Thank you guys for the positive words! I wasn't sure what type of reception I would get on the Porsche forums, but I figured I'd take a shot. haha Plus, I listed some HRE Fuchs for sale, and didn't want people to think I was a spam bot or something, so I figured I'd reveal my project.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yorkie
Very nice. I like that you have not hacked up the exterior appearance. How did you mate the motor to the VW gearbox? Are you using FI or a carb?
I have a '67 Split Delux Bus that I would like to add some more power and the Subaru idea has me thinking. Mine is stock height so perhaps I could mount the radiator underneath and add some scoops. I would like to make the conversion reversable for when I eventually tire of the bus.
I see you can pickup a whole Subaru for less than a grand is you shop carefully.
|
I bought my engine for $180, and finished the entire conversion with computer, radiator, adapter, etc for under $2000. If you used the stock computer from a donor car, like you're saying, there's someone up north that simplifies the wiring harness for you, so it's literally just a plug and play conversion. And it runs like a stock Subaru.
I used the engine adapter from KEP, which takes care of putting the engine onto the tranny. I fuel injected it, using a Megasquirt computer and mostly all the stock Subaru engine components. I chose that path because I plan on turbo charging this thing, and wanted adjusable tuning.
It'd be very possible to do a Subaru conversion on a split bus and not hack it up. some guys have mounted the radiator right inbetween the frame rails, in the belly of the bus, without cutting up anything. The EJ22 engine fits in the back, with only minor trimming of the rear apron needed. but since that part unbolts on a bus, you could get a spare one and keep your stock apron unmolested.
If you're serious about it, and want someone to help you with some or all of the work, just let me know and I can put you in touch with a great resource. I think it's a great idea!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by RWebb
sanitary!
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick V
Dewd
Yes!!!
|
Thanks! SANO!
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1968Cayman
I initially thought the diverter was going to be something to ankle-bite pesky pedestrians.
|
It does that too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NY65912
My son and I were just talking about doing a similar project the other day!
Very cool and nice work.
|
Nice. I think you guys should go for it! Bug engines are getting more and more expensive to build, with less parts available every year. I see the Subaru engine just as a more modern version of the type1 Bug engine, in a lot of ways. I bet if VW had kept going with the horizontally opposed setup with water cooling, this is very close to what they would have done. In fact, just from looking at the Subaru engine and having built a few VW engines, it's obvious that Subaru studied VW engines (including VW engine failures!) when they designed theirs.
I'll be sure and update this thread when I make more progress on the car. Especially when I get pictures of it out on the autocross track!