SVX Transporter!

Sorry to do this to some of you....But I had this idea over a decade ago...And now I'm doing it!
If only aircooled is your bag, then this may make you cry! But if, like me you are a HOTRODDER in the truest sense, then you'll understand!
Yes, thats it...I'm sticking an SVX (EG33) Subaru flat six into a VW transporter! The engine produces 240hp & 309Nm stock! That should be enough...For now! I still have the bug, and that will always be aircool!

[Edited on 8-3-2003 by humpty]

:thumb's up.

Certainly will spice up the old bus.
Would love to see it if you do come up this way.

You should have a look at the bus at http://www.needforspeed.ca/stevefeature.asp

A race preped 911 turbo engine was stuffed in the back for a little more whoo hoo. There are a couple of great mpeg's to download as well.

Tell us more

You know we want it!

:bounce

Ok....The bus is a standard Transporter Panelvan with 5 speed transaxle...I haven't decided if I'll slam it or jack it up....Maybe both! Airbags would be nice....I could stick the 16's on for the street & offroaders for holidays! The harness is nearing completion & have the clutch/flywheel/adaptor set-up ready. Hopefully the engine will be going into the car in the next few weeks, then I'll get started on the exhaust & engine mount fabrication... As we go I'll be adding some more images...As i only have one day week to work on it. This could take a while!

[Edited on 10-3-2003 by humpty]

Man this is a lot of work!

Bring it on !!!!! This van will be the definition of a true sleeper (especially if the body finish on the exterior is as per the harness shot above !!!)

Very very nice idea.

One question - how the f!@k did you find a wiring diagram for it ? I looked into conversions a while back and the difficulty in getting the full wiring diagram was one of the big killers for me....

MAD!
what did the engine cost? what year is it? im set up with a 1.6 subi, wonder if one of these would fit?

Finally...I have completed the harness! The SVX is nothing like the EJ engines...And there are loads of differences between markets...I have wiring diagram (copies) from the Australian import model (From understanding local dealer) & the US import too (from KEP in the US) but my front cut is a Japanese market model! So it is plenty confusing!
The EJ engines have plenty of info available to mod the harness but there is ZIP for the EG33!

But I have it now!

Almost!

I just have to tidy it up & temporary rap it for the test run...Can't wait!
Next Tuesday comes the tidy up & the clean out of the engine bay. Then I have to switch my bell-housing for a WBX version (my car is a TDI). Then fab the engine mounts, exhaust, fuel system & cooling system.

Oh & splice the harness into the Vanagon harness....

Yes there is still a ways to go! Up until now I haven't worked on a water bottle b4, let alone EFI management! What a learning curve!

baybuscamperkid
I paid only $2800 Aus for the front cut from a local Subi importer. And yes it might just fit into a late bay...A better choice would be a EJ22 or 25. The EJ20T would be nice but I think you might have problem with clutches v weight of the bus. The EJ20T in a Notch or a Fastback is a whole other deal!

Hey Doug....The Transporter is pig ugly, very straight but ugly! I will tidy it up a bit...Not too much! Ever sell your Sub?

Nice one Humpty,
that will be an awsome ride I totally love driving my stock powered syncro, but the extra ponies would be nice!



have you seen this?http://www.smallcar.com/vx.htm

Nope, unfortunately 🙁

Doesnt seem to be alot of interest in them currently. Its still in the auto trader and the sunday times for $13,500, but if it doesnt sell soon I might have to put it in the auto auctions.

Are you doing the work at home or in Kurts ?

Hey syncro....
Yeah I know about Smallcar. nice little outfit in the US. Brian is the name of the owner...He & I have been in touch for some time...He's interested in my exhaust idea...May market it, if it works out!

What gives with my pictures? They were there yesterday?

