| [ Total Views: 2675 | Total Replies: 26 | Thread Id: 112069 ] |
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 vduboy
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 09:32 AM |
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Why I went Subaru..
I keep having people ask why I went/am going for a Subaru conversion.
So to answer these questions I'd like to give a back story, in my 20's I did up/restored a old 71 superbug. Spent the big dollars and got a base
1916 built by a very reputable engine builder.
Drove the car hard but not abusing it (always warmed up, no burnouts and always meticulously serviced) I only got 38,000k's out of said motor before
the previously virgin cases cracked everywhere. (never been split before or machined according to the builder) Was only a 1641 when I sent it up to
him. For a not small amount of money that is entirely a miserable value for dollar figure for me.
Now the cost of getting another motor built by a ''expert engine builder" nowadays is absolutely ludicrous.
Not to mention I was never satisfied by the 'power' the motor put out, or the constant struggle and researching of finding replacement parts that
actually fit out of the box and/or do the job for longer than 15 minutes.
So I am now going the path of Subaru. Yes it will not be cheap to convert but in the end I will have a reliable fuel efficient buggy that I don't
have to carry a swagger of tools and spare parts incase this breaks or that breaks etc. And when I was looking at donors I had seen at least a dozen
cars with over 400k on them. As mine has only 180 I will be stoked to not have to pull the motor three times a year to fix another failed part.
The gear box is also in the same category by the way so I am fitting a Subaru gears box to match the motor.
As for claims of soulless and lacks character... I call bull sh!t on that. I would rather arrive at said destination soulless without breaking down
due to some pos Chinese parts failure. And not worrying if I will make it.
Besides as an atheist I have no soul anyway!! 
Hope this helps someone to make a educated non rose coloured glasses view on driveline choices for your vw.
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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Bone
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 10:18 AM |
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Amen to that!
I still laugh when people say they want to build a aircooled engine!
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mackaymanx
A.k.a.: Brent
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 02:49 PM |
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X3 Up to my 5th conversion.
Doesn't mean I'm anti air-cooled, but 4 dead WBX engines = big $$$ in rebuild costs. Also air-cooled performance = big $$ again.
Quote of the week
"Do I wish to send them to you again, nope, no interest can't be bothered really, to much hassle for little or no return."
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 Bizarre
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 03:53 PM |
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Horses for courses
Suits some people.
You can certainly get big reliable power.
Others, like me, enjoy old school induction.
To me, nothing is sweeter than the sound of a big block being fed by the big mouth of an Italian set of IDA's
But especially for a buggy, T3, etc it makes so much sense.
So many quality after matket stuff
Trouble with air cooled is the rubbish for sale
Futue te ipsum!!!
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BlasterTheRedBajaBug
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 04:15 PM |
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so swapping back to aircooled isn't as good of an idea?
Would I be better going with a newer subaru compared to the brumby motor?
I like the sound of an aircooled motor over subaru but I like the performance of the subaru over the aircooled.
Nobody can drive you crazy, unless you give them the keys.
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vduboy
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 08:02 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by BlasterTheRedBajaBug
so swapping back to aircooled isn't as good of an idea?
Would I be better going with a newer subaru compared to the brumby motor?
I like the sound of an aircooled motor over subaru but I like the performance of the subaru over the aircooled.
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I personally wouldn't touch another air cooled motor unless you are a mechanic/tinkerer and you haven't yet lost the passion for fixing stuff every
other weekend.. What motor is in yours mate? Ea81 I am guessing? It probably wouldn't be too much of a stuff around if your Baja is already water
cooled etc.
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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vduboy
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 08:07 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Bizarre
Horses for courses
Suits some people.
You can certainly get big reliable power.
Others, like me, enjoy old school induction.
To me, nothing is sweeter than the sound of a big block being fed by the big mouth of an Italian set of IDA's
But especially for a buggy, T3, etc it makes so much sense.
So many quality after matket stuff
Trouble with air cooled is the rubbish for sale
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Yeah I was in that boat too. Big reliable power yes but not without a lot of cash and maintenance. And the after market crap is probably what pushed
me over to the dark side. Even going through the list of parts in some other high performance builders finds the dreaded Empi name scattered
throughout. I have almost rid my car entirely of that crap.
