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Posted by: boxsterfan May 11 2014, 08:27 PM

Anybody here serious into the Westy's?

I live in California, and I was wondering what the rules are for upgrading or putting different motors in these? For example, if I found myself an early 70's Camper and I wanted to put a Type IV motor in it, could I and pass inspection?

Posted by: Mike Bellis May 11 2014, 08:47 PM

1975 and earlier are exempt from inspections. Put whatever you want in it.

Posted by: Mike Bellis May 11 2014, 08:50 PM

BTW, the rules are the same for all vehicles. 1976 and newer vehicles can be retrofitted with a 1976 or NEWER engine. ALL smog equipment from the donor vehicle must be installed with the retrofit engine.

If you use a 1980 Chevy as your donor, all smog equipment from the 1980 Chevy must be installed into your Bus.

Posted by: boxsterfan May 11 2014, 09:25 PM

Hmmmmmm..... Lots of Suby conversions out their for the Westy's. There appears to be a shop that does a 1.8T conversion in Northern Cal also.

Posted by: Mike Bellis May 11 2014, 09:34 PM

Newer cars have less smog equipment and more electronics. Subi conversions need a CAT and EVAP. The rest of the parts are easy and pretty much bolt to the engine.

Then the CA B.A.R. will put a tag on the car for future smog mechanics to test to.

You could do the conversion yourself and take it to a referee station and get it approved.

On my 914 I deleted the CAT and EVAP but it would not be hard to put that on with all the original parts, re-flash the ECU and be totally legal. I am only exempt from inspections and testing but per the letter of the law, I should still have all the smog equipment.

Even a stock T4 with webbers is illegal in California.

Posted by: partwerks May 11 2014, 09:35 PM

Might as well do the WRX conversion. That would push that van down the road faster than it's ever gone before!!

Posted by: KELTY360 May 11 2014, 09:36 PM

I'd suggest checking over on TheSamba. There is a lot of information on this subject. I've got an '87 Syncro Westy with a 3.3 Subie 6. Probably wouldn't be legal in California but our regs are different in Washington. I believe 2.2 and 2.5 Subie conversions have been certified in CA. KEP Engineering has done a lot of work to get these legal.

BTW, a Westy with the power to climb hills takes some getting used to, but it's worth it.

Posted by: boxstr May 11 2014, 09:41 PM

Small car performance in Tacoma does the subs conversion, also rocky mountain westy,
Do your due diligence and check around, prices and the quality of parts can vary widely.
Have a local garage here in Portland, Oregon that has been doing them with a kit from new york, very nice.components.
Craig at CAMP

Posted by: partwerks May 11 2014, 09:45 PM

I could be wrong, but was thinking there was somebody in the Oregon area that does Subie conversions, this is on the 914yahoogroups??

Posted by: Jake Raby May 12 2014, 12:08 AM

Could not get the video to embed. Here's a taste of the potential.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7hXlS3RZUc

Posted by: boxstr May 12 2014, 08:48 AM

Precision motor car in Portland. They have a kit that they purchase out of new York, $5000 or close to it. They will supply the subie motor, 2.5, low mileage, that way if there is a problem with the motor they take care of it.
Labor rate to install is @$90 an hour.
After researching the others, this is the best value, currently the soonest you can get is October. 503-232-7669
Craig at. CAMP