hi all,
I am going to have a go at an ej22 into a 71 lowlight. First of all I am no mechanic , sometimes even that kombi sliding door puzzles me! So this will be a challenge for me
So just starting to plan everything
I have got my ej22 with ecu and loom. I will soon go see John Sherman for an adaptor. Still researching on cooling.
Question I have.
Can I leave the throttle body as it is or do I have to do some modification ?
I was thinking I can just use a right angle hose adaptor, however I do not know if this does get obstructed by the fuel tank firewall.
I have heard of people reversing the manifold but I don't want to do that because I want to keep the aircon compressor in place for future.
I really appreciate hearing from someone how has done this
thx paul
Custom Vee Dub in Brisbane sell a 180deg adaptor for turning the throttle body around. Trust me and get one of those. Makes life a lot easier.
and run a 2ltr box as youll rev too much with a 1600 box at freeway speeds
hi klaus
thx for the advice , every little bit helps
currently with the stock 1600cc and 3 rib I think 100kmh = 3100rpms
what do u think it would be with a ej22?
Yeah, that's wishful thinking. I reckon it's more like 4100rpm.
pete , you might be right, my wife alway says I am wrong
it is my sons kombi i will ask him to jot it down next time he crusies at 100kmh
revs at 100kmh will be the same no matter what engine is fitted, a rotary would suit a stock 1600 box 🙂
question to those in the know
as I have not bought an engine adaptor , flywheel or clutch do I go the adaptor or smallcar or rjes bellhousing
I want to get going with the stock 3 rib , take it gentle but maybe later get a 2 litre gear box , so I was thinking of making sure the clutch and flywheel would suit
whats the pros and cons?
Adapters work fine but the bellhousing is a much more elegant and better thought out solution.
You're retaining all the stock subaru clutch and flywheel parts and AFAIK the bellhousing is interchangable with the different kombi boxes but someone else will chime in and yay or nay that one.
I've got an RJES Bellhousing, using the stock Subaru flywheel and pressure plate, and enables you to use the kombi 228mm clutch plate. The bellhousing will bolt up to any kombi gearbox from 1968-1992. Also let's you use the standard Subaru starter motor.
And Richard from RJES is very helpful and easy to deal with
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Of course none of those solutions gets you the nice 5 speed and correct revs that the Subarugears reversed 5 speed does - perfectly matched to your motor.
11cab
thanks for the reply , it all helps me learn as I go a long.
as I have not yet got a flywheel or clutch, I have the ej22 and a stock 3 rib 71 bus gearbox , I want to get a set up that I could re-use down the track if I did replace my stock 3 rib with a 2 litre gearbox or win the lottery and get a subie 5 spd special
am I right if I get a rjes bellhousing I can use a subie clutch and subie flywheel or a stock vw 1600cc one? In this way I am really keeping my options open? However if I dont change the bellhousing I am limited and have to buy a smaller VW clutch and vw fywheel which may be redundant later on?
The other way was a sherman adaptor , but find a a 2 litre bellhousing now and put it on the 3 rib gearbox, I think this then means I could use the bigger 2 litre clutch and flywheel.
is there anything wrong with this approach ?
Other than putting ej22 power through a stock 1600cc box?
Todd , I like the idea of your subie 5 speed, I am saving that idea for my bucket list ultimate find EZ30/s 5 speed subie into a 62 bus project.
Sunnyjim don't worry about saving up for the ultimate gearbox and an EZ30 - do this first EJ22 conversion right.
Price up the cost of an RJES bellhousing landed, shortened sump, shortened exhaust headers, new flywheel and clutch and let's see what it comes out to.
You don't need any of these things with a Subarugears conversion - and I bet I can do you a combo for that price.
CHALLENGE!!
todd
i am still learning
I won't lower this 71 bus , so why do i need to spend extra on shortened headers and a shortened sump? I currently was able to scavenge the exhaust headers from the donor car so was just going to get a muffler added on and the ej22 already has a standard sump on it .
Thanks for your interest am I am very happy to hear to pros and cons , I want to make sure I explore all avenues before spending the $
Sunnyjim - happy to go through the exercise - no dramas whatsoever.
I'm sure you know the pros and cons - new 5 speed with correct gearing for your engine's torque curve vs old 4 speed with incorrect gearing for your torque curve and lots of revs in top gear- it's just about price now isn't it?
If you fit an EJ22 to the VW box you will/should/might need to shorten the sump and the exhaust headers as they hang pretty low.
The entry and exit angles are a challenge on buses. You might get away with the std exhaust headers...
Like I said - add up the total costs of everything landed and let's see. Don't forget the different input shaft from RJES as well.
Do you need to buy a different thermostat housing and radiator hose as they hang down pretty low as well when an ej22 is on a VW box?
