My 73 Suby drivetrain conversion upgrade!, Added a quick video on page 25 Options

[Costa05]

Went back through my paperwork. Looks like my Speedometer is not a GPS unit. It was run off the VSS going by what Dean wrote. Is that on the transmission. I'm going to need to figure out how to wire that back up. I may have sent that off with my old setup. Would that just be a wire coming from the sensor to my speedometer? Is it as simple as that?

Jamie your old setup has a VSS on the transmission. Rt side of transmission. black one in center of photo. Has a plug on the end of a short pigtail. Unfortunately I am planning to use mine or it would be in the mail. Using one you will need to program the speedo to correlate to the VSS revolutions it sees at the tranny. Supposed to be straightforward. I think you can auto program at speed if you have a pace car to follow. Hope this helps. Congrats by the way.

[JRust]

Jamie your old setup has a VSS on the transmission. Rt side of transmission. black one in center of photo. Has a plug on the end of a short pigtail. Unfortunately I am planning to use mine or it would be in the mail. Using one you will need to program the speedo to correlate to the VSS revolutions it sees at the tranny. Supposed to be straightforward. I think you can auto program at speed if you have a pace car to follow. Hope this helps. Congrats by the way.

Perfect. Thanks bud. Yeah I am sure my tranny has the sensor there with a pigtail. So I just need to wire from that to my speedo. Yeah I have a calibrate deal so as soon as I can get the signal there. I should be golden

[JRust]

Had a few minutes to work on the car today. Spent a few minutes cleaning up some wiring. Adjusted my shifter linkage a bit too. Still need to finish up my mount for my shifter. My temporary one sucks. Kicking around between building it from wood or metal.

Took it out for a quick drive today. It is so nice to be able to drive my car. A quick pic

[JRust]

Back at the Dyno tuesday. My boost controller is in & tomorrow we crank it up. I will have some new dyno #'s tomorrow. Been nice driving my car the last 2 weeks. Still the power hasn't been quite as good as I was expecting. That should change tomorrow. Don't get me wrong it is fast as it is. Just didn't quite get the head thrown back feel. It is nice & smooth but I can't wait to have the turbo cranked up. I am excited to see how it feels

[JRust]

I am absolutely cursed. Get it on the Dyno for it's pull & it's fine for a minute. Then start making a noise. It's got a good knock now & guy says it's a bearing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) . So my options are get a used JDM to replace it or upgrade. Used Jdm low mileage will run me $2500 installed. Used so no warranty. Or I can upgrade to an 2.5 IAG block with all forged stuff. This would get an 50 in torque & 10-15 hp. This would also be warrantied & I wouldn't have to wonder about it being used. Of course it's another 5k

[TargaToy]

OUCH! That hurts.

[ValcoOscar]

So sorry to hear the lastest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Oh so close.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Wishing you the best Jaime.

Oscar

[Andyrew]

Really?


Damn.....



Could you make use of a forged bottom end? I mean what are your limit differences?


I say go JDM.... A new motor could have it's own issues. Not to mention time.

[Robarabian]

Jamie,

So sorry to hear that. I have a spare EJ 20 with 60,000 on it. Id' throw it your way for 800.00 bucks. (you can come down to cali and truck it back up).. or we could figure out how to ship it (I have no clue) but from all I can tell, it is a solid motor. Same as what is in my car. I think you are running a 2.5 but mine at 220 HP is blazing fast. Trans and all your gear should bolt right up to it.

Anyway, it is an option to save you some money. I bought it as a spare from a running car as a "just in case" or "future build" motor. It is not a JDM but is a USDM. It is a longblock but I have the intake for it.

Totally up to you.

Rob

[JRust]

I appreciate it Rob but think I'll stick with the JDM. Only $1200 for it & is around 30k on the motor. I at least get a 30 day warranty with it. If it can make it through a dyno session I should be good to go.

While this does suck & i appreciate the sympathy.. I'm done feeling sorry for myself about it. I am pissed but getting to drive my car again. I'd do damn near anything to have it back driving again. So I just ordered the JDM & should have it in 2 weeks. I'm not posting about a damn dyno again until it's over though. Must be jinxing myself

Andrew yeah the forged stuff with the 2.5 would be an upgrade. They are as close to bulletproof as they get with Subaru. I could push my Redline up to 8k instead of my current 7k. Not that it matters since I am not going that route.

