(no subject)

If that is Australian Dollars(I assume it is) that is a pretty good deal.

You could always buy half a vw motor and when you get the other half, have half the power!

Bit of a bargain.....a weekend with a grinder and your in business....I will bring my little andgle grinder and air-hacksaw, and happily lighten your car!

Matt

hey chriss sounds like a pretty good deal, can i ask what its out of and what sort of condition the motors in (ie kms if ya know), what box does the adaptor plate fit to?
please dont tell me i can fit it into my t3 or i might have to find out were the hey rivertown is.

Thats Riverstone outer n.w Sydney :kiss

Type 3's would be a dream to put these subaru engines in, bugger all cutting & the spare wheel well is made for a radiator, much easier than a superbug.
Jak

Jak Rizzo wrote:Type 3's would be a dream to put these subaru engines in, bugger all cutting & the spare wheel well is made for a radiator, much easier than a superbug.
Jak

They ARE a dream! Easy-as...

as long as u get the water pipes around the right way.

Jak Rizzo wrote:as long as u get the water pipes around the right way.

YEH!YEH!:PJVLRacing

Motor....ej20t
Box....single side plate
Adaptor plate and flywheel to suit.
Brass button clutch
intercooler and custom box with 2x thermofans
radiator with thermo fan
microtech with handset
2 x fuel pumps
fuel anti surge tank.

If anyone wants it fitted and running I can do your conversion for you.

well as you know matt,its getting finished now,,
i think you had a lot to do with that,,plus i am doing my notch,so will talk to you soon about it,just concern about air flow in the boot for intercooler,,might have to use water to air cooler,,
so matt how far will 5k get me.....
cheers

My Mechanic mate who assisted me with mine and I have been discussing doing conversions as a business for those out there with either no time, no experience or both. We are going to cost it out tomorrow as a drop off, drive away price and see if it is worth it.

I'll give you a hand if you like....Call me on 0416 115 993, I know where to put the cooler...thought about airflow alot I have.....the 914 has to have one mounted also, which is not so diffferent to the t3.

I cant wait till I start a splitty conversion as well.
Matt

use the type 3 design to your advantange when doing intercooler placement.

put it against the back, there is a perfect size hole where the aircooled engine originally sucked in cool air from outside via the fender/rear windsheild vents. then put a couple fans inside the cubby, and youre done.

well, thats what i did........

-Ryan

boof2332 wrote:My Mechanic mate who assisted me with mine and I have been discussing doing conversions as a business for those out there with either no time, no experience or both. We are going to cost it out tomorrow as a drop off, drive away price and see if it is worth it.

I'll give you a hand if you like....Call me on 0416 115 993, I know where to put the cooler...thought about airflow alot I have.....the 914 has to have one mounted also, which is not so diffferent to the t3.

I cant wait till I start a splitty conversion as well.
Matt

Yep, done those sums too. There is only a tiny number of people who want to spend $9000 on a $2000 VW...

Jak Rizzo wrote:as long as u get the water pipes around the right way.

Yep! Easy mistake to make for a first-timer!

Are all the mistakes corrected now? Is Andrew up & running?

Yep, done those sums too. There is only a tiny number of people who want to spend $9000 on a $2000 VW... [/quote]

Are u talking $9000 for pobjoy 1916 power or wrx power, my wrx power definantly didn't cost $9000.
Jak

Jak Rizzo wrote:Yep, done those sums too. There is only a tiny number of people who want to spend $9000 on a $2000 VW...

Are u talking $9000 for pobjoy 1916 power or wrx power, my wrx power definantly didn't cost $9000.
Jak [/quote]

WRX power. Done properly with everything required, at 'retail' prices.

