Club 80-90 Forums

Evening all- hoping to benefit from some of your collective expertise. For the past two years a bottle of K seal has kept my 2.1 injection engine going but its letting go now and leaking again. With ambitious plans for a family safari to southern Italy this Summer, I know that I must look to a more permanent solution. I've read the recent posts with great interest and have decided to go for an alternative engine particularly bearing in mind the cost of a replacement 2.1 . What would be your top tips and in particular an engine where someone produces a ready conversion kit? Thanks in advance.
Julian

Hey guy's after completing another 1000 odd effortless miles last week in Cornwall, again I can say the only way is the Subaru way.
Without getting back on soapbox and starting to preach AGAIN pound for pound its the most cost effective way to replacing the engine whilst gaining 30 more horses and loads of torques, that is of course with a 2.2 SOHC boxer.
When I originally did my conversion back in April 07 the main aim was to treat it cost wise the same as replacing it for a wasserleaker 2.1?
You can take a look at my conversion by following the link.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/forum ... ?TID=14532" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All told I completed the whole job for £1937.00 and once I had prepared the whole lot ready to go It took 2 complete weeks to install to that standard of finish.
I have now done well over 10K miles being Subaru and also not forgetting that my van is Auto so has a slight disadvantage of not being able to use the engine as well as a manual van.
Have a look at the conversion I did for Pepperami and see if that one can wet your whistle and convert you to the dark side. Link Below.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/forum ... ?TID=27684" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/forum ... ?TID=28339" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any questions ask away as there is a wealth of knowledge here regarding the DARK ART of the SUBARU CONVERSION.

^^^^^^^^^^^Is the man.
I have done about 5,000 miles in mine. Come on over

Auto box needs the govenor wheights lightening to take advantage of the scooby.. otherwise it changes up too soon... but otherwise the autobox works a treat...

Yes even with the governor weights reduced you still cant drive it the same as a manual.Mine changes up at approx 3700 rpm rather than 2500 rpm.
Don't get me wrong I love my Auto van with Factory Cruise control its a real mile muncher on the motorway and a real pleasure to drive even when its slammed 80mm.
I can even slip into the back and make a cup of tea whilst still steering with rope when on cruise!!!!!!!!!!!

I can do this" can even slip into the back and make a cup of tea whilst still steering with rope when on cruise!!!!!!!!!!!"
but i do have to use a stick on the loud peddle.

Flightpath wrote:Yes even with the governor weights reduced you still cant drive it the same as a manual.Mine changes up at approx 3700 rpm rather than 2500 rpm.
Don't get me wrong I love my Auto van with Factory Cruise control its a real mile muncher on the motorway and a real pleasure to drive even when its slammed 80mm.
I can even slip into the back and make a cup of tea whilst still steering with rope when on cruise!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved your workshop diary !! brilliant I just bought a van before xmas, it's an 1.9 auto panel van and is almost as new, very low mileage. It's been brilliant to drive once a couple of small issues were addressed, however..................... last week, for some reason I can't explain the engine block cracked !? my vw mechanic has told me it'll need a complete new engine, am still feeling quite bruised, the van cost me about £3000, I've been looking on the web and it looks like a new lump will set me back about £2000 plus fitting

So having looked through your diary I'm now thinking of going down the subaru rout it makes perfect sense as I'd be spending at least as much to put in an inferior vw lump. So to get to the point, how much did the conversion cost to do and how much did the subaru engine cost you? also I got the impression your van is also an automatic? were there any major mods to make the engine fit to the gear box? did the legacy lump come out of an automatic?

Yeah hi Wood, thanks for the comment on my builds.
Right first things first is your van Auto?
If it is at present no one in the UK does a adaptor for an Auto, but I used Kennedy Engineering in the States for the Auto adaptor and associated part.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THESE WISE WORDS BELOW!!
IF YOU CAN HELP IT AT ALL DO NOT USE MAJOR PARTS FROM DIFFERENT CONVERSION COMPANY'S AS ALL THIER OWN PARTS ARE DESIGNED TO ALL FIT TOGETHER AND NOT WITH ANYONE ELSE'S?
If your van is manual then have a look at Richard Jones website here in the UK to get all the info you need for the job inc estimate costs and also all the parts.
Although I do think that Richard's time scales for a decent conversion are a little adrift!
http://www.rjes.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I got my legacy 2.2 for £250.00 approx and I drove it home all taxed and tested.
I was a shame to break it as it was a lovely car.
Also join the forum:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/subaruvanagon/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
to get even more info on these conversions of which have been done for well over 10 years in the States.

Hey don't forget that there is also a wealth of knowledge on here form people who have already joined the DARK SIDE so ask away.

ive just fitted a peugeot 1.9td engine in for a mate
£950 all in
took the old motor out (non vw) and even supplied a different gearbox!

Flightpath wrote:A good Idea is to try and meet with someone who already ha the conversion done and go for a ride, believe you me there is no comparison with a waterleaker, once the job is done that's it, and Subaru Engines are CHEAP AS CHIPS and readily available.
Look its never gonna be a formula 1 car but it can be as good as a modern day vehicle in economy/power and drivability.

Anyway give me a shout if you decide to have a Subaru engine fitted and we can have a chat, then you too can have a engine bay like Peps and mine.

So where abouts do you live Am probably going to put vw engine in van as I need it on road asap, but want to scooby my bus