[thelogo]

Hate to hear anyone having engine trouble
Especially a beast like this 914 is

But i recently have been made aware that
Subarus have some serious reliablity issues.
Was told that head gaskets and ring lands
Will require engine out at very least every 100k
Miles

Is this true. ?
And also that they get extremly poor gas mileage ?

And i would assume pushing the boost up
Doesn't help prolong things either

Have you look at how much a 996 engine cost$
? While your at the crossroads

[JRust]

I am entirely to far down this rabbit hole to scrap it all for another conversion. They are head gasket prone sure but not that often. New gaskets will go another 100k no problem. Hell 100k on my motor would last me 10-15 years easy. I've had this car like 9 years & am pushing maybe 30k. Of course I've only driven it about half that time. This is my weekend nice weather cruiser. In Oregon that translates to about 8 months out of the year decent driving weather. If it wasn't for the long trips for the 914 events each year. I wouldn't put all that many miles with my weekend drives.

[Chris H.]

Hate to hear anyone having engine trouble
Especially a beast like this 914 is

But i recently have been made aware that
Subarus have some serious reliablity issues.
Was told that head gaskets and ring lands
Will require engine out at very least every 100k
Miles

Is this true. ?
And also that they get extremly poor gas mileage ?

And i would assume pushing the boost up
Doesn't help prolong things either

Have you look at how much a 996 engine cost$
? While your at the crossroads

Subaru’s actually have one of the highest reliability ratings. The head gasket issues were resolved in the year 2000 and mainly involved the 2.5 DOHC engines. My EG33 has the original head gaskets from 1995. It’s true that some don’t get great mileage but that’s not due to the engine, but the fact that the cars are relatively heavy. All of them are awd too. In a small, light car the mileage is much better. Kent gets 35 mpg with his 6 on the highway.

Sorry to hear about the bearing issue Jamie. That sucks. Keep plugging away at it.

[Chi-town]

@JRust Do NOT buy a used JDM engine, must of them are 100k miles or more. The 30-50k or "low mileage" is complete BS and just a sales pitch.

You can toss a 2.5 crank and forged pistons in your 2.0 block and have a motor that will be much happier than a 2.5. And it will save you a bunch of money.

Redline is not dependant on bottom end, you'll need quality valve train to go to 8k without possibility of damage.

There's no reliability issues with Subarus except the EJ255/EJ257 (turbo 2.5L) and the new design FA/FB motors.

The turbo 2.5's have a piston design issue (Subaru lost a class action over it) but adding forged pistons only prolongs failure as the real issue is in the bore size vs rod angles.

The head gaskets don't fail because of design.

The N/A engines leak externally due to the crap quality of most US oils. They don't have the issue in Japan or Europe where oil quality is mandatory by law.

The turbo engines only lose gaskets when pushed beyond it's mechanical abilities by wannabe tuners (ie detonation) and people who think it's a race car but don't want to build a race engine.

And don't get me started on the closed deck BS (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

FA/FB- well that's a story for another class action lawsuit (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

If you need help with your engine decision pm and I'd be happy to help

[Tbrown4x4]

Bummer Jaime. We all share your ups and downs. Keep the core engine to rebuild.
I haven't dealt with Subaru's in many years, but they were completely reliable in the 80's and 90's. All I ever seemed to do was clutches.

I think you've sacrificed enough to the automotive gods. They have to let you succeed now!

[brant]

so sorry to hear this
Hang in there.
you will beat it!!!!

all the best

[burton73]

Jaime brother,

Hang in there. Its going to be a super nice 914 after you get it worked out. You are almost there.

I hope good luck comes your way from the Porsche VW gods.

Bob B
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)

[porschetub]

@JRust Do NOT buy a used JDM engine, must of them are 100k miles or more. The 30-50k or "low mileage" is complete BS and just a sales pitch.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) have heard horror stories about many JDM motors imported to my country,most in the know don't touch them or buy them @ core value,engine shops avoid them now as there have been so many issues.
These motors are often poorly maintained before being dismantled from cars and not sealed up or stored well after removal,a mate bought a motor and it had rain water in it,the importers don't really care as they buy them for basically scrap value and find any way to escape the warranty.
Buyer beware in this case ,don't ask me how I know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) .

[thelogo]

I guess their are virtually no other flat watercooled engines. Out their

So there isnt really anyway to compare reliability
Especially since jdm engines are really milage unknown
But most car engines (inline/4)will require less work and be way cheaper on maintence then subaru

[JRust]

Okay you guys are freaking me out on the JDM. I'll hold off for now & do some research. Keep your info coming