I've got a bit of a dilemma.

You see my 1990 Caravelle C which i've had for about 6 months has reached 160,000 km's and is due for a major service from what i gather (excluding coolant and spark plugs which have recently been done). I'd also like a bit more power and after reading a thread in here i've become interested in what seems to be common mods to the 2.1 wasserboxer (1.4:1 rockers and lifters, chip, hi-flow cat and muffler).

The problem is however, i always had in mind doing a subaru conversion (ej22 or 25) and so i am wondering if it's worth following the above route (i.e. major service and performance mods) if down the track i just end up putting a subaru in it?

So i had a few questions:

1. how much am i looking at for mods to the wasserboxer such as rockers, lifters, chip, cat, and muffler (including labour); and

2. Whether a useful increase in power can be expected (from what i've read, yes) from such mods.

Things to keep in mind are:

1. From what it seems and what the mechanic said, the current wasserboxer is in good condition and relatively low 160,000 kms; and

2. i can probably re-use the hi-flow cat and muffler if i decide to go down the subaru route in the future.

Thanks

[ Edited on 5-10-2006 by kombi kountry ]

[ Edited on 5-10-2006 by kombi kountry ]

Not the best person to ask be here are my answers

I would expect to pay in the area of $8k.
That is the drive in/out figure for Custom Off Road to do the converion for a 2.2L Sube. Dont know if this includes engineers report.

Remember - these are for good 2nd hand motors and not new ones. Newish crash test motors are available, but cost more

Increase in power - yes ish. Dont expect to smoke wheels. Maybe the EJ20T is better??

160km is low km for a motor that can see inexcess of 300km if looked after.

Send Dave Becker a message. He has the upgrades done to his Wasserboxer.

i have the silver caravel 2.1 and love it the upgrades vare air flow improvement with a pod filter $34.00 2.5 inch exhaust from cat out got from swpmeet $25.00 sports cat b$60.00 ratio rockers $300.00 ebay electric supercharger from a porsche $80.00 ebay what do i get nearly 60% horsepower improvement pulls in excess of 150 klm no worries and still pulling out of mooney mooney bridge bottom of bridge 80 klm over the top excellerating 135klm
i really love it a real surprise package and its auto with air

This pod filter you speak of greedy, where have you located it before the sensor or at the rubber boot of throttle body, ask because i have thought of this option but was unsure as where it would go? Damm that ride must sound sweet, supercharger mmm nice.

electric supercharger ???

the pod is placed before the body i removed the org filter and made a plate that bolted up to the org position an easy job and on the plate weld a 3 inch pipe
electric blower is only activated at full song


[ Edited on 5-10-2006 by greedy53 ]

Thanks for the info greedy.

Yeah i saw your silver machine at the Fairfield show this year and also once just south of ulladulla heading north along the princess highway.

I think i'll check with a few workshops what price they can do for me in relation to a filter, rockers, chip, cat, & muffler. If it's reasonable i might get it done and worry about the subaru in a couple of years.

Would still be interested in getting an update on other's wasserboxer mods and the results (not just hp numbers but what it's like to drive).

I saw that vintige vw at campsie had their own chip developed, anybody know if they're still doing them?

Thanks

Hi

Not wanting dis the WBX, I still have a soft spot for them, but unless they have been cared for properly they can be very expensive to repair.

This is a good website for Subaru into T3 info. http://www.vwrx.com/ 

Steve

was at super cheap auto today and they have a bolt on adaptor on the shelfthat would fit straight on

Seen This?

http://www.clubvw.org.au/a_wasserboxer_adventure.htm 

whats an electric supercharger?

Consider your gearbox. EJ22 is probably gonna be much kinda than a Turbo, given the rev's/torque that the box likes. If it's an auto, then you want to be as nice as poss to the flex plate. Think COR's prices relate more to Bays than T3s. Given you are already wet. It will still cost but I imagine it would cost more than the Wasser upgrade. I can vouch for Greedy's...on the way to Valla his seemed to shift significantly better than mine would.

There's also a fuel saving to be had, though Subes are not the most economical motor. My 2.5 Forrester is not exactly economical ... but they are pretty bullet proof when it comes to reliability.

The wasserboxer if maintained is good, but they don't like to get hot, which seems to be what kills them. A hot day and the air on - soon warms it up. I've got a second set up of thermo fans for hot days which stops the temp climbing.

I'd say, good motor? - stick with VW. Dead motor, then rebuilding the VW might cost more than the Sube.

I do like the noise a sube makes on full chat though....

Yeah for me i want to keep it n/a sube....ej22 or ej25. I mean even the ej22 (depending on whether you get the oz or jap pec) get's nearly 50% increase in power and 25% more torque over the MV wasserboxer.

Though given the good condition of my wbx it seems a shame to get rid of it, hence the idea of the power ups to keep me satisfied until i go sube power.

I noticed in another post that you bought that ej22...looks like a nice price and good condition motor. Will be very interested in hearing how the conversion goes and the results.

Power-up your WBX, If it goes pop, you were gunna replace it anyway!

Check out some of the US user groups for Sube Vanagons and get chatting to Sube-o-phile forums ... there's a fair bit you can do to the EJ22 to get more out of it...esp improving the torque output.

My sube decision is more based on a 5 year view. I am convinced that I will get more enjoyment for less spend. Not that there's anything wrong with my WBX motor, it's in great shape.

Did anyone see the post on here about the VW cylinder heads producing enormus horsepower, cant put a number on it as i cant remember the number. But the heads(almost whole Motor) was used in avaition dont see any subi motors doing this. I too have thought about the engine upgrade but i figure bring the dub motor up to spec first and then if i t blows after time replace it with a lexus v8, ok so maybe not the lexus too many mods. I am in process of adding 1.25 ratio rockers SS hi-flow/resonator cat 2.25 and SS turbo pipe 2.25 in and 4 inch out without silencer. And then after that comes the electric supercharger Greedy talks about. Unless u have money to throw at it then wait.

the old man has a customer that is tossing around the same thing but the quotes the old man has been getting is like 10g

10g for what??? The subi conversion; with that kinda dollars wouldnt you think about a cheap porsche motor?