You only need the different input shaft for the RJES bellhousing if you want to use the Subaru 225mm clutch plate. If you use the kombi input shaft you can use a kombi 228mm clutch plate
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Like 11CAB I also am in the process of fitting a EJ22 to a 1800cc kombi box (baja) and also am using the RJES bellhousing kit. I have used the subaru pressure plate and flywheel but have the 228mm kombi clutch plate as I have retained the standard vw input shaft. I can certainly see the practicality of the subi 5 speed ! (maybe next baja if I had the coin)
Coin schmoin. I am going to put out a range of super entry level 5 speeds for all you EJ22 converters. You shouldn't have to put up with poorly geared 4 speeds for your nice engines.
Todd you might be on a winner if you can do that!
continuing my hunt for bits and pieces , got myself a subaru clutch and pressure plate today.
I now need to get a flywheel, Does anyone know if a non turbo ej20 flywheel is the same as an 1989 liberty EJ22 one?
seems I could easily go and buy the wrong one.
Bone wrote:Like 11CAB I also am in the process of fitting a EJ22 to a 1800cc kombi box (baja) and also am using the RJES bellhousing kit. I have used the subaru pressure plate and flywheel but have the 228mm kombi clutch plate as I have retained the standard vw input shaft. I can certainly see the practicality of the subi 5 speed ! (maybe next baja if I had the coin)
Take it from me. Don't waste time and money with an 1800 box. I blew my up being nice to it. Save up the money get one of Todd's boxes from the outset... wish I had...
🥲
p.s. course it's his fault for hurrying the heck up
😬Sunnyjim wrote:got myself a subaru clutch and pressure plate today.
You need a kombi 228mm clutch plate not Subaru
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11CAB wrote:Sunnyjim wrote:got myself a subaru clutch and pressure plate today.
You need a kombi 228mm clutch plate not Subaru
Whoops, guess you'll have to go with the Subi box now muahahahahaha
😎Psst...... hate to hijack just a little, how are those 4.44 gearsets coming along todd? 😏
Quit calling rust patina
nils wrote:Psst...... hate to hijack just a little, how are those 4.44 gearsets coming along todd? 😏
Yep they are done and here. I only got an initial batch of 5 done so that we could fit them to some cars and test them out, make sure everything is OK and see how they drive. All 5 sets already accounted for and being built into transmissions as we speak. If they come up good I will do a production run so should have them in stock by December.
Also doing 5 sets of 4.86:1 at the moment for the same process. They should be here in a month.
Let's get this thread back on track.....
OK like we said back to the throttle body, trying to remember the firewall/tank cover in my lowlight. Is it as close to the engine as the beetle firewall? I think so, the bell housing pretty much makes a nice straight line with the firewall, yeah?
I really can't see anyone getting away with leaving the throttle body where it is without modifing the cover, (always an option i suppose?) I'm not quite sure what you mean by the 180 degree fouling your aircon, guess i will find out in the next few months if that is the case 😠
The 90 degree you are suggesting , going up? or to the side?
The green line represents when the fire wall would be, so that all the creative minds can visualis better
Quit calling rust patina
nils wrote:I'm not quite sure what you mean by the 180 degree fouling your aircon, guess i will find out in the next few months if that is the case 😠
The 90 degree you are suggesting , going up? or to the side?
You cant flip the manifold if you want A/C as the compressor and Idle Control valve clash with it reversed.
That was the main reason I didn't flip mine.
I first made a 90 degree elbow for my throttle body.
No good in a bug as the decklid spring doesnt clear.
The 180 degree bend works well in a bus though, thats what Elusive and Helbus are running and I'm sure plenty of others.
Nils and Joel
thanks for the replies guys, the pictures really help
Joel - What I mean about "the 180 degree fouling your aircon " was i heard the ej22 throttle body will hit the fuel tank firewall in a lowlight . I had heard someone did remove the entire manifold assembly spin it 180degrees , the throttle body then points out to the back of the kombi not the front. this solves that problem. However then I think the aircon compressor position is a problem. This works if u dont want aircon, I eventually want aircon.
Most of ths is still theory for me as I have not removed the aircooled donk from the kombi yet. I am making sure i have all the bits lines up.
As CVD is out of the subie conversion business I am still looking for that throttle body adaptor.
Does anyone know where I can get one from ?
Joel does it have to be a metal adaptor? Not sure I could fabricate
Could I use one of those blue air inlet adaptors I see in repco/autobarn/supadumb?
I was thinking as long as the seal is good that is the main thing, then it woudl not matter if it did even squish a little against the fuel tank firewall
Send a PM to Lovebuggy. I'm pretty sure
www.meyersmanx.com.au will have them
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