Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> OT Vanagon subi conversion, A quick ballpark tally of what's involved and cost
Mark Henry
post Aug 11 2015, 12:34 PM
Post #1


that's what I do!
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 20,065
Joined: 27-December 02
From: Port Hope, Ontario
Member No.: 26
Region Association: Canada



I have a good friend who has a VW shop and he has gone through 3 rebuilt longblocks on a ladies WC westy. He's at a total loss so he was asking me how much is a subi conversion and what is involved.

He can get an engine locally, but what else is needed?

I take it a trans adaptor and I believe you need the brain with the engine. and some kind of mount is needed.

Has anyone here done this job/project?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
rhodyguy
post Aug 11 2015, 12:36 PM
Post #2


Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out.
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 22,192
Joined: 2-March 03
From: Orion's Bell. The BELL!
Member No.: 378
Region Association: Galt's Gulch



smallcar.com
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Tom_T
post Aug 11 2015, 12:56 PM
Post #3


TMI....
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,320
Joined: 19-March 09
From: Orange, CA
Member No.: 10,181
Region Association: Southern California



Mark

IMHO & for my money, a GoWesty rebuilt waterboxer is the best bet for me, & probably for the client there.

Not because they do a better job rebuilding than many other shops - nor even than a Subie conversion - but because they offer a 48 month/48,000 mile warranty on their rebuilt engines - 2x what VW gave new & 4x the average rebuilders' 12/12 warranty.

They're more or less plug-n-play - other than wanting to fully update everything needed in the coolant system, & can be had in a variety of bored & stroked flavors from 2.2 - 2.7 L with increased HP & TQ - & they end up pretty close to Subie 4 power anyway.

I don't know what customs duties nor cross-border issues will do to the warranty, cost & shipping, etc. - but definitely worth your buddy checking out & advising his client on. It's also worthwhile to read the associated articles, & maybe even to call owner Lucas Valdez on the unique USA-CAN issues.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_category.php?id=82

+ $500 to engine cost for 48/48 -
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php...gory_parent_id=

Engine & crate core charges are refunded upon return, so even their current top dog 2.45L 110 HP 150 lb/ft TQ is about $6500 with the 48/48 warr. + taxes & other charges.... plus any other cooling & other issues beyond just the motor, which I don't consider part of the motor cost, but rather other needed maintenance items afterr 23-30+/- years!

PS - if their Auto Trans is slipping (or manual problems/wear), now is the time to rebuild it, or get a rebuilt one from Gowesty etc. too.

Whenever ours in next next in need of replacement or major work, that's what I'll do - or more correctly, have my long time 40 year mechanic Hans do - just to have the warranty protection, if for nothing else. .... on a 2.4 or 2.5L! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
///////
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
KELTY360
post Aug 11 2015, 01:15 PM
Post #4


914 Neferati
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 5,086
Joined: 31-December 05
From: Pt. Townsend, WA
Member No.: 5,344
Region Association: Pacific Northwest



www.rockymountainwesty.com

Small Car has a nice cast aluminum bellhousing but Rocky Mountain Westy has a better mount IMO. RMW has superb fabrication skills also.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
stugray
post Aug 11 2015, 01:35 PM
Post #5


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,825
Joined: 17-September 09
From: Longmont, CO
Member No.: 10,819
Region Association: None



A friend of mine at work has a 4WD vanagon with a Suby conversion in it.

If you wanted to speak with him, I could get his email address.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
OU8AVW
post Aug 11 2015, 02:28 PM
Post #6


Yacht Rigger
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,803
Joined: 1-October 08
From: Granbury, TX
Member No.: 9,601
Region Association: Southwest Region



+1 for Rocky Mountain Westy conversions. There's a shop close to them that does rebuilds on the Suby motors and works with RMW on getting everything needed. Last time I tallied it up it was around $15k for EVERYTHING i needed. Including new coolant lines, AC and cruise control for a 2.5 rebuilt. That's as much as I could figure out to spend.

Go Westy requires their engines be backed up with a 100% new cooling system. That's every hose in the car.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
rgalla9146
post Aug 11 2015, 08:31 PM
Post #7


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,641
Joined: 23-November 05
From: Paramus NJ
Member No.: 5,176
Region Association: None



Go to "The Samba"
More Vanagon conversion info than you can imagine.
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
DBCooper
post Aug 12 2015, 07:26 AM
Post #8


14's in the 13's with ATTITUDE
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,079
Joined: 25-August 04
From: Dazed and Confused
Member No.: 2,618
Region Association: Northern California



You might look at conversions as new business, Mark. A lot of shops around here do them and several specialize, so there's demand. The initial work and cost is the same as a VW wasser conversion, but the Subarus are stronger, then if one goes sour you can get a good low mileage replacement for a thousand bucks, plug and play. Something to think about.

