Subaru into Aircooled

[Dubstar]

Thinking of doing a 2.2 Legacy conversion on my Aircooled 81 Westy, and apart from the obvious - lack of water - are there any major issues specific to going in an aricooled? You know, a specific piece of wiring from a watercooled loom, that sort of thing? Or is it just a case of wiring in a set of aftermarket water temp gauges?

[Pepperami]

Jack i Norwich is in the process of doing his try wacksoo.

[Vanagonman]

Thinking of doing a 2.2 Legacy conversion on my Aircooled 81 Westy, and apart from the obvious - lack of water - are there any major issues specific to going in an aricooled? You know, a specific piece of wiring from a watercooled loom, that sort of thing? Or is it just a case of wiring in a set of aftermarket water temp gauges?

There's a bit more - rad, cooling pipes, mount, cutting of front sheetmetal, EFI petrol tank, EFI fuel pump, heater matrix box/blower box, heating ventilation - plus while you can reuse the gearbox - the later T3s have a better gearshifter linkage, etc.

With so many WBXs about, and few Aircooled T3s left, you'd be better off selling yours and buying a WBX (maybe even one with a tired engine for cheap).

[Dubstar]

Good idea, but I do like my Westy, not in a sentimental kind of way, but I know all it's in and outs. It's my daily driver you see. Also forgot to say, it's an auto. Thinking of making a bid on one on Ebay at the mo that has all the watercooled bits on it so I guess I could swap it over a bit at a time, so eventually all I would have to do is swap the engine, if that makes sense. You know, install the water pipes and rad, matrix etc and block the ends off until it was time for the swap. I was also gonna try not chopping the front end at first, but make a well sealed off duct to the rad from the top grill, and a couple of electric fans. If it gets too hot then I guess I would drill some holes for the lower part and then put on a lower water cooled grill to cover it up.

[Pepperami]

Scoobys run quite cool anyway.

[HarryMann]

Scoobys run quite cool anyway.

Still risky though, they done't necessarily run cool oil though... and they hate airlocks in the head area. One episode of overheating and that'll be it I reckon.
Best suggestion seems to be to get a watercooled and transfer your interior? Maybe the aircooleds will became rare-enough to be worth more soon...

[jamesc76]

cutting of front sheetmetal, EFI petrol tank, heater matrix box/blower box, heating ventilation - plus while you can reuse the gearbox - the later T3s have a better gearshifter linkage, etc.

sorry but the bits I've left of your thread are all wrong! No need to cut any metal , mines running and has done for 4 years on a normal carb tank, no need for a heater matrix if you dont want one, and the gearbox will be fine!!!!! I can say this with some back up as im a mechanic and have been for a long while, TSR drag racers have been doing this conversion into bay windows and beetles for years, and there very helpfull blocks not up there own a*rses who are willing to help over the phone etc, alot of people I have talked to have used mini cooper rads one on each side underneath with no over heating issuses, ok its not gonna be as easy to fit as in a water cooled but anything is possible!!!

[Dubstar]

I think in this weather, a heater matrix is a must! I still dream of having proper heat coming out of them vents and not wearing 2 coats. Oh and the increase in MPG would be very nice too. So tempted at the mo, it's just storage space while I do it. Just as a matter of interest, is the end of the Subaru loom just a positive and negative wire to connect to the VW loom to power it up?

[jamesc76]

The wire's that get connected to the van if i remember right are battery pos, ign pos, temp guage, and oil pressure thats about all tho the ecu on the subaru on mine has about 70 wire's on it!

[HarryMann]

KEP (Kennedy Engineering Products ), do a good loft of the converted loom and instructions to go with it... by post from US

I'd lend you mine but the last bloke I lent it to pinned it to his garage wall I heard (and is probably still there...!)

[Dubstar]

Nice one. Well it would have been obviously. I've seen pictures of the 6 foot long sheet on the Brickyard from when Flightpath did his. I don't think the wife would be too inpressed though as I'm colour blind as you like and always call her in to make sure I'm cutting the right wire and I believe there are up to 70 going to the ECU! But I do have an O level in electronics bizarly.

[jamesc76]

Im colour blind too dont worrie about it as all the wire terminal's are numbered up, or i would have failed!!

[wackos00]

well mine is almost finished and it hasnt been easy but mainly due to me not knowing what I was doing and muddleing along finding out info as and when oh and paying a few poeple when I got stuck. In all ohnestey if I were to do it again I think I would need very little profesional help, but having said that it would be alot easier to start with a water cooled van. wish me luck she should be going for an MOT next week!!

[Pepperami]

Good luck fella

[Vanagonman]

Before you make the leap into Scooby power - read this from RJES's website:

Whole Installation:

The following is an approximate guide to how much it is likely to cost to convert to Subaru power. They are based on the simplest installation - an early '90's Legacy engine into a T25 / T3 / Vanagon. Obviously the costs will increase for mire complex installations:

Minimum Cost:
If you obtain a very cheap engine, buy only the essential parts (such as a bellhousing kit), make everything which can be fabricated as one off's yourself (engine mounts, exhaust, etc, etc), and use scrap yard parts wherever possible, it ought to be possible to install a Subaru engine in something like a watercooled T25 for under £ 1000, INCLUDING THE ENGINE. It will cost you a lot of time and effort as well though. This will obviously increase if you have to install radiators, etc.

Typical 'Self Installation' Cost:
If you were to buy all components available, for as much of a 'bolt on' installation as possible, from RJES, You would be looking at your engine cost (see above), plus about £1200 for all the conversion parts. This is very approximate, as what parts are needed depends on so many things. Total £1200 ish plus engine.

'Drive Away' Installation Costs:
As 'Self Installation Costs', plus about 2 days labour (approx. £ 300??) for someone to swap the engines and install all the conversion parts. Also add at least another couple of days labour if you want the installer to source all the parts required, and strip the donor car. Total about £ 1500 ish, plus engine.

When you factor all the converting that you will do to allow an Aircooled van to watercooling (if you do it same/similar to a later stock watercooling spec) it will add complexity to your conversion.

I would recommend you get a good watercooled van and transfer the "Aircooled camper bits" to it. It will save you much fuss in the long run, possibly save you money (especially if the watercooled van had a faulty WBX) and give you an early Aircooled van to sell on. Besides, the later vans have many improvements over the early ones, which you'll reap the benefits of. Good luck in either case.