And no, poor Macca still hasn't driven his car... now we have fixed the problem with the throw-out bearing, it is stalling and throwing fault codes at us. Macca is taking a look - time is tight for me, dammitnn[ Edited on 8-9-2005 by VWCOOL ]

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

i have found prices on doing my notch,and so far in pieces im almost 5k,thats with after market pc..
i know chris,intheweeds has spent way more then 3k,and still not on the road,,,,,,,,,
so if you can do it for 3k,let me know....cheers:thumb

wrecker67 wrote:i have found prices on doing my notch,and so far in pieces im almost 5k,thats with after market pc..
i know chris,intheweeds has spent way more then 3k,and still not on the road,,,,,,,,,
so if you can do it for 3k,let me know....cheers:thumb

Ring Jako Rizzo...fine piece of work:thumbJVLRacing

Costings kids....

ej20t $799
Adaptor and flywheel....$660
Ecu....$1100
Clutch $450
Total....$3009
Then comes the part that varies..
Pumps$200
Fans$200
Piping $150
Intercooler set up $250
Bracing/fuel lines/clamps etc $200
Radiator $100
Exhaust $250
New coils/plugs/timing belt and possibly water pump and anthing else misc that is needed like wire and terminals$500.

Total $4859

The good thing is the setup costs are just that.....if you did blow a motor...$800 and a weekend and your BACK BABY! Thats the best bit, apart from stupid power, reliability, economy and refinement.

Whos Next.....your next!

thats more like what i came up with,,,,then engineering,and in some cases brake upgrades which could go to a extra $1500 on top....
once this cost is done,,cheap motors so no big dollar rebuilds..:thumb
cheersnn[ Edited on 27-10-03 by wrecker67 ]

You can save alot from keeping an eye out for piping, thermos, fuel pumps and if you are handy with metal(i'm more handy cutting it out), then you can get costs down to aound the $4000 mark.

What VWCOOL was talking about was the cost of a drop off, drive away conversion cost, for those not wanting to do it themselves. We worked out it would be about $8000.....we would have to do a trial, although we sat down worked out the time and it would take 2 people 2 weeks....do do everything from cutting to wiring.....just drive it to a dyno, then to get some new rubber.

After that it, it would be easy to show the owner how to do their own engine swaps and they could work on them from then on.

Matt

boof2332 wrote:You can save alot from keeping an eye out for piping, thermos, fuel pumps and if you are handy with metal(i'm more handy cutting it out), then you can get costs down to aound the $4000 mark.

What VWCOOL was talking about was the cost of a drop off, drive away conversion cost, for those not wanting to do it themselves. We worked out it would be about $8000.....we would have to do a trial, although we sat down worked out the time and it would take 2 people 2 weeks....do do everything from cutting to wiring.....just drive it to a dyno, then to get some new rubber.

After that it, it would be easy to show the owner how to do their own engine swaps and they could work on them from then on.

Matt

Thats cheap!!!! as long ther is no mods doing with in the motor!!!:thumbJVLRacing

We paid $3000 for engine and computer only, sitting on the floor. THEN YOU GOTTA GET IT IN THE CAR, (with labour at $80 hour) add a radiator and $500 worth of pipes and coolant, get it engineered and get it registered with all the brakes, braces and bobby bits required

I'm sure the lads at Custom Offroad are offering drive-in drive out Subie n/a conversions for around $8000. A WRX will be a bit more

EDIT: Just saw Boof's post. Yes - I meant drive in drive out at commercial workshop (not charity or DIY or BBQ) rates. nn[ Edited on 11-9-2005 by VWCOOL ]

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

he got bargains/hook ups on alot of stuff.

i did it for about $2000us, not sure how that compares to the austrailian dollar.

