2.5 Legacy conversion - done at last!
Posted: 10 Aug 2010, 11:10
Finished at last. I have completed my 2.5 legacy upgrade to my T25 Camper. What a difference it makes - we can go up hills without being reduced to 2nd gear and it is even slightly more economical than before. However now feels a bit undergeared.
So I thought I'd give all a bit of a summary.
Thanks must go to RJES for all the bits, which fitted off the shelf, and make for a much less stressful experience but as importantly, the advice. Also to the Haynes Motor Museum, who did most the spanner work for a very reasonable rate. They even knocked some of the hours off as it was a voyage of discovery for all. The cost was more than hoped but most of this was due to doing all the gaskets and seals on the engine before it went in as a precaution and the their desire to make it as professional a job as possible down to placing all the wiring in new conduit, re-undersealing the underneath where the cross member was attached, sorting an oil leak on the gearbox, etc, etc. It looks a fantastic job and worked straight from the box, which says a lot for all parties work, but I paid for it!
Also thanks to the Subaru guys at Used Subaru Parts nr Cullompton for second-hand bits.
In total, the Legacy with FSH and 53K miles was £700 plus £300 to deliver from Newcastle to Someset.
RJES stuff was £2000 approx inc exhaust
Haynes gave 50 hours approx at £50/hr to remove VW and Legacy engine, recon and then refit the Legacy engine and parts etc.
There was other stuff that gets paid as you go along but you get the idea
I got £600 for the VW engine and £250 for the remains of the Subaru.
Was it woth it - financially probably not, I guess the van is worth more but as a keeper to use, yes. It has made it much easier and more relaxing to drive especially 4 up with bikes and kit, running cooler and further, rather than having to cane the 1.9 VW engine within an inch of it life constantly.
Next to do is to go up a size in tyre profile to try to raise the gearing a little before looking at gearbox ratios possibly.
So I thought I'd give all a bit of a summary.
Thanks must go to RJES for all the bits, which fitted off the shelf, and make for a much less stressful experience but as importantly, the advice. Also to the Haynes Motor Museum, who did most the spanner work for a very reasonable rate. They even knocked some of the hours off as it was a voyage of discovery for all. The cost was more than hoped but most of this was due to doing all the gaskets and seals on the engine before it went in as a precaution and the their desire to make it as professional a job as possible down to placing all the wiring in new conduit, re-undersealing the underneath where the cross member was attached, sorting an oil leak on the gearbox, etc, etc. It looks a fantastic job and worked straight from the box, which says a lot for all parties work, but I paid for it!
Also thanks to the Subaru guys at Used Subaru Parts nr Cullompton for second-hand bits.
In total, the Legacy with FSH and 53K miles was £700 plus £300 to deliver from Newcastle to Someset.
RJES stuff was £2000 approx inc exhaust
Haynes gave 50 hours approx at £50/hr to remove VW and Legacy engine, recon and then refit the Legacy engine and parts etc.
There was other stuff that gets paid as you go along but you get the idea
I got £600 for the VW engine and £250 for the remains of the Subaru.
Was it woth it - financially probably not, I guess the van is worth more but as a keeper to use, yes. It has made it much easier and more relaxing to drive especially 4 up with bikes and kit, running cooler and further, rather than having to cane the 1.9 VW engine within an inch of it life constantly.
Next to do is to go up a size in tyre profile to try to raise the gearing a little before looking at gearbox ratios possibly.
Where are you? Would like a good poke around!!