Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all

Thanks for being such an interesting and diverse bunch.

I have had many questions since buying into my project Syncro and they have been answered here many times over, be it videos, threads, other peoples experience or woes. I've not had to ask any questions yet!

I have been lurking here for about a year slowly doing little bits to eventually get my Assembled in Japan 300k miler RHD Doka back on the road. Its not going to be soon probably well into 2013 but its all good. So far i've changed the interior, heater motor, front - cv's, bearings, bushes, shocks, disks, back plates and pads, steering rack and changed out the front diff. I'm working front to back so next is Rad, gearshift rebuild, water pipes, prop rebuild, gearbox, rear disks, rear shocks, rear cv's etc and engine replacement......

Which brings me on to my question(s) about engines...

Must be petrol (LEZ requirements) So will be an LPG conversion. ( I have looked hard into diesels, and its a real pain now)
I will be running 4.57 diffs ( box to go for rebuild and new 3rd/4th gears ). I bought this set up because I initially was going to TDI.
I am not building an off roader ( more a soft roader...) I will be doing a lot of motorway miles, urban London, fields, light lanes etc, daily driving and carrying a heavy load up to 600kgs ( this will replace my current work van if it works right )

my choices are:

VW 1.8t 20V ( many parts from the states - engine mounts, adapter etc all very nice seems a great option, possibility of stand alone ECU and nice power ) Nothing on the forum, a lot in the states.
Subaru ej25 ( established here in UK all conversion parts available, flat four loveliness, nice amount of power ) lots on the forum.

Both need a top range LPG and flashlube type thing. (Diesel needs a 2grand exhaust and annual testing)
I will be doing most of the work.(except the things I can do!!)

I've come into a very cheap Subaru 2.5 Legacy Auto (whole car) which may swing things, maybe not.
Money works out about the same, 1.8T is a bit more but not a great deal.( may be worth it? )

So whadduya reckon??

Anyway must go as my wife's waters have broken ( I may be missing for a bit....)

Regards
Arun

The Subaru EJ22 conversion by RJES in mine is delightful to drive, and it looks and feels like it was made for the van.
I may have been lucky with the gearing because it was perfect as well. Theres such a spread of torque it adds to its charm.
There is a fair bit of reliability difference it seems (around the head gaskets) between various Subaru motors. Look into that.

However the budget.. its not budget at all..
After the big spend, and it is big, you may find as I did that the short sump is an extra wad, and a proper exhaust most of a grand.
This van has stung me hard and its not easy to justify the cost,
also Subaru service parts are expensive, even trivial things like exhaust manifold gaskets.

Syncro wise, I havent got it wadeable or modified the underbody engine and gearbox protection since the conversion either..

So its a challenge, and warrants some serious consideration.
Perhaps you can see, try and compare in the flesh vans that are converted before making up your mind.
As well as ask for a complete cost breakdown, not projected but after the fact.
I couldnt tell you yet because theres still glitches to sort out and pay for..

Without thinking on any practical levels at all,
I love it passionately, its simple and dead reliable, reasonably economical, and just asks to be driven.

Thanks for your reply. Lack of 1.8t conversions in the Uk seems it will be easier to do an EJ 25.
I feel I must have stunned everyone else into silence by suggesting my Syncro is not going to be an off roader...
(maybe a little bit?)

Anyway 2 things since I posted,
first I have a baby boy, born Saturday sunrise. Everyone all good.
Second, i now own a Legacy outback 2.5 with broke auto box.

Let the nappy changing and car stripping begin...
Arun.

Sounds and easy project .... car stripping and nappy changing. When my son was born I was in the middle of building a garage which disturbed the progress for 3 hours at least ....

I already have my assistant/apprentice/breaker of all things breakable...

I hope our paths will cross soon Arun as there are quite a few of us now in The Golden Triangle. I am in South London/Surrey so if you need help with anything (though it looks like your doing fine) dont be shy

My little boy is 6 and a couple of weeks ago he was under the van with us changing a VC, he already knows all the spanner sizes and what a ratchet big, ratchet small, big extension bar, small extension bar and what the big hammer is

jed