-Ryan

I honestly think that if I can do it , then anyone can do it. I've no special talents, hell I design & draw plans for a living!.
If u are prepared to do some research, have a little patience then it's more than in the realm of the average vw nut.
U don't have to beat my time frame of 5 weeks, but don't be afraid of it either.
Mines been going for 9 months now without hiccup as far as the conversion is concerned, maybe I got lucky? but when u consider what u are doing , ie putting a late model turbo motor in the rear of an old air cooled peoples car, it's quite an accomplishment.
Those that have done it & have had success, regardless of the time frame know what I'm talking about.
regards
Jaknn[ Edited on 11-9-2005 by Jak Rizzo ]

im still in the process of tuning mine to run better on the road. But everyone i have run into thinks im a freggin genious. i agree with what jak said. All it takes is a little fabrication. It has deffinitely been the most informative thing ive ever done. Deffinitely going to be a huge accomplishment in my life.

and like jak said

If u are prepared to do some research, have a little patience then it's more than in the realm of the average vw nut.

just to add a little more to that statement, i am only 19 yrs old, and i did it! its very doable, just dont overwhelm yourself in the process trying to do too many things at once.

-Ryannn[ Edited on 11/9/2005 by rubyred ]

rubyred wrote:im still in the process of tuning mine to run better on the road. But everyone i have run into thinks im a freggin genious. i agree with what jak said. All it takes is a little fabrication. It has deffinitely been the most informative thing ive ever done. Deffinitely going to be a huge accomplishment in my life.

and like jak said

If u are prepared to do some research, have a little patience then it's more than in the realm of the average vw nut.

just to add a little more to that statement, i am only 19 yrs old, and i did it! its very doable, just dont overwhelm yourself in the process trying to do too many things at once.

-Ryannn[ Edited on 11/9/2005 by rubyred ]

Top stuff.Listening to the right people is experience in itself.JVLRacing:thumb

Well if Jak can do it and he tries to design house plans for a living, then any half trained night monkey could do it...you know what I'm saying.

One of the biggest problems for some people would be place well equiped enough, where the car can sit, that is also close enough for it to be practicle.

Jak....what day are you free this week for that expresso with the little lemon twist, that mate of yours makes out the back of the art gallery. He always tells me he makes it himself, although I do not know if I believe him.

Matt

How about Wednesday morning?
Jak

I agree with the sub $4k price for a conversion.
My 95 WRX engine with 70k klms, loom and ECU cost $2100. I you are prepared to scour the wreckers for the other parts such as coolers, radiators, pumps and pipe the cost does not get out of hand. I should get the conversion done including the cost of buying the van for less than the cost of building my 2110cc aircooled for the beetle.

Having a decent garage and all the tools and knowhow also makes a big difference.

In the famous words of Tim the Tool Man Taylor....argh argh argh.

Brendan

That is the worst staged photo that I've ever seen, everytime I come over u are sitting in the garage looking out at Brisbane water.............
Jak

That wasn't staged. I didn't know Jake was taking the photo as I was in my blissful ignorance of the world around me with the grinder buzzing!

Brendan

hmmmmmm, the smell of burning metal, I don't miss it, good idea with the hat, it hurts when the bits of hot metal get caught in your hair.
Jak

As long as it is not burning skin or retinas! Note the full length clothing, gloves and safety glasses. Giorgio Armarni watch out!

The fun of grinding goes after the first weld is smooth!

This is where the price goes up in the cost of the conversion. There is a lot of work in the fabrication, especially for a neat job. CORC price for the full kit would include all that heartache in making the bits.

Me I'm a sado-masochistic bastard! I love cleaning, stripping, cutting, grinding, welding, grinding, welding, grinding, sanding, painting, polishing, assembling, wiring, upholstering, glazing etc...

Brendan

Me I'm a sado-masochistic bastard! I love cleaning, stripping, cutting, grinding, welding, grinding, welding, grinding, sanding, painting, polishing, assembling, wiring, upholstering, glazing etc...

you sick bastard.....:beer

No where near enough sparks.......like I always say.."if in doubt, then cut it out! Had a spark go in my ear the other day...tickled a bit.

Jak, wednesday looks o.k. just need to do a few small race mods tomorrow to get it ready!!

Matt

Not enough sparks ARGH..ARGH..ARGH.......Get me the Binford 9660 nine inch angle grinder!

