Hi, I'm researching over the next couple of months to convert my '70 fastback to Ej20T power. I have most of the process down.
There is quite a bit of info around - with subynotch.com etc and of course on this forum.
I haven't had the engine out of my ride before - so not too sure about the crucial piece of info - how the block will fit in. I understand that you have to flip the water intake, relocate the alternator, remote oil filter, move intercooler and possibly plug oil cooler.
My question is does anyone have information on mounting the block. I have a IRS setup - and will be using a Rancho street pro box, but does anyone have a good custom mount setup? I'm hoping that something could be fabricated to bolt up to the original hanging mounts? The more info the merrier please..
Ok.. but I'm not interested in purchasing a made conversion.
ian.mezz ·
Fastie wrote:Ok.. but I'm not interested in purchasing a made conversion.
ask Klaus the question😊
Fastie ·
Ah yes, I took that initiative also.
hellbugged ·
search for hellVWrx
Loads of pics for mounting sub frame off vw points on body
Fastie ·
hellbugged wrote:search for hellVWrx
Loads of pics for mounting sub frame off vw points on body
Cool thanks
Jak Rizzo ·
Fastie wrote:I understand that you have to flip the water intake, relocate the alternator, remote oil filter, move intercooler and possibly plug oil cooler.
Hi
there is absolutely no need to do this in a beetle conversion, let alone a type 3 conversion that has a heap more room in the back.
Part of the beauty of such a conversion is the simplicity & reliablity of the standard WRX engine. Why complicate it & for what benefit?
I am only speaking of my own experience. I don't see any benefit of the above modifications.
Fastie ·
Actually I do agree.. I was emailing Rjes and that was his opinion.. but I think he had in mind that people want to keep their boot space.. ahhh. nope.
Do you think you could email me at stafdawg@gmail.com with some pics of your mounting setup - it looks nice and simple. Cheers.
Klaus ·
sent a reply to your email , my fit uses no factory mounts as i wanted nothing to fall apart as its all 10 and 6mm plate drilled and tapped with custom cradle setup to use subi engine mounts. the only mod to intercooler was to lay it down a little more so to lie level with the top of the alt. As i said buy mine cheap as and just needs a tidy up .
Jak Rizzo ·
I have attached the only other pics that I have of Simons brothers notch that he sent me many years ago.
Mine is in a beetle, so that won't really help u.
regards
Jak
Jak Rizzo ·
.
seagull ·
Mark has had that subaru Rs turbo motor in there for years. I think that is was one of the first ever conversions done down under
this machine is very cheap to run and is a true sleeper, see at the drags come summer Chopper !
pete wood ·
that's very low. how often does he scrape it on stuff?
seagull ·
I can not say I seen many scraps on the under side there Pete. I have a look next time Mark comes over
Fastie ·
So that frame on the red fastie looks to be quite simple, with tubular steel parts welded up. Would it be best to go that route - or something fabricated by a professional shop? I would be getting a engineer cert in VIc for it... so may have answered my own question there. RJES makes a nice looking mount for the VAN conversions.. I wonder if something like that can be designed for the Type 3.
Kai4130 ·
Fastie wrote:Actually I do agree.. I was emailing Rjes and that was his opinion.. but I think he had in mind that people want to keep their boot space.. ahhh. nope.
Do you think you could email me at stafdawg@gmail.com with some pics of your mounting setup - it looks nice and simple. Cheers.
RJES could possibly be saying that as its how I have done mine. Except I'm still running the factory oil cooler. Plety of people have squeezed it in there though in its standard form though.
Fastie wrote:I wonder if something like that can be designed for the Type 3.
You mean like this?
The mount uses the stock VW engine mounting positions and the Subaru engine mounts. I dont know if it'll be strong enough yet.... only time will tell.
Klaus ·
found some side shots of mine and inner reinforcement
Klaus ·
and another
Fastie ·
Kai4130 wrote:
Fastie wrote:Actually I do agree.. I was emailing Rjes and that was his opinion.. but I think he had in mind that people want to keep their boot space.. ahhh. nope.
Do you think you could email me at stafdawg@gmail.com with some pics of your mounting setup - it looks nice and simple. Cheers.
