Blasphemous! Couldn’t help the pun; sounds fantastic..hard pressed to “hear” the difference compared to an air cooled. Impressive work and dedication Michael. My only negative comment is We don’t live closer so I could see it in person and take the first ride.

[kach22i]

Sounds pretty good.

[nospiners]

Pretty cool !!!!!!!!!!!

[silverlock]

There’s a few swaps like this (into 912’s too) and it makes a ton of sense for a fun hot rod.

Most of these Subaru swaps are because the original engine is toast/missing/car was a shell anyway, so arguments around purity don’t hold.

[shadowjack1]

I like it. Save on older 912/911 on a budget.

[PeteKz]

With the Porsche muffler it does sound very much like the original engine. Congrats.

Since y ou decided to go water cooled, did you consider the V8 LS engine install? If so, why did you choose the Subaru?

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

With the Porsche muffler it does sound very much like the original engine. Congrats.

Since y ou decided to go water cooled, did you consider the V8 LS engine install? If so, why did you choose the Subaru?

Same question also!

Erik

[rennch]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

With the Porsche muffler it does sound very much like the original engine. Congrats.

Since y ou decided to go water cooled, did you consider the V8 LS engine install? If so, why did you choose the Subaru?

No, never. The whole point of my swap kit is that it still looks and sounds like a flat 6 is that it IS one. Plus, Porsche did the Variable Valve system on this engine. Think of it like a much more modern SC 3.0. (But, 300hp, 65 lbs lighter, and a much more modern, tunable ECU. And you can tune it up at Autozone for like 70 bucks) But it's completely invisible unless you point it out to people...the cars and coffee folks will never know.

[rennch]

Originally Posted by silverlock

There’s a few swaps like this (into 912’s too) and it makes a ton of sense for a fun hot rod.

Most of these Subaru swaps are because the original engine is toast/missing/car was a shell anyway, so arguments around purity don’t hold.

Also, my kit is completely non-destructive. The custom radiators fit where the factory oil coolers would mount. There's about 5 holes (4 - 3/8 holes and 1- 1-1/4 hole) that need to be drilled to mount the brackets for the oil coolers and allow the ECU harness to fit through, so you can run this engine while your air-cooled engine is being rebuilt (for about 30k) if you like. Or you can store your engine and rail this one on the track without worrying about a huge bill if you toast it. There's tons of upside and not much downside.

[rennch]

Originally Posted by silverlock

There’s a few swaps like this (into 912’s too) and it makes a ton of sense for a fun hot rod.

Most of these Subaru swaps are because the original engine is toast/missing/car was a shell anyway, so arguments around purity don’t hold.

Oh, and this one lets you add fun things like turbos to get over 400HP without having to do a full engine build. (on e85, no less...)

[kevbo]

Not bad and it's cool that you can swap back to the original 3.2.... All for 18k

https://rennch.com/lastern-subaru-porsche-flat-6-swap-kit/

[Black 993]

That's fantastic -- really sounds authentic. Looks like a great setup.

[rennch]

Originally Posted by kevbo

Not bad and it's cool that you can swap back to the original 3.2.... All for 18k

https://rennch.com/lastern-subaru-porsche-flat-6-swap-kit/

My hope is that it will solve an ongoing problem in the vintage Porsche world, which is not only preventing younger (and less wealthy) people from starting the hobby (by buying a shell or an old race car roller) but also more experienced folks that might not want to wait 2 years and spend 30k (which is the going rate and time here in SoCal) for a rebuilt 3.0 that peaks at 180hp. These cars with around 300hp are an absolute joy to drive.

Thanks for the plug @kevbo.

[stownsen914]

Cool option. Certainly sounds the part.

[kevbo]

I looked at the LS option once as a hot swap so I could slowly rebuild my 3.2 at some point but the install was too..... permanent. Based on your XP, is this more plug and play or is the install more one way like Renegade?

[ant7]

Looking and sounding good, well done!
Ant.

[Jeff Higgins]

Mechanically, the engineer in me loves it. Philosophically, the life long Porsche enthusiast in me recoils a bit. Monetarily, I see this as a false economy.

By the time we have purchased the kit and a suitable engine, we are really not all that far behind the cost of rebuilding the Porsche motor.

It also sounds to me like any "savings" are predicated on not having the skills to rebuild a motor, but somehow having the skills to perform this swap. I'm thinking that if a guy has the skills to perform this swap, they should have no trouble rebuilding their Porsche engine.

A more fair comparison would be the cost of having either done professionally or the cost of doing either one of these, the swap or the rebuild, DIY. I think in either case that the rebuild would actually be cheaper.

Then there is what would undoubtedly be a tremendous loss in value should it ever come time to sell. I bet it would be worth less than half what it would be compared to if it had a suitable Porsche engine. Much of the allure is simply gone for most buyers.

Certainly a very interesting, very cool little exercise. Hat's off to you. Very well done, for sure. Please don't take what I'm saying as trying to be negative, I'm really not. Just some thoughts that crossed my mind.

[ant7]

I tend to agree with you Jeff,
However; from my perspective, I would see this as a viable option for those who may find a car minus the engine for a real good price, then I guess this swap might be a no brainer, considering the value of the car minus its original engine would already be considerably lower, hence my comments are solely aimed at the project itself, I too would find it a bitter pill to swallow removing the original engine if it were present, just to fit another engine in its place, first and foremost, if the original engine can be salvaged, then why not rebuild it and keep the originality of the car, and hence its true value ?
Ant.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Mechanically, the engineer in me loves it. Philosophically, the life long Porsche enthusiast in me recoils a bit. Monetarily, I see this as a false economy.

By the time we have purchased the kit and a suitable engine, we are really not all that far behind the cost of rebuilding the Porsche motor.

It also sounds to me like any "savings" are predicated on not having the skills to rebuild a motor, but somehow having the skills to perform this swap. I'm thinking that if a guy has the skills to perform this swap, they should have no trouble rebuilding their Porsche engine.

A more fair comparison would be the cost of having either done professionally or the cost of doing either one of these, the swap or the rebuild, DIY. I think in either case that the rebuild would actually be cheaper.

Then there is what would undoubtedly be a tremendous loss in value should it ever come time to sell. I bet it would be worth less than half what it would be compared to if it had a suitable Porsche engine. Much of the allure is simply gone for most buyers.

Certainly a very interesting, very cool little exercise. Hat's off to you. Very well done, for sure. Please don't take what I'm saying as trying to be negative, I'm really not. Just some thoughts that crossed my mind.

[ToySnakePMC]

Great job Michael! I must be one show behind on your YouTube channel. Your channel and Tom from Ah Garage Time are my two regular "must see TV" for me. I've had time to think over this Christmas break, and I'm thinking that the EZ30 may become my go-to swap for a little 914 that I have sitting in the shop - less running engine. I realize your kit will not fit my car, but ya never know where this new engine kit business of your may take us...! Best of luck - you deserve much success from all this hard work. Patrick