Humpty
Just reading your post on the eg 33 evidently Bill Sherman form shermans conversion fame has one of these fitted into a bay bus running on LPG
Paul

Hey Paul....I'd like to know more....Have you seen any pictures? Apparantely there was one (WBX-SVX) at the Nationals this year and there is suppose to be some images of it on the ClubVW web site...But I have been unable to find them.....Maybe Steve can help....Anybody intouch with the man?

Hi Humpty

Here are the SCX pics

1302Steve





And the ute it was in,

I've seen this done in a couple of places on the 'net. Can't remember where though.

Sounds like a mad conversion!

Cheers Steve...Thanks for the shots....Anyone know the guy that owns it? I'd like to now more.
Like hows he run the coolant lines/burp tank/heater. Exhaust? Sump? What's it like to drive?


Just the usual Q's!

Hey Cam....I know of a few of the cars in the US....In regular contact with the owners....Theres' a mad one being built in NZ....4 wheel disc brakes, race suspension, G50/50 LSD Transaxle and maybe a Supercharger too!

Hi Humpty

That ute was already water cooled, I think he was a Nats sponsor, it may have been from Brookvale spares. As far as header tanks go, the usually T3s have heaps of problems with air locks, I have no problems with mine, I made sure I mounted the header tank higher than the radiator, I drilled a tiny hole in my thermostat, this allows me to fill my cooling system no worries, the hole allows the coolant to flow to both sides of the thermostat.

1302Steve

It will go like a rocket
It will corner like a rocket and
It will stop just like a rocket.
IE fall apart or explode on impact.

Go for it it will be wicked,
My old RX2 had about 300 hp and standard old brakes and worn suspension
You learn to drive accordingly. 😀
Cheers Tony

humpty, I moved your original post into this forum, and left a link in the members ride section. So you only have one post to update.

So how's the progress been lately? Should be a nice conversion.

Hey Wes...Been a bit slow lately....Back at work full time and no workshop at home, means no spare time to get down to the farm (40k's away!) to work on it!..Still collecting the bits I need to finish...If I had about 2 weeks (maybe over christmas/newyear) solid time I could finish it! Engine is in, engine mounts & exhaust need fabbing, then it's time to hook it all up.
God I wish I had a shed...The van would never fit in my carport...Barely fit's my bug!

How's you BAJA?...Smoked any monster trucks lately?

Thanks for moving the link and thanks for creating this section in the forum.

Actually it was Brad the created this section.

The Baja is going very well. The amount of traction it gets is insane. I love the sequential EFI, and the sweet sound of the V6 on song. But enough about my car, this post is about your conversion. :thumb

What about g/boxes?
I was told the 5spd box won't hold the grunt of anything more powerful than the stock donk.
Haven't heard about the guy with the ej25
for a while.

We're currently putting 130Kw(EJ25, due to shorter exhaust, airbox mods, dyno proven 85kw at wheels) through a standard T3 5spd gear box and it handles it no worries.

The EJ25 is a nice engine, but the SVX 3.3 would be nicer!!

The basic 5 spd tranaxle is the same as the 4 spd. The gear widths are the same, the syncros are the same. The only difference appart from the "nose" of the case is one of the shafts are longer. As for strength...It's not an issue...Stick an Subi engine off one of these transaxles and eventually it will give up! The SVX engine has similar power/torque to RS/WRX engine but with much smoother power delivery, so theoretically it should last longer...as long as I'm nice to it!
I do know of a few getting around in the US that are running the SVX/4 spd combo in full spec camper SYNCROS...And these cars are pretty serious off roaders...Sofar so good.

Besides...I like a challenge & I'm saving my pennys for a G50/50 with an LSD!

Bill Sherman from Sherman Conversions has a Bay camper with an SVX engine in it as far as I know

Humpty,

If you're still interested, see link below.

