What started as quick and easy conversion for a Grassroots motorsports 2000 challenge car. One thing led to another and before I knew it I had gone over budget.
I started with a V8 car with a bad engine so instead of another SBC or LS1 I bought a wrecked Subaru SVX for the engine. Then found a wrx transaxle with axles clutch and all parts needed.
The engine and transaxle mounts were done over a couple of weekends. Then we got real busy at work and was not able to work on it for a couple of months.
By this time I had changed my mind about the grassroots challenge car and figured I just fix it up. So a color change paint job was in order. I did this myself in the garage and had to wait until spring to shoot the paint.

I've been driving now for a few days tuning the Megasquirt DIYPNP that I built over the winter. I guess its time to go get a tag and start driving.Click to view attachment
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Bob

Way cool

Nice color too

The biggest area of debate with the Subi trans seems to be the axles. What exactly did you do to convert and did you blueprint the axle mod? I can see the Subi CV on the tranny. What's on the trailing arm?

BTW, Your conversion is awesome!

for something that was to be a throw together, wow..... Ohh I helped....well ok I handed him a couple wrenches......oh and sat in the car and made engine noises...

Nicely done!!!!

Yes What was your axle solution?

Very cool! I, too, am interested in details on your axles solution...

Very impressive! How are you running that distributor? Did you eliminate the coil over plug ignition?

Details, we need more details.

Its not a distributor its just a ford coilpak. When I first started on the engine I was using the stock computer and a modified wiring harness. I had maded some wiring errors and burnt up 3 stock coil paks and the ignitor. These parts new were more than I paid for the whole SVX, I got the Ford coil for $8 at the pick n pull and replaced the subaru parts with it. I have since found the subaru coil over plugs at another pick and pull and plan to reinstall them when I have some free time.

The axles are 911. These are a large enough diameter to be machined on the transaxle side for a Subaru CV joint spline. This gives me a 911 large CV joint on the wheel end and the Subaru joint on the transaxle side. The company I had do these will also make new custom axles.

Bob

what company did the axles for you? cant find a driveline shop in my area that will touch my setup

Hey Bob, nice work. Looks like a stock factory install!
What shifter is that in the cockpit?
BTW, how do you like those seats?

Andys

Thanks Andy. The shifter is from a mids 90's Toyota Corolla. I got the Idea from you with a link to the GT40 sites.

The seats are really tight for a 38" wasit guy like me.

Now to get back to work on my LS1 car.


Bob

Bob,

Is that a cable shift? Care to share how your linkage is setup?

Really looks like a well done car! No GRM20xx there! (And there is proof of previous v8 in the firewall dent!)

Cable shifter for sure. I don't have any pictures of my linkage handy. I'll get some up the next time I'm home.

I really think the transaxle is the best part of the whole car. It shifts just like a new import car. The gearing matches the engine with a useable first gear and gives the car a complete different feeling.

Now I'm thinking audi/boxster transaxle for my LS1 car.

Found a pix
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Bob

Very nice looking shifter setup! Did you buy or make it? Cost?

Also it looks like you still have the tailpiece on the trani, you converted that to FWD after the pic, right? Or is it running like that?

Andrew I built the set up myself. The shifter is a $10 part from the pick n pull. The cables and joints are what cost the money. I think they were about $150
The picture is before I removed the rear diff.

Bob

Bob that is a really nice little sleeper, you should bring it down th MUSR/TOD!

Nicely done! Where did you get the cables and joints if you dont mind me asking? I'll need to get some for my Audi conversion regardless if I go automatic or manual.

Toyota corolla shifter works eh? Gotta remember that the next time I scrounge for some honda parts.

....Very well thought out...all the way live!
(goose it 1 more time!!!!!)

Toyota corolla shifter works eh? Gotta remember that the next time I scrounge for some honda parts.
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The toyo corolla, mr2 and a honda accord (90ish) all work... I have the honda part.

The cables bob got are bullet proof and $$$, for mine we are going to try summit cables.. A little lighter and cheaper..


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The corolla part needs to have a reverse-er mechinism built in.. Bob did this with some added flexability thrown in for length of throw..

Wait until you see his dash and such.. more goodies to see....

The MR2 shifter works out well because the cable bulkheads point to the rear; the Corolla/Celica stuff points forward though they can be turned around. Another shifter to add to the list is from an 80's-90's Mitsubishi. Whatever shifter you use, it may require translation to get the right direction of movement. I buy my cables from Control Cables, Inc. (Tuthill distributor) in SoCal. They'll make up any cable length, any end, any bulkhead all by phone and a credit card. McMaster-Carr can do it too, but it takes longer and they can't give you any technical advice.

Andys

I did add a bell crank to reverse the shift movement. This way the cables do exit towards the rear. Also with the bell crank I could adjust the shift length. I did give this a 2 to 1 gain to give the shifter more travel.

