for questions and answers about alternative power transplants on the T25, GTi, Porsche,Subaru etc, this is the place. You must register to post but anyone can read.
First post of what I plan to be a regular(ish) update of progress on my Subaru conversion.
I bought my T25 1.9 WBX in a bit of a hurry to take on holiday in Wales this summer - and it overheated on the first long trip. What with coolant leaks from numerous places (including both heads), suspect oil pressure, and very rough running on startup, I decided the old WBX had to go. After much searching of the internet (including this forum) I decided to go for a Subaru conversion. Last week I received my EJ20 - 72,000 miles - from a 1996 Impreza.
Today I moved the T25 into position and onto the ramps, ran it for the last time (had to remove and clean up the plugs to get it going), and then started pulling bits off!
Weather was good, and rest of the family were elsewhere, so made good progress, and managed to get the old WBX out.
Had JUST enough clearance to roll the WBX out on my sack trolley. The EJ20 is sitting on a specially made low level trolley made with bits of kitchen worktop and some old castors supplied by my Dad.
Just waiting for the bits from RJES now. Managed to break off one of the coolant manifold bolts when removing it to send off to Richard for reversal, so will have to extract or drill that out before reassembling.
Well it's been several months since my last post, and in spite of a number of hold ups, work has progressed...
Lots of pics like these were taken before removing the inlet manifold etc. to get at the coolant manifold, which had to be removed to send off to RJES to be "reversed", in case I forgot where all the wires, coolant and breather pipes went when the time came.
Dsc_8107.jpg (117.24 KiB) Viewed 14557 times
Coolant manifold removed ready to send off to Richard...
Dsc_8114.jpg (118.72 KiB) Viewed 14557 times
A few weeks later, the modified coolant manifold arrived, along with lots of other bits. Meanwhile, the Subaru wiring loom had been sent off for conversion.
First thing I noticed on installing the reversed coolant manifold, and replacing the inlet manifolds and fuel injection stuff, was that two of the fuel pipes now obstructed the temperature sensors...
Dsc_8188.jpg (111.67 KiB) Viewed 14556 times
...easily fixed with a little careful bending of the fuel pipes.
Next I started work on removing the clutch release assembly from the VW bell housing, and installing it on the RJES bell housing. Sounds simple? Toughest job so far was removing the clutch release arm from the shaft. I had to build a puller to get it off, and even then needed to apply a fair bit of heat, and give it some good whacks with a hammer. Fortunately it eventually came off with little damage, and the plastic sleeve intact.
Dsc_8233.jpg (84.21 KiB) Viewed 14556 times
...and here's the assembly mounted in the new bell housing, complete with new release bearing...
The connectors removed from the VW wiring to send off to RJES for incorporating into the new wiring system...
Dsc_8278.jpg (115.44 KiB) Viewed 14522 times
...and the new clutch installed on the Subaru engine.
Dsc_8487.jpg (129.75 KiB) Viewed 14522 times
The biggest problem with the clutch was removing the Subaru pilot bearing (to be replaced with one with a larger inner race to accommodate the VW shaft). Richard's instructions give a suggested method for removal using a block of wood, a screwdriver, a nut and bolt and a claw hammer (assuming you don't have an internal puller handy, which I didn't). I tried this method, but the thing wouldn't budge. I thought I would have to resort to removing the flywheel, but decided to just try a bit more leverage first. So out came my trusty 4' steel pipe. I removed the rubber sleeve from my claw hammer so that the pipe would fit over the end of it, braced my foot against the side of the engine to stop the whole thing moving, and pulled! The bearing slid straight out. Great what you can do with a big lever, just wish I'd taken a picture of it!
I did the same conversion 18 months ago myself, besides a few hiccups it went very well, the reversed manifold works well as I had no bleeding issues at all.
If you have steel waterpipes check them, mine were perforated, I replaced mine with plastic ones.
I has Powerflow make an exhaust using the Subaru downpipes cut off just after the Lambda probe running into a Subaru WRX Backbox tight under the left rear panel, all that is visible are the 2 outlets, keeps it nice and quiet.
Pulls like a train, just stick it in 4th and leave it there, good on fuel too 30mpg easy, hills no longer an issue when loaded Hooray!
The only pain is checking the oil as you have to lift the engine cover to access the dipstick.
Have fun it's worth it!
3021, 1986 Devon Moonraker, pop top with the aerospace roof. Subaru Imprezza powered.
camper wrote:Is the coolent manifold reversal esential for a VW T25 conversion.Asking because ive not seen this discussed on subaru T25 conversion.
no not at all, I did mine before rjes was even a company, ( he was just starting on making the bell housing mould!) my manifold is still as it left the factory I just plumbed the water pies round to that, that way if it brakes (tho very unlikely) i can get one straight away!
DJ at Dubdayz Summerfest Now cutting about in an LT35 MWB