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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BlasterTheRedBajaBug
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 10:06 PM |
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Yes I already have an ea81 but I am thinking naturally aspirated wrx or similar or just a 1600 aircooled but I am still not sure.
Would I need a different adapter plate or not Its just thats not my feild of knowledge.
I have a basic knowledge of vw motors and have rebuilt one in the past with help from my uncle and it is still going strong today in his buggy but he
lives around 700ks away from me.
Nobody can drive you crazy, unless you give them the keys.
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binner
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| posted on January 26th, 2017 at 10:30 PM |
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ok, here we go.....I've ad a few largers ok.....but.........
I'm a young guy in the eyes of true vw dudes I think, but its been atleast 20 yrs on n off of my life playing with air cooled. I loved the idea of
working with my hands , deconstructing, going off to Volksrestore and hassling (early days), hanging around and learning cool shit about VW's when i
was young with no kids and money to burn, but now growing older and the cash factor i have finally said "fuck it ,"I'm going water" is kinda
cool.
i took my kombi to stanthorpe for xmas and fuck dude the temp and road heat almost killed it , fully laden with camp gear n kids, constantly looking
at temps n listening for engine hiccups , i got there a nervous wreck. So after a cool xmas n fun i came home and the next day ....BOOM subi EJ22 in
my garage ready to fit. I'm too old to play with carbs, set timing, sync carbs blarghhh blarghhhh.....
iI know, I want the best of both worlds. old skool vw street cred but reliability to suit.... so yeah .....shit everyone else is doing so will I. i
am in the process of converting to water cooled and I'm pretty happy....
the money to build air cooled or buy water is crazy difference so i think for reliability over air built is a no brainer..... fuck ..if my 400 buck
EJ22 shits it self i can find another one for same price and smash it in within the hour..... its simples......
so thats my take, maybe its age and laziness or just waking up to the new age... but i aint going back anytime soon......
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Bone
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| posted on January 27th, 2017 at 07:27 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by BlasterTheRedBajaBug
Yes I already have an ea81 but I am thinking naturally aspirated wrx or similar or just a 1600 aircooled but I am still not sure.
Would I need a different adapter plate or not Its just thats not my feild of knowledge.
I have a basic knowledge of vw motors and have rebuilt one in the past with help from my uncle and it is still going strong today in his buggy but he
lives around 700ks away from me.
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A adaptor for a Ea81 will only fit a Ea81 not even Ea82. Maybe stick with the 1600cc vw motor for a while just to get you out and
about. You can then look at Ej conversions down the track. My advise is don't spend big money on aircooled until you look at all the options. BTW if
the Ea81 is set up already go with that. Are you sure its a Ea81 or the horrid Ea82?
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BlasterTheRedBajaBug
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| posted on January 27th, 2017 at 03:44 PM |
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Definitely ea81 but it is ceased and has a crack in the block so its a new motor either way and it also had 556,783kms on it.
Nobody can drive you crazy, unless you give them the keys.
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Mitchvwnut
Seriously Crusin Dubber
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| posted on January 27th, 2017 at 05:12 PM |
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I've also decided to fit a Subaru motor and gearbox into the t3
I've just bought the donor car (an 04 Impreza RS with an ej25 SOHC)
I decided to do this because I would like more power (reliably), and the dogleg into first gear which the Vanagon has, is annoying the crap out of me.
I'm also liking the fact that the ej25 has 5 main bearings, as opposed to the 3 that the Wasserboxer has.
- Feb '55 beetle
- '89 transporter - EJ25 engine & gearbox
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sander288
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| posted on January 27th, 2017 at 08:34 PM |
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This definitely hits a chord, I previously was against the idea of Subaru conversions into bugs or other dubs. But the innovation and quality of
conversion parts available now is awesome, not to mention the power etc... The ease of maintenance and cost too is hard to beat as well.
I still enjoy working on my type 1 motor, but since having it pepped up a bit with twin carbs, compression and cam it is less enjoyable to own than
when it was stock, even though I've only done minor work. There still however is an irresistible allure of a full WOT 2.0L with twin IDAs but not
many of us can have more than one bug or enjoy the compromise that is trying to have daily drivability in a hot type 1 engine, that still excites like
a screamer. The Subarus have the cake and eat it.
