Subaru Conversion - Handling question

Timbo KG · 2012-04-23T01:56:39+00:00

Hi All, I have been seriously considering a Subaru EE20 (Turbo diesel) conversion for my Karmann Ghia, but am concerned about the extra weight, hanging off the rear. From what I can gather the EE20 is about 20kg heavier in total than an EJ22. I like the idea of a powerful and torquey engine, but not if it results in "1950's American style" handling (ie good in a straight line, but tip toe around corners). What are people's experiences with the heavier engine? Are there any handling "eccentricities" and if so, how did you combat them. By the way, I'd prefer real world experiences rather than theoretical views. (or if there is already a thread about this, smack me about the head and point me in the right direction) Thanks in advance.

lou0060 Wolfsburg Wizard

568 posts · joined Dec 2010 · 5 Aug 2012, 5:46 pm

#915984

horses for courses. Personally I wouldn't put a tdi in a kg as if I was going to convert a kg it would be as a road rocket and with all the room in the back you could go to town with an STI.subgears combo I reckon. And it would be pretty fuel efficient as the kg is a relatively slippery shape compared to a bus or even a beetle. However, if I was going to do a bus then a tdi and auto suby box would be nutts.....

my daily is a tdi T5 and I drove it from Bris to almost Newcastle towing the race car on the way to Wakefield before having to fuel up and last year drove from Redcliffe to Liverpool before having to fuel up, (no trailer this time) so I am all for the tdi conversion but not sure about doing it to a kg.....

However, everyone bagged me for putting my radiator in the back of the beetle too so I guess go for it and I look forward to some pictures.

1971 karmann ghia Cabrio - Cruising 👍
1963 beetle Sunroof - gathering dust 🥲
1968 race beetle - twin turbo Subaru - stress relief 😁
1960 beetle - old school low & slow 😏

modulus Veteran Volks Folk

2,009 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 5 Aug 2012, 6:53 pm

#915992

lou0060 wrote:...as the kg is a relatively slippery shape compared to a bus or even a beetle....

Wash your mouth out with soap!

Beetle CD: 0.48
Caravelle/Transporter: 0.37
Karmann (FHC): 0.37
So you should say:
...as the kg is a relatively lumpy shape, comparable to a bus, but nevertheless way better than a Beetle....

The (original) VW Beetle is a beautiful shape, as long as we define beauty in terms of aesthetics and not function; the aero drag is a significant limiting factor on top speed. The KG had a reasonable CD for a design of its time, but today a 997 Porsche is around 0.28.

hth

Peter Hill
1975 Type 2 Double Cab
modulus.com.au

Timbo KG Learner Dubber

10 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 13 Aug 2012, 10:41 am

#917251

I know that the TDI conversion would be better in a Kombi, but an old Karmann is all I have. . . .

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 13 Aug 2012, 6:16 pm

#917310

Timbo KG wrote:I know that the TDI conversion would be better in a Kombi, but an old Karmann is all I have. . . .

Well get stuck into it and get it finished, Once its all together then you see how it handles.
As a lot of people on car forums seem to start things and never ever finish them and lose heaps of money and end up selling all the unused stuff on EBay.

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 13 Aug 2012, 7:19 pm

#917341

Hi

The things I don't like about Diesels is you need a bath after filling up, they stink and get some bad fuel in a modern Diesel and your deep trouble.

Steve

nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 2 Oct 2014, 8:23 pm

#1001239

Found this-a good read.Did it ever happen?

57 oval Oval type 4 Fuel Injected

184 posts · joined Feb 2008 · 3 Oct 2014, 6:19 am

#1001249

Ye good one NB, read the whole thing before I realized it was an old one. Would be good to hear if it happened, better still pickup the " unfinished " project and run with it. I know of a few people that have a dream, start it get bloody close to the end and park it in the corner. Get back to it

1957 Oval type IV
1956 Oval poss project
1954 Oval impossible project
Ass 70's Beetles
http://www.users.on.net/~rogerbyrne/index.htm

nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 4 Oct 2014, 7:36 pm

#1001317

Want me to loan you some bumpers to finish another project??

57 oval Oval type 4 Fuel Injected

184 posts · joined Feb 2008 · 7 Oct 2014, 6:24 am

#1001408

Na its OK thanks, don't think I will fit them, with the wider guards and standard bumpers it will look like that girl that walks down the mall with her size 10 gym pants and a size 16 body, to much body hanging out each side. Now get back in the shed

1957 Oval type IV
1956 Oval poss project
1954 Oval impossible project
Ass 70's Beetles
http://www.users.on.net/~rogerbyrne/index.htm

nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 7 Oct 2014, 8:25 am

#1001416

Woah 57 Oval- good thing Gillard doesn't visit here- she would tear you to shreds for a comment like that- I can't even spell what she would call you.