Greetings All · Aussieveedubbers

TucsonBay · 18 Apr 2006, 2:12 pm

Wanted to say hello from this side of the world. Tucson, Arizona, USA. I just picked up a Bay Bus and I am tinkering with the idea of a non-VW conversion. I will take the time to search through the forums but any suggestions are appreciated. If you can include "degree of difficulty" that would be awesome too. Be safe and save the Bays!

Phil in Tucson

seagull · 18 Apr 2006, 2:14 pm

Gday mate , get your self a subaru ej22 or 2.5 ltr there should be heaps over your side of the world & welcome to the dark side :vader

71EJVan · 18 Apr 2006, 3:43 pm

Here is my 71 panel EJ20T conversion (needs updating though) http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=46532

Do a search on Helbus' conversion also.

Regards

Brendan

[ Edited on 18-4-2006 by 71EJVan ]

pete wood · 18 Apr 2006, 7:24 pm

I'd consider a 2.5l STi motor and somesort of built up 2litre 091 gearbox. You can get aftermarket ECUs that will run the engine straight out of the box so you don't have to worry about the hassles of the factory loom. Your radiator and intercooler heat exchanger should be able to go underneath as per Brendans. Should be an absolute rocket and about 100% more fun than the standard type 4 motor.

I spose it depends how much you want to spend.

GeorgeL · 19 Apr 2006, 5:18 am

TucsonBay wrote:Wanted to say hello from this side of the world. Tucson, Arizona, USA. I just picked up a Bay Bus and I am tinkering with the idea of a non-VW conversion. I will take the time to search through the forums but any suggestions are appreciated. If you can include "degree of difficulty" that would be awesome too. Be safe and save the Bays!

Phil in Tucson

The degree of difficulty is by no means low. The trans adapter is the first and easiest step. You also have to handle cooling, exhaust, engine mounts, sensor and computer mods, throttle control, etc. Figure on a couple of hundred hours' work and a few thousand dollars of expense.

The results, however, can be impressive. A typical 2.5 litre Subaru makes 165 reliable horsepower and spins to 6000RPM, making it an ideal match to a stock 091 gearbox. This is comparable to heavily modified type 4 engines that are nowhere near as reliable.

I live in SoCal and I'm also in the planning stages of an EJ25 swap into a '71 bay. The Aussies are way ahead of us in this sort of thing!

George