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58 Beetle - Subaru WRX STI bug - The Bug That was...BYE BYE

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Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#700006
Pro's and Con's of which WRX engine to use - which year? Goods and bads of models - Where is a good place to get a half cut - seems there are few available at the moment.

94 on, later the better. Buy a half cut complete only.

Westi will custom make the radiator - what about running the water lines? Best in the car or under.

In your setup, under the car. I am going through the heater channel but that is a PITA.

Should we move the gearbox forward 2 inches or not? Will there be weight transfer issues if we don't? Will the CV's be on to crap an angle if we do?

If you don't then the EJ20T will not fit under your deck lid. CV angles will be fine this is a street car you don't have bugger all wheel travel.

Any other suggestions would be great.

Shorten the sump as much as possible, buy a crankykit, get Al to do your loom, cut out as much as possible up front, it is all going to get cut anyway and if you cut it out up front you can skin the engine bay and make it nice and neat. Build a box as a stock one will not last .

Keep type 1 CV's then are a nice break point, run front and rear gearbox straps with a kafer bar, no need for engine mounts.

Have fun it is only metal.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#700030
i think Westi was keen on engine mounts. At least if i go that way i can sell off the current kafer bar too - not that its equal in cost. I think the engineer is keen on the idea of engine mounts, even if you don't really need them. Keep the discussions coming.

Found a MY05 WRX Ej20T - 17,000ks on it, jap import so no anti theft. Comes with complete loom, ECU, all sensors etc. The guy had a half cut and sold it without engine.
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#700034
Mick058 wrote:i think Westi was keen on engine mounts. At least if i go that way i can sell off the current kafer bar too - not that its equal in cost. I think the engineer is keen on the idea of engine mounts, even if you don't really need them. Keep the discussions coming.

Found a MY05 WRX Ej20T - 17,000ks on it, jap import so no anti theft. Comes with complete loom, ECU, all sensors etc. The guy had a half cut and sold it without engine.
no engine mounts needed, just bolts up like the beetle motor only useing 4 bolts no prob.
If you use a 3inch exhaust from the turbo the kafer bars get in the way.
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#700041
pete wood wrote:no engine mounts brad? I thought you said the horns would break without them.
Yes and No.

In an off-road car where the chance of jumping and big vertical movements I would either run an engine mount or support the forks well. Also you have a rear engine cage so support can be gained once you tie it in to the roll cage and shock mounts. The Geko for example does not have engine mounts but it does have twin transmission straps and the forks supported and braces to the tray and roll cage. My Iguana on the other hand will use both Subaru Mounts and still support the forks and tie into the rollcage, but it will have a lot more HP than most VW’s out there.

The Kafer bar does just this as it ties the forks into the shock towers in a V or triangle shape with gives it the support it needs.

The EJ engine mounts are not far behind the bell housing / rear fork mounts so there is little to be gained from picking them up without substantial triangulation anyway, which as pointed out gets in the way of a lot of things. That being said if I had to pick between a support bar and changing an exhaust I would do an exhaust.

I doubt very much that you can get a good engine support system that picks up the subie mounts that does anything more than the kafer bar setup, especially if it is a 5 Bar setup. That is unless you are going to cut out major sheet metal and build a cage. There simply isn’t bugger all to tie it into.

Would I run a subie engine without a kafer bar or triangulated system from the shock towers, no, but I see plenty of people who do without issue.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Turbo54 Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined Jul 2004 ·

#700066
There is a place here in SA called S&J Automotive that have built some of the fastest rally wrx's in this country. They are really nice people and you should be able to just call them up and have a chat. A friend has a stock internal wrx running 215kw on all fours. It is really quick but you will need a box to hold it all together. Good luck with it all. I dont know why you just didn't boost the pobjoy?
T54
C'mon kids gather round,
there's a new sensation hitting town,
It's moving straight, low to the ground,
it'll pick you up when your feeling down.

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#700134
So whats your budget for the conversion Mick ?

also don't forget to uprate your torsion bars as well and puts some rear disc brakes on 😎


Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#700136
[quote
The Kafer bar does just this as it ties the forks into the shock towers in a V or triangle shape with gives it the support it needs.

Would I run a subie engine without a kafer bar or triangulated system from the shock towers, no, but I see plenty of people who do without issue. [/quote]

Thanks for the plug re the Kafer Bar !😎


cnfabo Custom Title Time!

1,353 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·

#700140
i say get a steroid plus.....

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#700188
budget? What are they?

i think my torsion bars are already done, plus i've got the coil overs from CVD on the rear.