RJES could possibly be saying that as its how I have done mine. Except I'm still running the factory oil cooler. Plety of people have squeezed it in there though in its standard form though.
Fastie wrote:I wonder if something like that can be designed for the Type 3.
You mean like this?
Yeah - exactly like that. Do you feel like making another 😉
and Klaus - I love the extent of your fitting - looks super solid..
I think this thread could be a great way forward for type 3 conversions
Fastie ·
Well - I was just cruising on trademe.co.nz in NZ and came across a EJ20T with 89kms with a kennedy adaptor attached for about $700aus. I bought it straight away as even with shipping it works out a pretty good deal. So I guess this will now become a build thread in the coming months.
A few questions for the pros out there. With the cooling system is it best to fabricate a filler tank directly on the engine to alleviate the gravity feed problem?
My fastie is already fuel injected - I want to buy a new pump for it to handle the turbo - but can I still use the same return system from factory? I would replace all the hosing of course.
crimson ghost ·
Keeping an eye out for this 😵
Kai4130 ·
Fastie wrote:can I still use the same return system from factory? I would replace all the hosing of course.
not everybody does but I would modify your tank outlet to feed the pump with a 12mm fuel line instead of the factory 8mm on. Feed the pump at this size then drop down from the pump outlet to 8mm. this'll prevent fuel starvation to the pump and aid in cooling the pump.
the factory return should be fine at 6mm but if your replacing then go 8mm.
Take a look at my build thread over on VWKD you might get some ideas for your conversion.
Great build - and yes you have answered many questions on my mind. Can't wait to get started.. but then I haven't got anything to start with for a while - just be collecting parts I reckon.
Staf
Fastie ·
Crated and being sent over. Looks like the loom has already been trimmed to the right places hopefully. This engine was ready to go into a VW with adaptor fitted, but then the guy got relocated.. pretty happy how that worked out 😎
Fastie ·
What would you say the best radiator choice would be for this conversion. I would like to buy something that has fans and fan shrouds already attached.
pete wood ·
stock subaru rad is good if you can find a complete one.
heck if you use the stock ECU you can use it to turn the fans on too.
Fastie ·
Cool - I was wondering why people don't use the scooby radiator - surely it can't be hard to find one. Yeah I will use stock ECU. So do they measure up to a good fit?
Joel ·
Its mainly cos they're so big, being crossflow with deep tanks the end up too wide to fit a beetle well
dunno how much better a type3 would be
plus you dont need to go that big if you use metal lines underneath
Fastie ·
I'll have to do some measuring. Looks like another common one to use is the hyundai coupe.
Would using metal water pipes dissipate heat quicker than using plastic? Anyone got thoughts about plastic plumbing.. it seems to be a good choice for flexibility and fitment.
Next on my list of stuff to do is big brakes. I have a set of ATS cookie cutters that are ready to go on.. I'm going to keep the rear drums on and run adapters for the studs, and just focus on the fronts being a new setup with pattern drilled. I like the look of the corvette calipers that a member here makes - but can't seem to get in touch with him?
What else is available here? I know of the 944 option - and being 944 I'm guessing Audi 100 has the same brakes too. Someone in the link I posted was also talking about adapting BMW 320i calipers to type 3 brakes.
Klaus ·
I'm running the stock subi one just had to open up below the bumper for airflow thru it and the intercooler rad.
be quick in building it as the laws might be changing soon , better just buy mine 😂 gone up in price now to $20g's as it will be near impossible to rego one later on 😂
Fastie ·
Ha - nice - hold onto it, your car is gaining coin like the housing market 😉
Are they really changing the law? It's only a 2.0litre - I'm sure I'll be Ok.
Back to the shopping list. . what about the fuel pump.. I have a electric pump already, but I'm guessing I should be replacing it to something around 9psi?
Klaus ·
just get a new vl turbo fuel pump usually about $180.00 camira are the same, ebay might have cheaper ones.
Fastie ·
Received my WRX engine yesterday. Was told it was '97 but can't seem to find a match online for the ECU .. anyone come across a ECU info site before? Here are the numbers;
The code on the ECU is ;
B3 22611 AA600
below that is AA11-000 R69 (9427)
Have also just sorted out buying the 290mm brake package from Glenn. Looking forward to this coming together.
ian.mezz ·
check under the oil filler cap for the year,
Kai4130 ·
That engine looks to be the same as mine so it'll be from a pre face lifted model. I think they swapped over around 96-97 so sounds about right. Check underneath the oil filler cap or pull the cam belt covers off and look for the production markings which'll have the production year and month casted into the plastic.
