I saw this at the shootout. The owner was telling me it is a 1.6L EJ series Subaru engine from a base model imprezza and it fits within and unmodified beetle engine bay. I thought it is worth a mention for those contemplating an upgrade but dont want all work of body mods. It looks like a good solution for a moderate power upgrade with efi that wont kill stock gearboxes. Any of the Sub conversion people know of the availability of these engines ?

wow..thats awseome.....if only....

pickles auction - Impreza's get slammed at an alarming rate of knots....

well according to the wiki it says

'The EJ series started with the EJ16, a 1.6 liter (SOHC) and makes ~90hp'

would definately be a viable conversion i think as they wouldnt cost so much as i believce theyh were in base model subarus..

looks like it doesnt run a cat either

-Joel

90 BHP is a decent upgrade. What does a mild 1776 / 1916 produce ?

not enuf to pull the skin of a rice puding !
other will tell you just lies ( just watch for Humpty )

Nice conversion but for that much effort, the EJ22 is much better bang for buck and almost exactly the same dimensions.

seems a lot of trouble to just end up with a 1.6

Bigger capacity is obviously better, but IF the 1.6 did fit without cutting up the inner guards, and moving the trans forward it could make for an decent upgrade. Since gearbox choice and strength is a concern then this could be ok without risking damage to a stock box. Of course, if the 1.6 required the same body / trans mods you would definately go for the bigger capacity. I figure its just another option for people, this one has the potential to look stock if it fits in an unmodified engine bay, plus 90hp is about the mark for a mild 1916, and there a plenty of happy with the power of a 1916. I rekon the conversion cost would be comparable to a 1916 also.

SInce I first read this post i have hunted a few places for a motor - everyone has 20's,22's,20T's and a few said they could get 18's but I havent been able to find a 16. Not saying they are not there, but not easy to find (well in the last two days anyway) I was thinking along the exact same lines as you 1964_Notch, no cutting, bolt up fit, injection, electronic ignition, reliability, air conditioning, better power than stock yet no mental cost for trans - maybe just a 1.6, but waaaaaayyyy better then the 1.6 I have at the moment. Are these a common engine? I ask because I live up in the boonies and nothing is common here except crumbledores and sunburn. Pete, you say almost the exact dimensions. (Is that like saying I almost won Lotto on the weekend??:P ) What size difference is there??

you don't need to move the gearbox forward, just use an Lbug box behind a Ej22 and you'll be fine. but like wes said, you might need a throttle body inverter. And Whitty, there are more EJ22s than any other motor in Aust. In a few years time the SOHC EJ25 will be just as available I guess.

Thanks guys, this is the constructive stufff I was after. if they are close in size then the EJ 22 is the better option, Pete how is your 'box handling the extra power ? I had a look at the salvage wreckers web sites and all the cars here are high km most in excess of 150,000km, a jap front cut would definately have lower kms.

Wes, This is all based on the owners opinion. I originally thought it was a pan being readied for a buggy until he explained the beetle body was to go back on.

I have a bog stock 1800 kombi box, Indian told me an Lbug box would be comparable strength and better street ratios but I wanted to use big tyres. I have had NO dramas with my box aside of an oil leak, which was my fault coz I overfilled it.

If you want a motor with low milage, just keep looking, they are still out there. Besides a local motor will be easier to rego in many places. Some states don't like import motors. That said, with 150k on the clock, it still has another 150k in it if you look after it.

You would be going through the same engineering process to have Rego compliance. That side of things would cost the same for an engine of the same outside dimensions. Yet you would have a 2.0 or 2.2 engine or if you want to spend more on the engine purchase, a 2.5 litre engine.

The 2.5 engine is wider (longer stroke) than the others (the SOHC 1.8, 2.0, 2.2), more cutting involved to fit it in a beetle.

All the modern SOHC are narrower than the earlier EA82 series!

I've measured them up at the wreckers many a time.

The difference in width is around the cam covers, just where the beetle body work starts to curve inwards.

Over here (NZ) the 1.8 imprezza's are a dime a dozen, EJ22's on the other hand are a wee bit harder to track down. I guess it depends on how fast you feel you have to go

Interesting looking exhaust he's got there, I wonder how that would "flow"

Cheers
Jeremy

[ Edited on 23-1-2007 by Jeza ]

The aussie delivered 1.6 ( i ) has 4 x injectors , these can been seen above .

but the jap ( JDM ) 1.6 & 1.8 is center point injected only


The 1.6 is a great motor & very cheep to run .IMO the 1.6 ( i ) is a great motor for a bettle with the need for long runs & little fuel required .

I would like to hear what Col thinks of his 2.5 ltr subaru ?




The water inlet pipe can be cut & turned as well I load a photo up to show every one , makes the pipe work neat as well

I have found it hard to get a loom for a single point motor , I thought of using a camira fuel system as like the JDM dont they have a dissy pick up .You could use the camira fuel pump ect as well .

have you found a JDM motor ??

I have 4 of them

HEY ALL
I am in the process of putting a ej16 into my bug looks like i have to cut thru the firewall as the throttle body and inlet pipe , doesn,t look like it will fit , ( have to double check this and measure it up properley )
anyways will keep yas updated
Sharon

Stick an TB inverter on there Sharon... That will prolly fix the problem.... Or you could rotate the manifold 180º, and move the alt to clear it... A couple of options to think about, before you start to cut up your car....

Jeza , your in the land of imports & were you can buy a RS legacy for NZ $100.00

For non turbo , buy all the jap 2.5 ltr motors you can find , the going rate here is $1800.00

as for * time * some how I find it

just thought i would let you know a ej16 does not fit in a unmodified beetle engine bay

i am in the process of trying to put mine in and it needs some major cutting to fit
so i am rethinking my whole ej16 project ,i was expecting to cut a little !! but i dont know if i want to cut so much out of my engine bay ,
it may cause structural damage

Sharon

The EJ16 looks pretty close to the same dimensions as all other EJ engines, so it stands to reason that the engine bay mods will be similar.... Has anyone actually measured one?.... If they are similar to other EJ's you will need to move the engine/transaxle arrangment as far forward as poss (transaxle nose cone mount will be very close to the torsion bar housing) and fabricate a new front mount, modded bellhousing mounts and prolly fab a rear support mount too (we have only fitted TII's and TIII's with Subi engines thus far, so no experience with TI's yet).... Add in the engine bay trimming and possibly engine cover mods and your looking at a very tight fit.... Late bugs are supposed to be EZR to, but I know early cars need more finesing at the rear apron/guard area, to make it all fit....

I wouldn't be too concerned with 'structural damage' Sharon.... Your car has already sustained considerable mods in that regard..... Any mods required to fit a Subi engine will most likely strengthen your car in that area, as you will be adding extra material!


[ Edited on 28-2-2007 by humpty ]

thanks simon
Kim got the ej in wth just a little massaging with a hammer. its a tight fit but it will go in a stock engine bay.
Sharon

There ya go!.... That wasn't so bad was it?