Would love to see an FA20 into a bug, I think there is only a buggy with one here, maybe an FA20T.
Keep dubbin' no matter what moves you!
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yasdnil01
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| posted on January 28th, 2017 at 05:30 AM |
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So what are you all doing with all your old now "obsolete" air cooled engines then ???
I think you should box them up and send them to me, I'll give them a good home
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binner
Fahrvergnugen
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 posted on January 28th, 2017 at 12:39 PM |
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selling up
| Quote: | Originally
posted by yasdnil01
So what are you all doing with all your old now "obsolete" air cooled engines then ???
I think you should box them up and send them to me, I'll give them a good home
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I've parted mine out and selling it off...... you want?
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BlasterTheRedBajaBug
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| posted on January 28th, 2017 at 02:05 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by sander288
Would love to see an FA20 into a bug, I think there is only a buggy with one here, maybe an FA20T.
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That was what i was thinking in blaster.
And I would be happy to take any obsolete aircooled engines
Just pm me.
Thanks
Nobody can drive you crazy, unless you give them the keys.
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yasdnil01
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| posted on January 29th, 2017 at 05:32 AM |
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Well I'm glad you asked ! ......I'm always after good dual relief, 8mm cylinder stud cases
no matter if needing a line bore or have standard cylinder bore or enlarged for bigger cylinders
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vduboy
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| posted on January 29th, 2017 at 08:29 PM |
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I donated mine to the local ship yard for use as a boat anchor... 😂
In all seriousness I sold almost all the bits that make a vw go pretty quickly, the rest of it was stripped to be recased by a mate. Still have the
gearbox and bits and pieces though..
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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BlasterTheRedBajaBug
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| posted on January 29th, 2017 at 11:04 PM |
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Is the gearbox any good?
Nobody can drive you crazy, unless you give them the keys.
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vduboy
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| posted on January 30th, 2017 at 07:05 AM |
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Yeah there was nothing wrong with it mate, just wanted to fit the matching Subaru gear box to the motor. It has a 4.37 r/p to help with the bigger
tyres.
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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BlasterTheRedBajaBug
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| posted on January 30th, 2017 at 03:04 PM |
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Where are you, and how much do you want for it?
Nobody can drive you crazy, unless you give them the keys.
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adlbeetle66
A.k.a.: Denver
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Under the car.........again!
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| posted on January 30th, 2017 at 03:36 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by BlasterTheRedBajaBug
Where are you, and how much do you want for it?
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Have a look at his for sale post mate:
https://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=111605
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vduboy
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| posted on January 30th, 2017 at 05:15 PM |
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Thanks Denver, Hornsby is where I work, I live at Menai though. 450, the ring and pinion cost me 600 alone. Then I replaced all the seals and
bearings.
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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Jak Rizzo
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| posted on February 2nd, 2017 at 08:43 AM |
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I got my conversion on the road waaaay back in December 2004. It has now done 280'000klm's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hG-RqS0P24
it still puts a smile on my face every morning when I take my daughter to the bus stop.
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vduboy
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| posted on February 2nd, 2017 at 11:16 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Jak Rizzo
I got my conversion on the road waaaay back in December 2004. It has now done 280'000klm's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hG-RqS0P24
it still puts a smile on my face every morning when I take my daughter to the bus stop.
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That is awesome mate, very familiar with your build, must have read all the builds on her and STF about ten times each!
And that is the sort of reliability I like hearing about.
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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vduboy
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| posted on April 4th, 2017 at 09:59 AM |
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So mine is at the driving stage now, just waiting on the engineer writing the report and getting rego done again.
I am stoked! The thing hauls ass now, deceptively quick and nice and quiet with a awesome note if I do say so myself!
The 5 speed makes it a pleasure to drive as does the torsen diff I had installed from Mr subarugears.
I even have a working proper heater now!
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
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BlasterTheRedBajaBug
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| posted on April 17th, 2017 at 05:55 PM |
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Hi,
I haven't posted in this thread for a while, but I have removed the EA82 and have now decided an ej20 will be a good cheap way to get my car going as
my painter says it needs to be drive-able in and out of the booth so ej20 it is.
Any tips would be great and thanks in advance.
Thanks
Nobody can drive you crazy, unless you give them the keys.
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