Speaking from my experience (untested as of yet though) the Stock subaru radiator fitted nicely into the front of my late shape notch. A bar was welded across the width of the wheel well to provide a fixing point for the mountinf studs of the radiator. I then used Legacy/Liberty radiator top mounts to provide mountings for the top of the radiator. All looks factory.
The bar-
test fitting-
finished-
Your ECU code is B3,
Mine is Z4 a JDM WRX Impreza
Fastie ·
Uncrated the engine today for a gander. Took rocker coves off and plugs out and all looks to be shiny with no oil sludge - happy about that, but I seem to be missing massive parts of my loom.
What's my options? I guess I have to track another loom and ECU down?
The fuse box even appears to be from a Nissan.. weird.
Kai4130 ·
Well I got mine running yesterday for the first time in over a year. Wowwho
Looking at what you have pictured out of all of it you only need the ecu.
Have you got the engine harness? The wiring underneath the inlet manifold?
How about the boost control gubbins?
Joel ·
thats the subi fusebox, someone has just used nissan relays in it, which would probably come out of the same Fuji factory as the subi ones
Most of the rest is your light loom
This is why i hate crate motors, wreckers just cut the wiring rather than remove it properly cos they dont give a shit
Fastie ·
It isn't a crate motor - but the guy who pulled it bailed overseas and obviously forgot to include the engine loom - but did include kennedy adapter - bit gutted bout loom but think i've found another.
Jak Rizzo ·
Fastie
Why did u put your hot & cold water pipes next to each other? I don't understand why u would do that?
There is masses of room under the vw floor pan to have them on either side of the car away from each other.
Jak
Joel ·
by crate motor i just mean a package you get from a wreckers, engine, loom, ecu etc as opposed to buying a donor car or complete front cut
Fastie ·
Jak Rizzo wrote:Fastie
Why did u put your hot & cold water pipes next to each other? I don't understand why u would do that?
There is masses of room under the vw floor pan to have them on either side of the car away from each other.
Jak
Jak - you will be looking at Kai4130 post. He was posting pics for me to reference.
I'm pretty sure he put them through the transmission tunnel to hide them.
S
Kai4130 ·
I wanted a clean looking install and for ME running the pipes below the car wasn't an option. in the future if I ever remove the engine and box my charge cooler pipes will find their way into the tunnel too as I'm not happy with them running below the car neither.
Also I'm now running a cable shifter for the porsche transaxle so I didn't need to worry about the shifter rod getting in the way of the coolant pipes.
Jak Rizzo ·
So how do u insulate the heat form the pipes inside the tunnel, from heating up the cabin? I have my fuel lines running through the tunnel & when I didn't have the front plate on the tunnel on, the hot air from the radiator would go into the tunnel & heat up the car quite drasticly. Besides that, my Engineer here in NSW said a big no to the pipes internally.
If u wanted a clean looking install, why didn't u use the Subaru factory Water to air intercooler? It took me a while to work out what that alloy box was sitting in your engine bay LOL
Jak
Fastie ·
I have tracked down a wiring harness for the EJ20T. Question is though - it is a Jap harness - not Aus/NZ new. I emailed RJES and Richard said the JAP harnesses are a nightmare.
Is this true - or has anyone here picked apart and wired a Jap harness successfully here?
mactaylor ·
talk to al from am autos.
Klaus ·
yep
chris7 ·
iam thinking of putting the same engine in my fasty..any advice would be welcome i live in victoria too.
chris7 ·
Would i be best off getting a Subaru front cut???? i would prefer to see the engine run before purchase....does anyone in Victoria Wreck Subaru's?
chris7 ·
where can i get the the suby engine to vw gearbox from and how much.......i know this has been asked before but iam new to this type of conversion..
Fastie ·
Got the brakes sorted - now I can concentrate on power.
Also fitted the new/but old cookie cutter shoes.. happy with the way she's sitting