User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Chris H.
post Aug 12 2015, 07:52 AM
Post #9


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,046
Joined: 2-January 03
From: Chicago 'burbs
Member No.: 73
Region Association: Upper MidWest



QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Aug 11 2015, 01:34 PM) *

I have a good friend who has a VW shop and he has gone through 3 rebuilt longblocks on a ladies WC westy. He's at a total loss so he was asking me how much is a subi conversion and what is involved.

He can get an engine locally, but what else is needed?

I take it a trans adaptor and I believe you need the brain with the engine. and some kind of mount is needed.

Has anyone here done this job/project?


Yes there are a TON of them on The Samba and you'll get some unbiased opinions there. It's a lot like a 914 conversion but easier in a few ways...the plumbing is already there (assuming it's a wasserboxer), the electronics are slightly more compatible, etc. Smallcar makes a mount, there are plenty of engine options.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
76-914
post Aug 12 2015, 08:00 AM
Post #10


Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 13,621
Joined: 23-January 09
From: Temecula, CA
Member No.: 9,964
Region Association: Southern California



Get all your questions answered here. Tom is the moderator and has converted many vanagons. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/subaruvanagon/info
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Chris H.
post Aug 12 2015, 08:59 AM
Post #11


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,046
Joined: 2-January 03
From: Chicago 'burbs
Member No.: 73
Region Association: Upper MidWest



LOL! DUH! How could I forget that? I get those dang e-mails every day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif).
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
DBCooper
post Aug 12 2015, 09:17 AM
Post #12


14's in the 13's with ATTITUDE
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,079
Joined: 25-August 04
From: Dazed and Confused
Member No.: 2,618
Region Association: Northern California



Wow that's cool. In that newsgroup there's a "files" section (here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/subaruvanagon/files) that has category "Engine Costs" with a spreadsheet called "Prices.xls" that compares do-it-yourself and three shop costs for the conversion, and for different engines. The spreadsheet's from 2007 but is pretty interesting and probably still fairly relevant. It shows do-it-yourself of $5000 vs. $9600 turnkey from GoWesty for a 2.5, for example. Low end is $3800 for a do-it-yourself 2.2 liter (which is a very nice engine, and can be done as California CARB approved and legal). That should answer the cost question.


User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
JmuRiz
post Aug 12 2015, 10:09 AM
Post #13


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 5,503
Joined: 30-December 02
From: NoVA
Member No.: 50
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region



norustscott has one he built long ago. Not sure if he's active here anymore.

He was having fun at a bug out event doing dragraces with it. they DQ'd him because it was too fast. He was just out to have fun, didn't care about winning races.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Mark Henry
post Aug 12 2015, 10:13 AM
Post #14


that's what I do!
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 20,065
Joined: 27-December 02
From: Port Hope, Ontario
Member No.: 26
Region Association: Canada



That's what I started to figure out on the price $5K DIY and $10K-up to have a shop do it.
So it's out of the budget.


Thing is my buddies shop has replaced the VW 1.9 engine 3 times, pro rebuild from california and every time the damn thing blows up in 10 miles.

They have their guy install it, he's a factory trained tech, but he's around 70 and they are beginning to wonder if he is doing something wrong.
Head gasket issues first time, hole in the piston this time.
They want me to look at it, old guy swears timing is correct, I'm thinking there is a air fuel ratio issue somehow as it sounds like a lean condition.

My bud is behind the 8-ball and he's a stand up guy with a good rep and wants to keep it that way.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Jon H.
post Aug 12 2015, 03:04 PM
Post #15


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 237
Joined: 1-July 11
From: Ottawa, Canada
Member No.: 13,264
Region Association: Canada



If he has more time than money,aside from the engine, ecu wire harness etc., the only thing you absolutely have to buy that is specific for the swap is a set of headers, $250usd from outfront motorsports (or just the flanges and make your own headers) and the adapter plate and flywheel $520usd. The rest can be scrounged or fabbed on the cheap. My svx conversion cost approx.$2750 and that included adapter plate, headers, engine mount ($400USd) throttle cable $75 usd , VSS $60usd? new clutch $300cnd, starter $100cnd, complete engine and peripherals $350cnd, coolant pipes $275 usd? throwout bearing. Don't add up those values it does add up to $2750, I'm forgetting some things but I do remember the total. If he's good at fabbing and you have a good pick and pull like we do here in ottawa (two actually) then it can be done on the cheap. There is a Kenny u-pull in hamilton. My swap took aprox. 40 hours that includes me building the wiring harness. If he is really resource full I'm sure it could be done for less than $2000 cnd. I have also just put a sub by 5mt in the van which has improved the van dramatically. I do know someone in Toronto who has header flanges for sale if needed.

Regards'

Jon
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 31st October 2024 - 05:38 PM