Look, the pobjoy was great and good fun, but i always liked the idea of a wrx conversion. plus, its 200hp and if it blows up, an engine will cost me 2k worst case - its quieter and EFI. VW engines are just too expensive in my mind.

Pobjoy will be out today so we can see what kind of room we've got to work with.
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

sander288 "Bolt-on Master"

1,404 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#700195
What are you doing with your motor, i'd be interested in buying it if your keen...
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW ❗

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#700197
Hi

Why you don't just buy Pauls car? Just a suggestion.

Steve

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#700505
Ratbug, josh and I did our own looms. I would just use the stock computer to start with, ours are stock . No plans on changing them.
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#700517
Craig Torrens wrote:[quote
The Kafer bar does just this as it ties the forks into the shock towers in a V or triangle shape with gives it the support it needs.

Would I run a subie engine without a kafer bar or triangulated system from the shock towers, no, but I see plenty of people who do without issue.
Thanks for the plug re the Kafer Bar !😎 [/quote]

I don't do plugs but I do say what works and fits well.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Brad Wolfsburg Elder

3,764 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#700519
Mick058 wrote:HAs anyone got suggestions re an aftermarket computer - it would be to suit an MY05 Ej20T - how much? Has anyone ever made up a loom using the stock ECU?
Talk to Al - http://amauto.com.au/ he is the man and if he tells you a Stock ECU will work he will be able to provide you with a loom to make it happen.

Be very careful of people telling you stock will work unless then either know a lot about Subi's or have one of the same model.

The later the model engine the more crap in the loom and ECU that will make your life hard. For example I could do a pre 97 in my sleep but later than that is a PITA. After 2001 it gets even worse. Anything after 97 I just send to Al as it is well worth the few hundred he charges to send you back a simple install.

In the Iguana which has an 07 EJ25T I am using M800 motec. Main reason is that I can and it works with the SDL and tune I want. Also as I am using fly by wire and variable cam timing I needto ensure I can get it tuned properly outside of the ssubaru environment.

There are a lot of ECU's availible if you decide to go aftermarket I would suggest finding the dyno guy you like and seeing what he is happy to use / do / sell. If you can get it all in the same place it reduces the chances of people making up excuses why it cost so much.

I went Motec cause the state rep is a good guy and has a Dyno to do the tune for me. No one has ever had a bad word to say about Motec apart from the cost, but you get what you pay for and I want an ECU that can run under water.
Brad
Why copy when you can own an original ?
Meyers Manx Australia

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#700579
You'd better start competing in some events if you're going to put that engine in the back of the 58.🙂
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#700583
mmm, there are a few bits missing off that. and I'd fill all those open intake lines up with rags before anything gets in and wrecks the motor.
"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#700584
one more dumb question for you:

how hard will it be (or how expensive will it be) to get insurance for a conversion like this??
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#700588
will find that out Gwendoyln.

Yes i know its not all on there Pete. Seems to be the case alot that bits are sold off as soon as half cuts get in - its almost instant. There ain't many latter models one around either - or early stuff due to the 10 year rule.

I'd appreciate a list of bits missing. The wrecker seemed helpful with 'bits'.
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#700592
yes looks like a few bits missing.
keep that throttle cable youll get to use it,
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#700597
Gwendolyns Master wrote:one more dumb question for you:

how hard will it be (or how expensive will it be) to get insurance for a conversion like this??
Thats one of the many question you ask Before you do a conversion .
shannon do insurance for mine under extremely modified🤪🤪 or something like that. 🤪
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#700603
Shannon were very good on the pobjoy and also on my 12a - i didn't think there'd be an issue. someone will insure you.

List the bits missing that ill need. that way i can start a list.

i've got the turbo and the air box sensor. Another sensor/regulator for the fuel pump i believe.

What else?
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#700618
Hi

Shannons are cool with any mod as long as it approved, it just moves you up the scale a bit.

I was at Brads today and gave him the phone number for the wire guy in Qld.

Do you have the key and barrel? You will need it I think.

You will also need the fuel pump controller, it varies the pump speed according load or boost.

I bought an Autronic SM4 plug & play ECU for my car, you can plug it in and it will run off the stock MAF & MAP sensor just like a stock ECU.

I figured I would need this ECU as I've changed so many things on the inlet and exhaust track.

Jak moved his transmission 50mm forwards and I don't think he's had any CV failures.

I ran steel tubes along the chassis following the heater channels bolts, these also help with cooling.



Steve