I have never seen a WRX engine go for anything less than $3K! Where the heck are you guys buying your cheap donks? An old RS still gets over $2500 here! Add the adapter/FW ($600), clutch ($300), radiator(s)($300+), plumbing($80), and fab work and your getting up there...And don't forget a desent transaxle!!!

My brothers RS conversion he do over 6 years ago cost he around $5K....

So on a commercial deal, drive in, drive away....$8K sounds like a deal!

My SVX conversion in my transporter has set me back around $4K without all the hours and small bits and pieces along the way.

ICHI Bahn at moorebank...used to be Jap Wreckers I think. EJ20t's $799.
Call.
02.9600 7066.

We paid $800 each from SSS, although they have none left and I have had a few dramas with mine and think it was beat up a bit....check the sump condition, if its dented and smashed up it must say something! If you want one ask for pics, or get one of us to have a look.

Matt

We paid $3K for engine and modified harness/PCM, stripped and labelled ready to install into VW. Sure, you might be able to find a piece-of-sh*t 1993 WRX engine for $800, but what makes it run?

I challenge anyone here to name a mechanical workshop in Australia that will install a WRX engine into a VW including radiator, coolant pipes, all body mods (engine bay and radiator) heater/demister, all fitted, tuned and running and get it legally engineered and registered for $3000. Betcha can't.

Asd Humpty, Jak Rizzo and Rubyred and others have related in this and other threads, retrotech engine transplants are wonderful. But they DO COST DECENT MONEY. Don't be misled or bamboozled by $1000 turbo engines.

The VW conversion I was involved in (WRX/Type 3) cost more than $4000 just in PARTS. That's before we attempted to fit it. I have been involved in other conversions such as 60s-90s Holdens and Falcons with EFI V6s and V8s and it NEVER costs anything less than $6-8K to get it on the road DIY with second-hand parts. $12K is a typical quote from a workshop
nn[ Edited on 24-9-2005 by VWCOOL ]nn[ Edited on 26-9-2005 by VWCOOL ]

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

We paid $3K for engine and modified harness/PCM, stripped and labelled ready to install into VW. Sure, you might be able to find a piece-of-sh*t 1993 WRX engine for $800, but what makes it run?

I challenge anyone here to name a mechanical workshop in Australia that will install a WRX engine into a VW including radiator, coolant pipes, all body mods (engine bay and radiator) heater/demister, all fitted, tuned and running and get it legally engineered and registered for $3000. Betcha can't.

Asd Humpty, Jak Rizzo and Rubyred and others have related in this and other threads, retrotech engine transplants are wonderful. But they DO COST DECENT MONEY. Don't be misled or bamboozled by $1000 turbo engines.

The VW conversion I was involved in (WRX/Type 3) cost more than $4000 just in PARTS. That's before we attempted to fit it. I have been involved in other conversions such as 60s-90s Holdens and Falcons with EFI V6s and V8s and it NEVER costs anything less than $6-8K to get it on the road DIY with second-hand parts. $12K is a typical quote from a workshop
nn[ Edited on 24-9-2005 by VWCOOL ]nn[ Edited on 26-9-2005 by VWCOOL ] [/quote]

$850 for a 94 wrx engine
$1095 for an ECU
$300 for engineering
$600 for adapter & flywheel
$245 for clutch.
pipe work, muffler system, radiator & fans were sourced through friends & family for next to nothing.
Not paying someone $80 an hour for little result helped financially as well.
Add $1500 for a rebuild & I'm still in front.
Unfortunantly Andrews & Brendans low milelage WRX engines could blow up tommorrow, shit happens , although one would think highly unlikely.
Pauly , Matt & I built our cars to a budget & for a purpose, I can confidently say mission accomplished. it's been a blast. I've also saved money on petrol over my 2275cc vw engine.

