914 Subaru Conversion update and questions Options

[IanJ]

Hi all,
It's been a while since I've been on here. My 914 project has had more stops, starts and incidents than last weeks F1 but it's started to move along nicely again now that it's settled into a new home with me. It's got to where it is with help from a number of folks on here.

The car came to me as a 1971 RHD conversion with a VW engine that had seen better days and the original Porsche motor had gone AWOL along the way so I thought this would be perfect for a "quick" Subaru conversion.
As with most projects there were a number of "while i'm there" additions that of course caused more delays (along with work, family, health and house moves).

So far the car has gone from 4 to 5 lugs. With me swapping the rear hubs twice. It's now running a 930 outer hub and sportomatic inner. Which allows me to run 930 driveshafts.
The hand brake has been converted to 911 SC unit and here is my first question. It seems i need to run a 5mm spacer between the hub and the disc to get everything lined up. I'll also need the same for the brembo caliper conversion brackets. Am I missing something?

Up front I'm running bilstein RSR coil over struts and i've deleted the torsion bars and added some Boxster calipers and SC hubs and discs. This was fairly straightforward after I was eventually sent the correct bearings!

The engine cradle and gear shift assembly are from Ian at Coldwater and these work a treat.

The engine I'm using is from a 2005 STI Spec C mated to a 1997 STI RA gearbox which has been converted to 2wd using the Subarugears kit and their driveshaft adaptors.
One of the other areas for delay was the wiring loom and ECU that was supplied with this. It had been butchered over the years and as much as I tried I couldn't get it to fire up. I recently gave up and have now got a Link Fury ECU which an auto electrician has created a new neat loom using the link starter loom and mostly new connectors all around. The complete car is now with him for wiring and I hope to get it back in the next week or so. One of the things he has done is incorporate an aircraft connector so that the engine can easily be disconnected for removal.

For cooling I purchased the renegade "kit" which consisted of a radiator and some metal shrouds. When the car comes back from the electrician this is my next job to install. Which brings me to question 2. Does anybody have any pictures of their install for the coolant expansion tank? I am thinking of mounting this where the old fuel injection relay/fuse box was as it's probably the highest point in the car and should make bleeding easier.
Also is anybody running their coolant piping along the old heater ducts? is it possible to feed the hose through there?

The fuel tank has a Subaru pump assembly with a Walbro pump. I had one of the local Subaru specialists cut out the section that holds the pump and then graft it into the 914 tank. This way it looks like OE but also should keep the fume at bay!

I've reversed the inlet manifold and used grimmspeed spacers to raise it up (8mm?) which gives clearance for the alternator. My intention is to run an intake straight from the turbo to a pod filter using some stainless pipe. For an intercooler I intend to run a water to air system. I am talking with a specialist here in Australia about making this up as with the manifold being reversed standard kits will foul the air intake.

Another area I'd gone back and forward on was the pedal box. I have eventually settled on a modified 911 box with 2 master cylinders for the brakes and 1 for the clutch. This is currently being built by a specialist here in Aus. It's proven in a number of 911 race cars so hopefully it'll be good enough for me!

As a thread meanings nothing without pics..... Here is a link to some
Photobucket Link

[jimkelly]

very cool. thanks for sharing.

[76-914]

Yes you can feed the coolant lines thru the heater tubes. Look at my build thread ( http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=201776 )currently on this page. It details how to run them. Also there is a pic of the exp tank mount. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[IanJ]

Thanks guys.

Jim you've got a great collection of links in your sig. Lots more reading for me to do!

Kent your thread is a fantastic. Your fabrication work puts me to shame. I'm only about half way through as my internet is playing up. It looks like putting the piping through the ducts works well. Is there anything you'd do different?
Can you take some pics of all the piping that goes to the expansion tank. In your pics it looks like it sits beside the fuel tank but i can't work out how that plumbs to the system.

[jimkelly]

ian's pic placed here

[jimkelly]

more

[jimkelly]

someone mentioned they thought this angle might make shifting less smooth.

[IanJ]

Thanks Jim.
Where did you see mention of the shifting issue?

[76-914]

Thanks guys.

Jim you've got a great collection of links in your sig. Lots more reading for me to do!

Kent your thread is a fantastic. Your fabrication work puts me to shame. I'm only about half way through as my internet is playing up. It looks like putting the piping through the ducts works well. Is there anything you'd do different?
Can you take some pics of all the piping that goes to the expansion tank. In your pics it looks like it sits beside the fuel tank but i can't work out how that plumbs to the system.

Maybe trying the radiator in a flat position rather than upright. The extra space would have been a treat. I'll get a pic to you of the exp tank later today when I'm in the garage. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Andyrew]

Thats a great looking conversion! Looking forward to seeing progress!

[jimkelly]

i'm home today recouperating from yesterday's hydrcelle and vasectomy surgery. 2" cut across my nut sack, ain't no fun to say the least.

but more importantly I located the thread : )
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...8431&st=500
see post 503

[IanJ]

Thanks Jim. That's another job for the list!
As for your day out today. I feel ya. The local anaesthetic wore off when they started cutting into my second one. They only believed me when they were nearly finished!!

[76-914]

Here you go Ian. I'm currently changing things up. The filler neck and cap are dead center on the firewall when installed. That 5/16" goes from the filler neck blow off to the exp tank. You can see it hanging there in the pics. The bottom of the exp tank has a 1/2" line that goes to a T on the intake line about 6" from the thermostat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Kent

[IanJ]

Thanks Kent. It looks almost factory with the OE fuel filter sitting alongside it.
Looking at your location I think your climate is similar to mine. My major paranoia is overheating.
I'm thinking of putting the water to air intercooler on the firewall in the engine bay to minimise air flow blockage up front. I figure if some folks can run their main cooling radiator there with minimal problems then it should be enough to keep my charge temps ok.

I'll hopefully get the car back next week so I can start cutting up front and measuring all the pipes.

[76-914]

Thanks Kent. It looks almost factory with the OE fuel filter sitting alongside it.
Looking at your location I think your climate is similar to mine. My major paranoia is overheating.
I'm thinking of putting the water to air intercooler on the firewall in the engine bay to minimise air flow blockage up front. I figure if some folks can run their main cooling radiator there with minimal problems then it should be enough to keep my charge temps ok.

I'll hopefully get the car back next week so I can start cutting up front and measuring all the pipes.

Now that I'm gutting everything, if you were State Side I would send you all of my 2 year old pre-cut lengths of hose pieces for the cost of shipping. The Subaru is a very efficient engine, cooling wise. You won't have the overheat issues that many of the SBC crowd experience. Looking forward to seeing your conversion come to life. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[IanJ]

A quick update. The front harness is coming along nicely.
I'm using the 914 sender and gauge but the Subaru pump.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i786.photobucket.com-5327-1499506705.1.jpg)

[jimkelly]

tank looks great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)