Just got myself my first kombi, been sitting at a mechanics in Bowen for the last six months and finallly got around to asking about it. Now it's mine for $1100!

This is how I found it.




And this is why I got it so cheap, one dead motor.

Wow, that's a pretty good deal mate. Especially since it's apparently already had a Subaru conversion. Just buy another Subie motor nice and cheap, slot it in and you're away! Congratulations.

Already had an EJ22 on the shelf so that bit will be easy. Fixing the stuff ups will be interesting. Good thing is it has power steering, sliding side windows and vented rear side windows fitted (bonus).





Centre row of seats was missing but I picked these up on the way back from Townsville today, bit grubby but the fabric is right, just no head rests.

Just got it started(cough cough). Don't know what killed it more, the fact that they cooked it or the gut full of dust it picked up through the rocker cover hose being off. It's a pity as the motor is one of the JDM quad cam EJ20's with the dual runner intake manifold, I've read that these were a desirable motor.




This was supposed have been a professional install from WA.

I would be very surprised if that ever got full throttle,as the Subaru pulls from the front not the back like VW.You can get a full accelerator cable from this mob.
http://www.smallcar.com/ 
They are OK to deal with.

Good pick up mate,what did the mechanic say about it,
most mechanics I speak to don't want to know about hybrids.
May just need some extensive maintenance/elbow grease.

It did get full throttle but it was a far from even action. Motor has been cooked, the blowby from the LH head is huge. Combined with the dust it has sucked in it is easier to replace it, I'll put it aside to look at it later.

so should i race you now or when you get an engine in it???? Might steal those rear vents when you're not looking for the Syncro.... Good score

nice one

Well I got the motor out yesterday and discovered a few things. Looks like the motor is actually a EJ20 turbo without the turbo. When I picked it up they said that the previous owner had trouble with the conversion when he first got it, looks like they had to replace the motor and just swapped the manifold onto the turbo motor to keep the wiring/ECU the same. Dodgy!




They definetly got it hot! they melted the knock sensor.


Clutch looks to have had a good workout to. With the rocker cover hose off it didn't idle, so you had to rev it to keep it running.

Dodgy?,I'd have thought that a turbo engine wouldn't run without the turbo.
Waiting............

What a fantastic buy. Congratulations and well done.

Yogie

quote;
(This was supposed have been a professional install from WA.)

Do you reckon it's the original install?

hang on , I am back logging on issues


The motor with the intake is from this under and its not a turbo motor ( well they are quad cam n/a )
I have seen that bus before, never worked on it

closed deck case

Ok , the turbo motor would run fine with that set up just the compression ratio would be out if they did not swap the pistons over. The Aska motor was a high compression motor

The bottom N/A bottom end is the same as the turbo. I have turboed the Aska motor just by changing out the pistons with turbo units & placing RS/ WRX heads on

I think you have one of the best deals that has ever poped up here todate. Nice find

Upgrading to a SmallCar bellhousing.

That bellhousing looks very professional. Dont they need a different slave cylinder set up that the VW one?

How much was this lovely piece of machinery?

You have to add freight but here are the prices. They use a late model VW throwout bearing/slave cylinder.

http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=186 

Nice score

Having some clearance problems with the fuel pipe on the coolant manifold reversal, gave it a little tweak but it started to kink down. So moved the inlet down to the fuel rail.

Well I went up to the salvage auction at Pickles in Townsville this week and picked up this. EJ252 in a 2005 Liberty with about 150,000 kms, ex lease serviced by the dealer. $490.20 including the fees.

Minor damage to the front of the motor being the alternator/aircon belt cover and passanger side timing belt cover ($10 to replace from the local wreckers).

Downside was no key, but managed to contact the previous owner and he still has one sure beats what Subaru wanted $386 for the key + cutting + $55 workshop fee to flash the ECU.

I'll stick with installing the EJ22 for now until I get the drive by wire throttle and other things sorted on the EJ252

Do youself a real favour.
Replace the head gaskets now,before the engine goes into your bus.You will be doing the timing belt,water pump and idlers now anyway right?Not much more work,if there not leaking oil now,they will.Trust me.

This car has a full service history from the dealer and I have spoken to the previous owner. So no I will not be doing the head gaskets until they give me trouble. Timing belt was done 35K ago, so unless I find damage or bad idler/waterpump when I change the broken timing cover it will be staying put to.

Yes some people would do the heads and belt but this not a JDM or wrecker engine with no service history.

Smallcar sump turned up today.

Quote:

Originally posted by mackaymanx Well I went up to the salvage auction at Pickles in Townsville this week and picked up this. EJ252 in a 2005 Liberty with about 150,000 kms, ex lease serviced by the dealer. $490.20 including the fees. Minor damage to the front of the motor being the alternator/aircon belt cover and passanger side timing belt cover ($10 to replace from the local wreckers). Downside was no key, but managed to contact the previous owner and he still has one sure beats what Subaru wanted $386 for the key + cutting + $55 workshop fee to flash the ECU. I'll stick with installing the EJ22 for now until I get the drive by wire throttle and other things sorted on the EJ252

Brent,I did the same conversion last year,with all the good gear you have.
I had an engine with full service history and low kms.
I didnt do the heads.I am wishing I did now.Right hand side(in kombi) is now leaking,30k after install.
I am spewing I did not know about the head gasket problems these engines have,whilst the engine was sitting on a stand.
Next time you see one, Subaru parked in a carpark,stick your head under and have a look(passenger side in Subaru).3 out of 5 leak.
Its common,give a Subaru mechanic a call and ask them about leaking head gaskets,they will have 1or2 in their shop.
Its up to you.

Ben,

My mechanic told me to do the same thing. Do the head gaskets as well as the timing belts!!!!.

I think you ned to remove the engine to do this head gasket swap too - even in a T3 will all the extra room lots of things get in the way.

Stop playing with those big Audi brakes and get into it.

Cheers,

Skot