'71 Deluxe - Now with Super Secret Subaru Swap!

[gvee]

In process build pics are up next, hang in there...

Edge of seat!
Can't wait to see them

 

[Bay-low71]

^^^^ WHS... ;-)

 

[DadWagens]

I just realized my thread pages take forever to load because each post is so long. I'm going to break up my posts into shorter bits so my pages will load faster.

Jeff installed the KEP adapter, flywheel and Clutch to the EJ22 and bolted it up to the stock bus 002 gearbox to see how well everything fit the engine bay.

Timing belt cover is missing because the '97 Legacy was in a front end crash but luckily only the cover was broken and nothing else was damaged. I'll replace it at a later date (still haven't done it yet haha ).

Scirocco radiator just sitting in place. Perfect fit. There will be one on each side of the engine bay, and the battery will be relocated to under the back seat inside the bus.

Apron fits and clears the engine but will be trimmed to allow the hot air from the rads to escape under the bus.

Custom fabricated engine support bar, uses the factory Subaru Engine mounts and bolts to the frame rails.

More slick fabrication work. You can see the header is starting to take shape on the lower right and the throttle body has been turned by welding an elbow to the intake manifold:

More fabrication details coming up next...

 

[aogrady]

Hi!

Good work, sits well in there. Like the twin rad idea, sounds like it will work quite well. What's the deal with the sump, looks pretty low as standard, could a modified one be fitted to give more clearance?

Maybe fit a skid plate? Get a cover on the timing belt - wouldn't want stones kicked up from the wheels getting in there.... :msn4:

Look forward to seeing more of this! Reckon it will transform the driving for sure, and stock reliability, and much more go! Any plans for bigger brakes?

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[junglefacejake]

YES :!: Indeed great work. Scooby conversions can look factory if executed well. I too have thought the twin rad set up in the engine bay is a neater idea than the under belly mount. I guess it's just a case of shifting the heat out of there. Keep the posts coming

 

[gninnam]

Nice work 8)
I take it you are using fans on the radiator - are you going to duct the hot air out just let it escape over the engine?
When are you hoping to get this done by then?

 

[Bay-low71]

Hope you're fitting some improved brakes too.... Be one heck of a ride otherwise!!!!!

Looks real good though. Is the sump that low or is it just camera angle? The sound of these motors are mighty fine together with their performance, looking forward to seeing it progress!

 

[DadWagens]

Thanks for the interest fellas.

The conversion has been complete since August and I have been driving the bus daily since then. Did you see the speedometer video that I posted? That's this bus! I'm just updating my build thread with all of the work that was done so I have a complete record of the build. To say that it has transformed the driving would be an understatement! The bus is much faster than I expected it to be. The biggest issue now is that the stock transmission is tremendously under geared. First gear is pretty much useless so I always start off in second. I have already purchased an 091 six rib transmission to be built with taller gears at a later date.

I don't have plans to upgrade the brakes in the near future as the stock discs/drums are adequate as long as the rears are properly adjusted and I drive it like the reasonable person that I am :lol: . I did go through the entire brake system and replace all rubber lines, etc. so everything is in good condition underneath. I have a set of 944 brakes that could end up on the bus but that probably won't happen until much later if at all.

Throttle body detail:

Exhaust:

 

[junglefacejake]

Tell us more and more pictures too

 

[DadWagens]

Looking from the gearbox backward you can see the adapter plate between the engine and transmission.

Ready for the muffler:

 

[DadWagens]

Shortened Sump.

 

[junglefacejake]

That sump definitely needed reducing. Nice work

 

[DadWagens]

Jeff found an OEM muffler from some unknown car that fit the space fairly well. I was going for the most stealthy appearance possible so he put the exhaust pipe in the stock location. The large diameter stainless tubing gives it away but to the layperson it's not noticeable.

Apron on.

Header and muffler all tacked together and ready for finish welding.

 

[DadWagens]

For the engine management Jeff purchased a Microsquirt module, which is a simplified and more robust version of Megasquirt. He has a ton of experience with Megasquirt including custom turbo installs so this setup was very simple for him to put together and tune. The module came with a pigtail connector so he just had to splice the engine side of the stock Suby harness into the MS pigtail. The black box at the end of the harness is the Microsquirt unit. It's about the size of a phone.

Snoopy always double check's Jeff's work.

Battery relocated under the back seat. He fabricated a clamp for it that is not shown. EFI module and harness installed.

 

[DadWagens]

Apron trimmed.

This is critical for the engine bay radiator configuration to work. Jeff made these radiator mounts to seal off the air flow to force the cool air through the radiators. He had them powdercoated black later so they're pretty much invisible now.

Had to cut off the air cleaner stand and the decklid prop arm bracket thingy to fully seal the right side.

This is the sump Jeff made to plumb the fuel supply and return. This ensures you don't starve the pump when the tank is low and you are making a turn.

Gonna take a break here, more later...

 

[Rippers]

Real nice work 8)

 

[baj]

How are you finding the radiators in the engine bay, are they doing there job well.
Thought of putting mine there but didn't think there would be enough air flow.

Great bus & keep the pics flowing.......

 

[dubdubz]

more pics +1 :shock: :msn4:

 

[DadWagens]

How are you finding the radiators in the engine bay, are they doing there job well.
Thought of putting mine there but didn't think there would be enough air flow.

Seem to be cooling fine, no overheating problems in the months I have been driving the bus daily, and that includes a few 100 degree days. I have not taken any long trips with it yet so I can't speak to prolonged highway speeds, but around town the coolant temps only get to maybe 200-205 deg. F at a stop light after a good run or after driving hard, parking, letting it heat soak, and then starting up only a few minutes later and idling at a light.

When temps get to the 200 range while idling at a red light you can see the temps drop back down to 185-190ish when the fans kick on. They're pretty badass as you will see shortly. I think that only one fan on one radiator runs, so if there ever was a real overheating issue the system has enough capacity to deal with it. Like I said, no overheating so far.

more pics +1 :shock: :msn4:

Yes sir, right away sir! :lol:

 

[DadWagens]

Well we had our second baby last night, Mom and Daughter are doing great. We had an all natural drug free childbirth and we got to come home three hours later (this is unusual in the U.S.). Baby Pearl is sleeping right here next to me while Mom gets some rest. My 4 year old son is going to meet her for the first time as soon as he wakes up this morning. We'll see how that goes...

OK back on topic :lol: :

Radiator mounts were powder coated gloss black and radiators installed. Shrouds are OEM A1 Chassis VW so they match the radiators. Fan motors are huge and powerful as shown in the video. In the future Jeff plans to wire up some dash LEDs to indicate if fans are operating to help us keep optimizing the cooling system

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