Subaru conversion for air-cooled T25 Westy

[GDT1]

Hi everybody. This is my first post. I have a 1983 air-cooled T25 Westfalia that I have owned for a year now. I love it but with 4 of us traveling with bikes on the back and loaded up it struggles on the hills. I've decided to get a Subaru engine fitted. The 2.0 air-cooled engine has twin Dellortos, electronic ignition and is perfect, so I can't imagine that I can expect any more power from it from further mods.
What I would like to know, please, is should I be considering a suspension upgrade at the same time? If so, what would members recommend. I don't want to lower it but would a shock absorber upgrade be worthwhile?
Also, I will be hoping to sell the air-cooled engine. What price can I expect to get for it? It runs sweet as anything...and where should I advertise it? Many thanks

[Mk2Tony]

I think a suspension upgrade is always a good idea if your running standard and don't know when it last had new shocks etc.
I will be interested in your engine if your thinking of selling, or just the dellortos if you would split them.
Are you going to cut the front panel for the rad then as it is Aircooled? I have always wondered if anyone has done a conversion with the rad mounted elsewhere to keep the look of the air cooled front panel

Tony

[Dollytony]

I converted my Aircooled to Subaru EJ25 power, here's the link if you haven't already read it:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=140429" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have kept the suspension standard mainly as I don't want the ride to be any harder & I have not changed the sump so I don't want it any lower for ground clearance. So if you like the ride as it is then putting the Subaru engine in is not going to change that, but it may change how you drive it, I like the extra power & reliability but I don't tend to thrash it, I just wanted to be able to cruise at 70-80mph fully loaded & not worry about hills.

My Aircooled engine was standard I sold the whole lot as a turnkey (ie all ancillaries) lot on ebay & it went for £500, if yours is uprated I would expect a bit more.