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WRX/SUBARU Engine Conversion

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BU90FF Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#462444
Hey Everyone,

There are plenty of post about people using Subaru engines etc and but no one has actualy mentioned where or who is doing the job.

I am a proud owner of the of a 56 oval and am very interested in a wrx engine conversion. I am in sydney and if anybody knows who i can speak to or be pointed in a direction it would be much appreciated.

Cheers BIG ZEE
"CLASSIC NOT PLASTIC"

speedster356 Plastic not Classic Racing

1,624 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#462466
Do you want to do the conversion yourself or have it done by others?
Spyder-WISD 07-09-05 11.6s @ 125 MPH

Speedster-WISD Nats 05 14.4s @ 89 MPH

Jet cruiser-Coogee 22-09-05 900 deg C @ 110,000 rpm

Weaseling out of things is what separates us from the animals....................Except the Weasel.

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#462469
I'll start:
Is your Oval standard? Do you know roughly what's involved (body mods, radiator, brakes, ballpark costs etc?)

edit: Speedster beat me!

[ Edited on 9-3-2006 by VWCOOL ]
Pay your debts, CxxT

BU90FF Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#462507
Im going to find out exactly what mods have been done to the oval etc.

i am looking at getting it done somewhere if i can, but if need be i can do it myself.

not sure wat needs to be done or whats needed or how much but it doesnt matter.

Im prepared to divorce the wife and sell the kids
"CLASSIC NOT PLASTIC"

ricola Wolfsburg Wizard

437 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#462574
Do a search one here, for EJ20t into bug, Jak, Matt (Boof) and Paul (1303) all have good build threads on this forum (Pauls' is on the members rides section and I only just found it!)

Rich
http://www.ricola.co.uk

seagull Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,979 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#462640
The big thing to look for is getting the correct WRX motor with good heads .Subaru motors ( EJ series & WRX ) have some big issues with lifters .some of the above had had issues all ready .

I have just picked up a 94 wrx donk & looking to see if the heads are good .I am going to strip the motor down before I put in a ride .

welcome to the other side :vader
Looking for that special lady : PM me for coffee & cake

56astro Custom Title Time!

1,772 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#462704
seagull wrote:The big thing to look for is getting the correct WRX motor with good heads .Subaru motors ( EJ series & WRX ) have some big issues with lifters .some of the above had had issues all ready .
😢
I thought the whole "thing' revolved around being more reliable than VW.

VW car, VW engine ...... keepin it "real"
35MPG on 101.3kPa

seagull Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,979 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#462718
heee , every thing has some problem !
Looking for that special lady : PM me for coffee & cake

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#462738
56astro wrote:I thought the whole "thing' revolved around being more reliable than VW.
Definitley more reliable than the average VW motor. Based on age more than design though.

EJ series motors and peripherals are generally less than 10 years old.

VW aircooled motors and peripherals are generally more than 30 years old.
EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

GeorgeL Officially Full-On Dubber

231 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#462760
Helbus wrote:
56astro wrote:I thought the whole "thing' revolved around being more reliable than VW.
Definitley more reliable than the average VW motor. Based on age more than design though.

EJ series motors and peripherals are generally less than 10 years old.

VW aircooled motors and peripherals are generally more than 30 years old.
It is also about power. If you draw 160+ HP from a type 1 VW engine it will not be reliable. You are exceeding the capabilities of the cooling system that was designed for 60HP max.

The Subaru will make that power all day long, as it was designed to do so.

OTOH, if I had an oval, I probably wouldn't be looking to drop a subaru into it. I'd be restoring it unless it is _really_ far gone.

George

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#462784
Yep - and compared to later models and in consideration of a Subie transplant, the engine bay is too small and the suspension is spindly and can't be made to handle and the brakes suck and the doors latches are crook and the gerabox is weak and the chassis is flexy and the windscreen wipers are crap

[ Edited on 9-3-2006 by VWCOOL ]
Pay your debts, CxxT

BU90FF Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#462839
Does anybody know anyone in the sydney area i can speak to. Thanks for all the tips fellas
"CLASSIC NOT PLASTIC"

malcolm Insano Dub Head

812 posts · joined Nov 2004 ·

#462959
try and get a 99 mod wrx front cut .

seagull Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,979 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#462974
my whole rs front cut cost $1800.00 , I am using the auto ( in my liberty )
Looking for that special lady : PM me for coffee & cake

boof2332 Custom Title Time!

1,210 posts · joined May 2004 ·

#463163
Please call me 0416115993.
I am doing them on request. Have just finished another one for a friend, still have the 914 to complete(not far off) as well as the oval that is hanging in the garage. I now have a workshop for the conversions/fibreglassing/spraypainting so the garage can return to some normality....well as normal as can be with subaru powered vw's and porsches everywhere.

Matt

P.S. I will have a heap of fibreglass W decklids moulded soon if anyone is interested.

BU90FF Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#463296
NO Probz BOOF ill be intouch soon. hopefully i can get this little transformation started.
"CLASSIC NOT PLASTIC"

Jak Rizzo Insano Dub Head

837 posts · joined Apr 2004 ·

#463359
I'd be quite interested if u can actually get one in the back of an oval. My superbug is an extremely snug fit & thats with the gearbox moved forward 2 inches. My mate has difficulty getting his twin webbered 1914 in his 56 engine bay.
Another issue to think about with a wrx/Oval transplant is the weight. 860kg is the minimum u can have with the ej20t, my mates oval is about 760kg & thats on a later IRS chassis. I only gained 60kg when I did my conversion.
Just something for u to think about.
regards
Jak

Baja Wes V6 Baja Pioneer

3,119 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#463396
Actually the minimum is 800kg.
2.5 x 800 = 2000cc turbo

but then once you get to 800kg you are into the 2.75 rule so it actually becomes more.

the way to do it in an oval would be to put the oval body on a late model pan, so you can use the weight associated with the later pans chassis number.
Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... 🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.

boof2332 Custom Title Time!

1,210 posts · joined May 2004 ·

#463491
Ill be putting my 54 body on the white car soon, or maybe build a totally new pan for it...either way i'm sure it will fit The oval engine bay looks smaller as it had to meet up with a 36hp motor. Cut out the unnecessary metal and all should be cool...

Matt

Jak Rizzo Insano Dub Head

837 posts · joined Apr 2004 ·

#463514
Baja Wes wrote:Actually the minimum is 800kg.
2.5 x 800 = 2000cc turbo

but then once you get to 800kg you are into the 2.75 rule so it actually becomes more.

the way to do it in an oval would be to put the oval body on a late model pan, so you can use the weight associated with the later pans chassis number.
Our Engineer & the RTA in NSW said that it was 860kg minimum. Maybe QLD is different?
regards
Jak

boof2332 Custom Title Time!

1,210 posts · joined May 2004 ·

#463521
Your looking lovely this morning Jak!

Jak Rizzo Insano Dub Head

837 posts · joined Apr 2004 ·

#463525
boof2332 wrote:Your looking lovely this morning Jak!
Thank u sweety, u havn't scrubbed up to bad with the soap either!

Baja Wes V6 Baja Pioneer

3,119 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#463560
Jak Rizzo wrote:Our Engineer & the RTA in NSW said that it was 860kg minimum. Maybe QLD is different?
regards
Jak
Hi Jak,

For NSW you can either use the old RTA rules here;
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi06.pdf
Look on page 3 and you will see the 2.5 x weight in kg = engine size in cc rule.

The 2.75 for over 800kg rule is a new one from the new national code of practice for light vehicle modification, which NSW should have now adopted. See the national code of practice post for more info.
Wes - www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control... 🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.