To think that people are argueing over the price of conversions, in the conversions section is Pathetic. it's hard to beleive we all love the same thing, vw's.

regards
Jak

Arguing? Err... Some of us are just attempting to present real-world pricing. When mention was made of prices, I presented a price of $9000 for a drive-in, drive out conversion by a workshop which is a price I believe a workshop would have to charge for the business to be viable. This price based on my own 'doing the sums' with a mechanical workshop that does conversions and my own hands-on experience with engine conversions into Holdens, Fords and VWs. Buggy Brad offers a DIDO EJ20 conversion for (IIRC) $8800. And I think Boof and Humpty, both whom have obvious experiecne with conversions kinda agreed with that figure, too. So I don't think I'm too far off the mark, huh

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

Gee, dont ask Wes how much his v6 conversion cost all told then.......

So to conclude.

You can do a Subaru conversion for about $3000 if you do all the running around, sourcing, welding/fabrication, getting dirty, dealing with ambiguity, figuring out the wiring, scrounging parts for the wreckers etc.

If you want someone to do it for you it will cost $9000 drive in, drive out, no dirty hands, no work. New radiator, new pipes, shortened sump, new timing belt, new water pump, new fuel pump, fuels lines run for you etc etc.

jvl054 wrote:

boof2332 wrote:You can save alot from keeping an eye out for piping, thermos, fuel pumps and if you are handy with metal(i'm more handy cutting it out), then you can get costs down to aound the $4000 mark.

What VWCOOL was talking about was the cost of a drop off, drive away conversion cost, for those not wanting to do it themselves. We worked out it would be about $8000.....we would have to do a trial, although we sat down worked out the time and it would take 2 people 2 weeks....do do everything from cutting to wiring.....just drive it to a dyno, then to get some new rubber.

After that it, it would be easy to show the owner how to do their own engine swaps and they could work on them from then on.

Matt

Thats cheap!!!! as long ther is no mods doing with in the motor!!!:thumbJVLRacing

Now I'm really confused :jesus So JVL you agree that $8000 is cheap and that this would be the expected price for the conversion?

nn[ Edited on 27-9-2005 by Craig Torrens ]

MikeM wrote:So to conclude.

You can do a Subaru conversion for about $3000 if you do all the running around, sourcing, welding/fabrication, getting dirty, dealing with ambiguity, figuring out the wiring, scrounging parts for the wreckers etc.

If you want someone to do it for you it will cost $9000 drive in, drive out, no dirty hands, no work. New radiator, new pipes, shortened sump, new timing belt, new water pump, new fuel pump, fuels lines run for you etc etc.

And a plug for CUSTOM OFFROAD..............they are the guys to go and see.:thumb

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

thanx guys this has been exactlly what people have been waiting to here and see the real prices ive considered it with my splitty and i have a baja that i definatley what a subie put in but im the no time or know how guy that would pay one of you guys to do it the baja first .

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

i dont think chris wanted his post hijacked this far,,i think no matter what the price,you do it because you want to do it to keep,if we were doing it for resale value then you will lose..
so if you can do it for 3k or 10k,good luck,these conversion make for a high performance car,i cant think of two many cars with this power to weight ratio...
but i can say after a few people have done the conversion,the smile on there face is better then money in the bank,,,,
good luck guys,and the original post about chris and the sale,well he is going to finish it, ,almost there,then he will have a smile on his dial,,,,

i think maybe start a new thread about how good it is,dont worry about the cost.......

cheers :beer:beer:beer:beer

lol... "what was the thread about again"?!!

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

MikeM wrote:So to conclude.

You can do a Subaru conversion for about $3000 if you do all the running around, sourcing, welding/fabrication, getting dirty, dealing with ambiguity, figuring out the wiring, scrounging parts for the wreckers etc.

If you want someone to do it for you it will cost $9000 drive in, drive out, no dirty hands, no work. New radiator, new pipes, shortened sump, new timing belt, new water pump, new fuel pump, fuels lines run for you etc etc.

