Subaru engine in the 914???

[tulmntim]

I know all of you will more than likeley dispise this idea, but I've really been toying with the idea of putting a subaru engine in my 914. Anyone else on this forum looked into this? Just wanted some advise on this matter. Any idea how hard this conversion would be? Any suggestions on a tranny? Do you think a rwd tranny from an early 80's model would work? Any insight would be great! Thanks for you time and looking at this post.

[cruiksdr]

Do a search. There are quite a few who have done this. You'll find a lot of discussion and some good pix too

[scotty914]

i am doing this but have not touched it in a year it fits wonderfully

search either here or on shop talk forums for pics

[SLKWrx]

Sweet.. dropping my STi's motor in the 914 would make me want to shoot myself, but damn would that be fast.

[mikey]

Yeah......I just checked ebay and saw a 2.5 liter motor with 175 hp with something like 20k miles on it....asking aroun $1k for it. Those things have 4 valves per cylinder and dual overhead cams too. Hmmmmmm.....the gears are turning.


mike

[SteveStromberg]

Check this site for some Subby info

http://offroadvw.net/bajawes/linktoV6.htm

And here a place that sells JDM engines

http://www.nippon-motors.com/subaru.htm

[lapuwali]

Hm. It's interesting that the 2.0 Soob non-turbo four is roughly the same weight as the Type4. One can get a junkyard Soob engine for a lot less money than it shown on that site. Perhaps WRX engines are $2500, but a non-turbo EJ20 is more like $500, and the 2.5 non-turbo version (160hp) is under $1K used. It's a bit heaver than the EJ20, but probably still within 5kg of a Type4. And, you're getting a DOHC four-valve engine here that's certainly going to be capable of being tuned to 200hp w/o a huge effort (cams and exhaust, really). 300hp is also not too hard to hit with a turbo. A lot less weight that a V8, with far fewer problems with size. Most of the older 1.8-2.5 turbo engines are also pretty cheap used, so cheap that buying another used one is often a better idea economically than rebuilding one.

The tall sump doesn't seem to be an issue in a 914. You will have to fabricate a custom engine mount, as I don't believe anyone is selling one.

[914helo]

I recently purchased a Subaru SVX motor (3.3L H6 n/a) that has only 60K on it. Stock it's 230 hp with 227 ft.lbs. I haven't starting the whole transformation yet, but the only 2 downsides are that not a lot of SVX's were made, so parts aren't as common as other models, and it's about 100 pounds heavier than the type4. Very reliable though, simple, low maintanance, and 7,000 rev limit should be a blast in a 914.

[mike mueller]

there is a SVX with rear-end damage on the 914club.com classifieds right now !!!!!

it also has 4 speed automatic...that would be nice with a six motor pushing you around

Any suggestions on a tranny?

1) use the stock 914 transmission...you'll need an adapter plate and special flywheel from Kennedy Engineering Products (my VR6 plate and flywheel came in today, yippeee)

2) use the stock subaru transmission, no special flywheel needed

I have heard of one subaru swap that the guy supposedly used the 6 motor and transmission and the rear hubs/brakes on his 914....I have no idea how he adapted the parts to the rear trailing arms or if he even kept them.

[tulmntim]

What do you guys think about the idea of cutting out the motor mounts from a car at the junk yard, then kinda costomizing a conversion box with those? Think it would be easier to just fabricate a new one all together? Thanks for all the good input!

[914helo]

I am going to use the 914 tranny. It fits much easier and I want a manual (the SVX only came stock with an automatic). I considered using a WRX 6-speed but that seemed like too much work. As for the motor mounts, I know on the 3.3L it would be really hard trying the convert the rubber mounts onto some kind of frame than attaching that to the car. I am going to try and modify my existing bar, or fab a new one. I haven't placed it in the engine compartment yet so I don't know how much work I've got ahead of me yet.

[tulmntim]

I currently have a tail shifter and was going to go to the side shifter. Should I just put the side in now, or am I going to have to modify the tranny mounts when I go for the conversion???