Well I picked up a new engine yesterday that I won on ebay. It's a 1996 WRX RA JDM that I plan to fit in a '72 standard beetle cab (if the one I am looking at this weekend is good). Got the original ECU but the loom is missing, the guy is sending me one though.

I'll IRS it with a 944 rear end and get a Rancho type 1 IRS 'box, moved forwards and tilted. I've also bought a spare sump so will experiment myself shortening it.

Has anyone used the Subaru engine mounts when doing this or are they still too far away from the framehorns? Would seem easy enough to make up a new rear cradle. Also, when using a converted swing axle chassis and moving the gearbox forwards, how is CV clearance to the framehorns?

Can't wait to hear that flat 4 rumble again!

Cheers,
Rich
PS I'll have some motivation to finish off my double wishbone front end kit now too!

if you raise the tranny a little CV clearance is not an issue.

BTW, nice to hear from you again. Have been checking your site regularly but not much to see. What have u been up to?

I haven't been up to much really. The Libra is pretty much all new parts so I just have to get in and drive it. I need a project on the go!

Did you get your cooling sorted out with that radiator scoop?

Rich

Great to hear......can't wait to see!

The subaru mounts are not that far at all. I cannot remember where i saw it..but a guy had just a shot of his pan with a mount system that came off the rear gearbox mount and simply sat off the cradle with small angle support brackets. I am about to weld up my cross bar and supports which will go from the inside off the arches, inside the body and then angle down to cradle the box. I was thinking of making some small extensions that would mount to the suby ones...we will see!

Good luck with the project!!

Matt

You are probably thinking of Trev's VWRX project. He's using a 915 trans though.
I want to stick to the type 1 trans and not cut into the torsion housing so that was why I was asking... I also plan to tie in the framehorns to the body/shock towers somehow but it gets a bit tight for space on the turbo side!

Rich

At the moment I am playing around with some 996 18" GT3 rims with a stock body. Not decided on a colour yet, it's white at the moment:



Will carry on the theme inside as it has got now (grey leather electric 944 seats)

Rich

[Edited on 25-2-2005 by ricola]

this is the poly mounts I made for my EJ 20 NA

another

Nice :thumb
I hadn't thought of junking the Subaru mount...
Have you moved the gearbox forwards or the engine up?
Rich

picking up a 1303 cab in a week!

Thought I'd update with some progress...

I've just about sorted the suspension and the 996 brakes, been busy collecting bits for the conversion so it's time to start cutting!



Rich

Do you need mounts? Brace the horns to the shell (under the rear window area) and hang the engine off the bellhousing like a VW...?

mmm...cutting precious metal

Just bought a 1992 G50/03 with only 25k miles on it. It's all your fault Steve C!

Major cutting time now..

Rich

Wow, that must have been pricey.......

This is going to be (already is actually) a very classy auto....

Well it was always going to be a project that I'm not in a rush to finish and I suppose I may as well make it bulletproof! It's all avalanching at the moment with collecting parts. I've bought a Pace race spec Sierra Cosworth radiator (previously in a 504bhp track car) and also the Subaru instrument binnacle which I will blend into the dash. I had previsouly bought an Adrian VOS chip which should make about 300bhp and remap for lower octane fuel.

Keep an eye on my website for pics

Rich

PS Forgot to say, I took it for a spin before selling the VW engine and those 996 brakes are awesome!!!

[ Edited on 4-10-05 by ricola ]

Thought I'd share some latest pics.
G50 and EJ20t mated for the first time




The flywheelis just too small for the Porsche starter motor so I will have to modify it to take a G50 ring gear. Then I just have to figure out a release mechanism for a VW style pressure plate, I think I'll keep the cable and make a new release arm to push instead of pull lik the hydraulic Porsche one does.

One big radiator!



Rich

[ Edited on 10-10-05 by ricola ]

Unfortunately I have had to sell my G50 to fund another project.

On the bright side, I have made a lot of progress in the last week as I needed more space so the logical thing was to get the engine in the car!














More pics on my website...

Rich

[ Edited on 27-1-06 by ricola ]

Ricola nice project:thumb......300bhp not sure about that.JVLRacing

I was looking at your website, it looks like it is going to be a clean install. I was wondering if you could post some pics of the amount of room between the rear finders and the cam sprocket covers... Also, did you have a hard time remounting the rear apron (how did you remount it) and the bumpers? Thanks in advance.

If you look on my site you can see that the engine is not quite in its forward position, it is being held back by the lower adapter plate bolts hitting the reversed cradle.
The rear valance is just held on by the rear wing bolts right now and only loose, the bumper is not fixed in place yet either.
Once the engine is in its final position I will make up some spanning pieces which will bolt up to the bumper mount section of the inner wing/valance and final clearance to the cam covers will be clearer, it is very tight though! Currently the wing mounting flange is hitting the cam covers, these will need to be cut down for clearance. I'm stuck on another project for a while now so don't hold your breath fro progress on that one, sorry.

Oh, for info, I measured and the reversed rear cradle will push the gearbox forwards by 46mm...

Rich

Hi Rich

Looking good, shame the G50 had to go. When you shorten the shiftrod, use a Type 1 gudgeon pin in between the join, its a decent bit of metal to weld to and put a grove down it allow for the seam in the shift rod tube.

Steve

Thanks for the tip Steve! I don't have any bits lying around (just fit bigger engines rather than mess about with small ones!) but I'm sure someone else local will...

I was always worreid about getting enough strength back into the floor with the G50, especially since it's a cabrio. I'm sure I would have worked it out but this way is a LOT easier!

Rich

Hi Rich,

the Phantom is really a nice car, i can understand that you want it and the G 50 box and the Lybra have to go for it.
I would do it, too.

For shortening the shift rod, I used a shift rod shortening kit, it was made for buggies etc., the shift rod is adjustable if you use it.

It is just 9 € at Custom & Speed parts:

http://www.csp-shop.de/cgi-bin/shop2/shop_main.cgi?func=start&wkid=509901453 



Cheers

Jörg

That looks perfect, thanks for the link Jorg
Rich