Bob

Especially, your tailshifter linkage! Many Suby Conversionites are looking for inspiration for a simple, clean cable shifter system!

Awesome work Bob! Your car looks sweet!

Nate

tranny cable linkage pictures are in the thread Nate.

That is some good work. I'm starting to lean the subaru way myself after buying one and feeling the transmission and motor.

How is it compared to your LS1 car? I am thinking the boxer with the weight lower would be much nicer, closer to a stock type IV.

im also building a suby, but that ls1 with 400hp looks soooo good back there.. His gray car will be amazing.. Its one of those cars you just keep looking at the details and saying wow..

Sorry, I meant for some possible close ups and perhaps a source for the joint parts too. I am prying because I am ready to attempt this part on my build and I have Zero experience

Thanks for all the posts!

I called Renegade Hybrids about Subaru motor and transmission options.

This was there reply,

"Thanks for asking. The Subie tranny does not fit in the 914. Sorry. We are going to offer another tranny with the all aluminum LS V8's very soon. This will be our best combination! "



Umm yea....ok.

Sounds like they are stealing all of my Audi trani's

Are the 2wd Audi transmissions a more viable option for v8 or turbo Subaru?

They are pretty strong and would be a good option for the v8. They are basically the same trani as what is in the boxster. The tranis in AWD mode are fairly bulletproof, lots of drag guys are running them at rediculous HP numbers for years without fail. Replacements cost ~ 500 or less and are fairly availible.

No sense putting a Audi trani on a Subaru motor... For the cost of adaption you could have easily converted the 4wd to 2wd on the subi box.


The thing about the Audi box is that it requires no work to run, If you mount it behind an Audi engine (such as a 1.8t or 2.8 or even 2.7t) its bolt on and all factory equipment will work. You just have to figure the linkage (Custom cable shifter) and CV joints (Custom half shafts, 914 cv one end, Audi CV inner), then a cradle mount like the subaru guys do. Im planning on doing a 2.8 v6 complete swap from a passat or Audi fwd (same setups).

I'll be selling my v8 conversion to fund a parts car purchase so I can get going on it fairly shortly.

x2

Check on rock crawler or offroad shops for resplinging axles.

I think a video of this car would be REALLY COOL!?!?!?! hint hint

Bob,
I would like to replicate your setup, could you please list all your part numbers, suppliers, and contacts and give me a list of step-by-step instructions with photos and video comentary? I will also need a report of the total time spent and a list of any tools/skills I may need. Thanks for your help!
Paul

You sound just like my Boss.............

That's what I was thinking.

Really don't think they would be using the Audi box. The big news now in Kit cars with midengines is theres a box made in England that people are using 5 or 6 speed and at the $8K price range.

Great idea i have a crawler shop close by. Are the 911 axles shortened? If so do you know what the overall length is?

Hi Bob --

Did you use the stock Suby CV boot and stretch the smaller portion over the 911 axle shaft, or did you find a boot that has the OD of the 911 axle shaft and the OD of the Suby inner CV joint housing? I can't imagine that you had the machinist turn down the OD of the 911 axle shafts to fit the Suby CV boot...

I'm getting ready to send my 911 axles off to Dutchman and would like to go with a proven design. Thanks in advance!

Geoff

I used the stock subaru rubber and it works fine on the axle. You can see it on the first page of the thread here.

Bob

Thanks! And congrats on 1000 posts...

Got the engine out of the car now. I needed to clean up a few odds and ends. I added the AC/compressor for the AC I'm installing. I also did a little clean up on the engine. I was getting a oil leak at the camshafts. The engine was sold to me with the owner saying it had 105K miles. I pulled the heads off and this thing looks brand new. I can't get over how nice these Subaru's are.
Added a little bling too.

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Do you happen to have a picture of the thermostat housing on this motor?

-Britain

The EG 33 thermostat housing is the same as the 4 cyl engines. Outfront has them that exit strait out. They are also real close to the same size as a SBC V8 housing.

Bob

here is th straight neck thermosat housing..


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Bob your car has turned out well. You have me really thinking about swapping engines and building the 914 into something fun. Not sure if you remember or not but you bought some 16x7's from me.

Phillip

Sure do and the wheels worked out great. I have a friend in Atlanta that deals with Subarus and can get you a engine. In fact I just got a EZ30 from him this week.
I don't live but 15 miles from where we meet at for the wheels. Stop by sometime.

Bob

My office is downtown now, so I am not in Athens much any more. Woudl love to stop by sometime and check it out.

That intake looks awesome, nice color combination. The eg33 is such a great looking engine, unless you have to access some of the stuff that's hidden under the intake. I'm putting one in a Syncro Westy and had my intake polished.

Can't wait to hear how it works in a 914.