Thankyou Mke M,this what ive been talking about all the time.JVLRacing

Craig Torrens wrote:

jvl054 wrote:

boof2332 wrote:You can save alot from keeping an eye out for piping, thermos, fuel pumps and if you are handy with metal(i'm more handy cutting it out), then you can get costs down to aound the $4000 mark.

What VWCOOL was talking about was the cost of a drop off, drive away conversion cost, for those not wanting to do it themselves. We worked out it would be about $8000.....we would have to do a trial, although we sat down worked out the time and it would take 2 people 2 weeks....do do everything from cutting to wiring.....just drive it to a dyno, then to get some new rubber.

After that it, it would be easy to show the owner how to do their own engine swaps and they could work on them from then on.

Matt

Thats cheap!!!! as long ther is no mods doing with in the motor!!!:thumbJVLRacing

Now I'm really confused :jesus So JVL you agree that $8000 is cheap and that this would be the expected price for the conversion?

nn[ Edited on 27-9-2005 by Craig Torrens ]

YEP!..JVLRacing

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

My conversion ej20 N/A out with vw
motor $1800.00
ecu ( OEM ) cut and shut $350.00 > never do this bit ever again!
adapter plate & drive hub , well I made mine did a good job say cost on this was $300.00
radator custom three core $300.00
fan $150.00
pipe work 316 stainless steel tube $350.00
headers muffler & cat stainless steel $450.00 & around 60 hours work no labour in price
add $350.000 for hoses ,clamps ,fittings , wiring , fuses .


this is what I have in my book for the costs of the conversion , seagull

Adaptor/flywheel $660.
Motor $850
ECU stock $500 or aftermarket $1000
Clutch $450

Thats about $3000 right now....
Fine, go and find used fuel pumps, radiator and thermo fans(pretty dodgy). Cut all the body yourself, weld up your own box section and supports. use gal pipe for the radiator hose from the scrap metal yard and make your own surge tank and filler and use odd lengths of pipe and a used turbo muffler for your exhaust.....The things that have been forgotton that add up to be the most are...
Fuel line.
Rubber radiator hose.
Fuel and radiator hose clamps....lots of them.
Brass fittings for all the new entry's and exits created.
Wire/fuses/weather pack terminals/heatshrink/tape and insulating pipe.
Steel/aluminium.
Screws/nuts/ bolts and cable ties.
Expansion Tank.
Air filter.
Soundproofing and new carpet for rear.
Senders for your gauges/new gauges.
This still hasnt even looked at plugs/timing belt/injectors/ servicing/engineering and or rear discs.
Anything else you can think of is probably there.

Jak did the ej20t pretty much as cheap as possible for $4000 including a few little upgrades such as clutch.

Hi Chris, where is the muffler, so I can make your exhaust, when do you wantt the module wired in????I am pretty busy for the next 7 days with some chick from desperate housewives, although I may be fee one night.

Matt

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

I think we had better stop this one....Its getting way out of hand....Personal attacts are not what AVD is about...Chill out guys....

We all agree, that these conversions are a blast to do, to drive and to live with...Some work at the turn of the key the first time, some require a little finese to get humming....But one thing is for sure....

Like building a HiPo aircooler (which i am doing right now!), there are so many ways to do it and everyone has an opinion....

I know something about big brakes and engine conversions, I have done and live with both, and you know what...What works here, most definately may not work there...How Jak got his done so cheap is a mark to his a skills and ability to source the right bits for the right price, What JVL has done Im sure is of equal value. We all know what Craig has done, and we all know what my brother has done, Seagull has a nasty looking trike in his shed and it sure is a work of engineering art....so many different projects, but all of equal value....Some may cost a bucket load to build some may cost bugger all, but one thing is certain....

We all have done or are doing it....

How much it costs for you to do it or for you to pay someone else, is really not the issue...Its what you get at the end that matters, and whether you can justify the cost....If you get one of those stupid grins on your face everytime you turn the key, then I would say that you are the luckiest dude on the planet...