And his name is John Sherman, not Bill!

http://volksweb.relitech.com/subaru.htm

G'day Simon, and other interested ppl.
John Sherman has 2 SVX half cuts, is looking for a wedge dual cab to carry out a conversion. He has a bay with a subie 1800 also and drives an SVX as a road car. He knows of 2 already on road SVX conversions in qld I think...
Mine (EJ25) is almost complete and will be on road tomorrow or thurs.. sure runs nice but not road tested yet.. can't wait.....
tonyg

Congrats on your conversion Tonyg...I'm well jealous you can bet. Thanks for the link to shermann's conversion...I'll have look right now!
Finishing off an IRS conversion for a splitty (My old 61 slammed panel on 17's...God I miss that car!) at the moment...Seem to be working on everyone else's cars...The bastards have shed's!


Just had a look...I remember that story...Like to see some of the SVX conversions out there!

You mentioned earlier about a bus being done over here in New Zealand. Do you have any other info on it, if it is close I might be able to get some pics of it to post. I've heard about some other crazy stuff being built over here as well recently.

For those of you who might be interested in a VW project with a difference!

My current project is moving along slowly again....
It's been a busy year, what with a young family, moving house, full time study and a part time job, but we are getting there....

It has a 911SC muffler on it now...Looks VERY fat!
Have some pictures in the camera, will post them later...

But for now...

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rosiekath/album?.dir=2ae7&.src=ph

240hp, 310nM of torque out of a 3.3ltr NA engine!
A bit more than the old 1600 TD that was in there huh?

Later

let me know the trottel body od I may have a hose for this to fit a air cleaner to .

were the headers very heavy ? easy fix to turn them from left to right .

Neil....The throttle body throats are HUGE! Around 70mmØ!
The Standard Plenuim is to be used. Since these shots were taken, I have clearanced the front engine cover lip to make it fit.....I have to drop the engine to get it on though!
The airbox is another issue though....May run a 'pod' filter to start....

As for the exhaust manifolds....Considering they are cast, they aren't too heavy. Obviously they flipped around easy enough, making the 911 exhaust fit took a little more work, but looks very neat, and a whole lot simpler! I was thinking about making complete 'headers' for it, but the budget wouldn't stretch that far. Fortunately no CAT's are needed with this chassis!

Thats fine Mate I have the hoses for this , Seagull is my name

You dont need a cat for this ?????

the eg33 heads arn,t as wide between the cams as the ej20 an it is only 45mm longer.I was thinking of putting a eg33 into my bug but front cuts are hard to get in vic you have to use the orignal ecu.

Fortunately no CAT's are needed with this chassis!

Are you sure? In QLD you need to fit whatever emmission gear was fitted to the ENGINE your putting in, so if it's an unleaded engine you need a cat.

The CHASSIS it's going into has no effect if the engine if newer than the chassis.

Yep, Wes, I am sure....In WA the regs go by chassis number, not engine number.
My brothers RS Liberty/Notch is all legal and no CAT in sight!

Malcolm...I think you are confusing my engine with the current EJ30 engine....Not the EG33!
The current EJ30 engine is VERY fussy about what sensors the ECU can see. A sweet engine though....Love to stick one in my splitty!!!
If you plan to use the standard ECU, as far as I know, the OBDII ECU need all sensors in place. Including the trans sensors, VSS, Cruise Control, ABS, Climate Control...etc. ;-}
Maybe an aftermarket ECU would be a better option in this case.

nice job, what about some pics??
if you are after a porsche box i have a 915 box which will be a hell of a lot cheaper then a G50/50 let me know?
wacked1

Cheers for the offer wacked1 but I don't think I'll be looking at a Porsche Box for sometime, if at all.
If I did, I'd be looking at something that is stronger than the 915. I know these boxes fairly well and they are a good transaxle, but no stronger than an 091! The only real advantage is it's a 5 speeder, of which I already have in my bus... I have a mate in the US who can build me the VW transaxle of my dreams for around 4kAUS, which would way stronger than the 915 and nearly as strong as the G50, at around the same cost as the G50 shifter and Porsche CV joints! Plus it's a boltin job that my mounts, adapter and FW will accept....