Simple

Well said humpty, unfortunately there seems to be the same problems with personal attacks in this thread as there was in the GBT thread in the drag forum. If we could all keep the personal bullshit out of it, there would be no need for the moderators to edit/delete/suspend posts or threads....thereby pissing people off who actually contribute something useful to the discussion.

I would not want to suspend an entire thread but there has been quite a few posts that will be edited unless this can get back on track. I am not one to flex the "moderator muscle" as I'm far from perfect, but I have AVD's best interests in mind and will take action to uphold such interests.

Let's stay on topic please. 😬

Dasdubber wrote:Well said humpty, unfortunately there seems to be the same problems with personal attacks in this thread as there was in the GBT thread in the drag forum. If we could all keep the personal bullshit out of it, there would be no need for the moderators to edit/delete/suspend posts or threads....thereby pissing people off who actually contribute something useful to the discussion.

I would not want to suspend an entire thread but there has been quite a few posts that will be edited unless this can get back on track. I am not one to flex the "moderator muscle" as I'm far from perfect, but I have AVD's best interests in mind and will take action to uphold such interests.

Let's stay on topic please. 😬

No Probs and well said:thumbJVLRacing

Actually once you filter out all the bickering there is some really usefull info for those of us still umm'ing and arh'ing about doing a conversion....

So a big thanks to those that have shared a rough guide to prices and bits and pieces required....

Now if I ever get finished on rust repairs then I can start tossing up between fitting the Type 4 in the shed or flag that (as even sorting the parts to fit that comes to a suprising amount of dosh) and go a Subaru motor.

Cheers
Jeremy

the bickering helped in drawing out the info 👍

hehe! Your a funny bugger Craig....

Edited as requested by a number of people.nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Dasdubber ]

Well it seems I was not the only one who the bickering and comments made in this thread did nothing to further AVD member's understanding, nor gain knowledge of such a suby conversion.

I have had a number of requests to delete the offending threads so I have edited out the crap and left everything that is relevant. I would like to think such moderation would not be necessary in the future but I guess humans will be humans, lets just try and stay on track please.

JVL and VWCOOL - I don't know what issues you have but please conduct them via U2U or email, or better yet phone to sort it out rather than using AVD threads for such slanging matches.

If anyone is upset about how this thread has been moderated please U2U me as I take responsibilities for my actions as a moderator....just make sure you have a good reason why you think such comments should have stayed.

Kind regards
Alan

I have read this post with interest. The more Subie powered VW's on the road the better.

Although I try to avoid commenting on anything which has to do directly with my business or costings I am going to make an exception in this case to clarify a few things.

Firstly you CAN NOT COMPARE a shop done conversion and a home / owner job. The main reaosn for this is unless you are one dodgy ass shop you will not cut the same corners that owners will do. By this I mean using 2nd hand radiators, thermo's etc. So straight away that adds to the cost.

I was involved in Wes's V6 conversion which was one of the first net published fully priced converions. Yes it was done on the cheap as posted but we used a lot of 2nd hand stuff and made even more of it ourselves. That costing did not include the 3 weeks of our lives at 5 - 6 days a week and 8 or so hours a day.

When I first did up the costing for a Drive in / Drive out Ej conversions it was going to be $6600 ... I was wrong.

EJ 22 Half Cut $2,200.00
Adapter $660.00
228 mm Clutch Kit $350.00
Modified EJ loom $330.00
VDO Temp Guage $55.00
4m of EFI fuel hose $88.00
6 m of water hose $330.00
15 HP Clamps $70.00
16 " Thermo $330.00
EFI Fuel Pump $200.00
Engine warning light $5.50
Vdo tempsender $18.00
VDO VSS Sender $185.00
Radiator $440.00
Cross Member / Sub frame $250.00
Shortened sump $440.00
Invert Manifold / gaskets $120.00
Accelerator cabel / brackets $88.00
Air Cleaner $44.00
Air Cleaner bracket $22.00
Air cleaner piping $80.00
Cam Belt $165.00
rear main seal $35.00
Engineering Approvals $165.00

Total $6670.50

This doesn't include a lot of small stuff like fuel filters, nuts and bolts, sealant, cutting blades, welding wire, paint, sheet metal, and any upgardes that are required such as brakes, seat belts, wipers, demister etc etc . Also prices are a mix between retail and trade. Also don't forget that nothing in life is free and even the rolls of electrical tape and connectors must be costed as someone pays for them.

Then when you add in labour costs, insurance, rent, and other over heads and don't foget my favourite which is the warranty, you begin to see how shops end up with costings way above $3000.

I am not saying you can't do one for under $3000 but I am saying if you think you can do it easy you are kidding. If you actually cost it our properly then you will be over $4000 before you even have most of the parts.

Our drive in / drive out deals are $8800 and also include, new water pump, leads, plugs, cam belt, oil seals and a heap of other stuff we put in to make sure that then engine gives years of hassle free motoring.

Anyway as I said the more on the road the better, but I think people should be well aware of the actual costs and not those cost people throw up to make themselves look like guru conversion guys....

On a side if anyone wants to do them for under $5000 I will happily send them some cars. That is as long as they give a warranty and don't use junk yard stuff with a limited life expectancy.

Thanks for your honest input Brad, doesn't get much clearer than that !!!:thumb

nn[ Edited on 28-9-2005 by Craig Torrens ]

What he said.....Totally agree with everything you said Brad....Everything costs...Its just down to how much you want to spend to get the smile you want!
My SVX conversion was done on the cheap and it cost me around $5K all up, with me doing all the fabrication....I didn't have the added cost of fabricating a coolant system as my Bus is a Wedgie.....Still I feel it was good value, as they are lovely bus' to drive and it has power to spare, will reasonably economical, compared to the standard WBX engine..... When you compare this conversion to the Turbo 1915 Im building for my bug....Its makes good economic sense...The engine alone for my bug will set me back over $5K...And that is done on the cheap also!

Mine has cost me about 10k I reckon, but then the EJ25 motor and ECU was $3750 to begin with. WRX motors were $5K at the time.

im building a kickass site right now with my entire conversion. it will walk you through how i did the conversion, and include costs. If theres a will theres a way, and you can do this conversion for cheap if you plan things out right.

-Ryan

I reckon my cost will be about $7500 but then I paid $4500 for my engine, imported some parts and have had to pay for a couple of the bits and pieces twice as with those I have been working on the trial and error method.
I will do a definate cost summary when I have finished.
Ah when I have finished..........

Ok so I have read most of this and it is another "how long is a pice of string" thread. Yeh you can do a cheap conversion using second hand motor (my choice to get my buggy on the road to sort it out) or you can build a killer set up costing a heap. Believe me HP is expensive as I have just done a costing on a new ej25 all the gear and it is coming in at around $10000 in parts. All brand new bits though. And that is through people who can get them at cost price.
I guess it all depends on how deep your pockets are and how much work you can do yourself. Just remember any work you do yourself has no warrenty so sometime the shop option is a good way to go.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewthread.php?tid=44409...
check it out

$4500 needs to sell

Good info Brad. Now my $500 bet (since deleted from thread) that a quality conversion couldn't be done for $3000 doesn't look so much like a 'slanging match' anymore.

I too did the sums on parts and labour, have done a conversion and stand by my word - as do you Brad.

Whatever... I'm surprised that after all the discussion and with all the info from various people on this thread that someone hasn't snapped this unfinished project up

mabye you should snap it up glen would look good at your house

IN THE WEEDS wrote:mabye you should snap it up glen would look good at your house

Speaking to Matt the other day,he said what you have done is a geat job and little work to go....Sell it to bloke that knows whats hes doing because thers alot of PRETENDERS out there still trying to get it right. Goodluck with the sale:thumbJVLRacing

[ Edited on 12/10/2005 by jvl054 ]