Chip only.

oh,..good Thanks

I'm curious what specific benefits you've gotten from the chip. I've got a Stage 1 v 5 chip that was never installed when we did the conversion because we wanted to see how the engine worked without it. I kind of forgot about the chip but you've jogged my memory. At the time, it was purported that it would allow use of regular grade gas instead of premium. That would be a great savings by itself, especially with the crap that's out there now.

Marc,

The "seat of your pants" difference is that it's more responsive and has fewer parameters to monitor so the minor hesitation that you might find occasionally with the stock ECU is gone. Seems like the power curve has been slightly altered. It does allow the use of regular gas if you want. You install a switch that you can toggle back and forth between. I bought the ECU with the chip so it has a switch installed if you want pics of it. Very simple on/off that is powered by a keyed source. The regular/premium switch was apparently also designed alternatively to be used in conjunction with nitrous so it must retard the timing slightly. Might be nice for highway trips. Regular gas is almost $1 cheaper around here.

Does the chip benefit mpg or is the savings vs. higher octane the benefit?

Also, I didn’t realize the hesitation was ecu related.

I haven’t driven it long enough to assess MPG but will let you know. Most people on the SVX board say they got a heavier right foot after installing the chip so MPG went down a bit. It was designed to increase performance and smooth out the power curve but in 87 octane mode the timing would be slightly retarded which may also increase MPG. And the gas is cheaper of course.

I doubt that anyone here will be able to assist you with that, Everyone at this site is s "Petro Head"! Now if you had a 914 model this would be your place. Good luck with your search.

Just to report back, I've just had some upgrades done prior to moving to a small town. Had my ECUTune v.5 (now called Subiechips) chip installed with a switch for regular gas. Haven't tried reg. yet but the difference is noticeable. As mentioned, the hesitation is now gone and the 'seat of the pants' power band is noticeably improved. I also had my exhaust modified with a longer path to reduce backpressure in order to prevent backfiring. I thought the EG33 was great before, but now it's an order of magnitude better. Can't wait for a road trip!

The s/s headers which I got from Smallcar developed many small cracks which were undoubtedly causing vacuum leaks so I can't attribute all improvements to the chip, but overall it performs like a new van. I'll post some pics of the exhaust when I get a chance.

Is that the same chip that if you go to bigger 300 ZX injector's (370's I think ) and the 300ZX MAF that it is suppose to increase your HP/TQ up to Claims of 30 HP.

I don't know. Maybe one of these other H6 guys will know.

OK,..Thanks..I know that performance chip does come from Subiechips in Fla.But Iam not sure how many versions there are.

Awesome news Marc! It's a lot more responsive, right?

As I understand it the stock ECU was programmed with a few too many parameters, so it was constantly trying to learn and improve itself, considering altitude, driving style, fuel economy, emissions, etc. This is why the stock ECU can make the engine feel just a little different every time you drive it. That chip gives it a fairly static map based on the JDM tune and tells it "just keep the air/fuel mix at X".

Frank, there are a couple of versions of the chip. The one we have is for stock injectors.

Here is a link to the site for the chips (both versions)

subiechips

The guy is also active on the subaru-svx.net forums under the screen name longassname.

Thank You,...Sir Chris

Well .... we picked up another toy yesterday!

I know, I know .... it's "Repetitively Redundant" towed with a Westy full camper, but think of it as a guest house for the grandkids!

Also, since it's a 1970, it's eligible for the vintage trailer events which we go to (the Westy is too young!), we can go with this, & since it's small car towable, we can tow it with the Westy, & with the 85 325e & 914-2.0 - if I put hitches on them.

1970 Eriba Puck (German made Export model & appliances/water/LP/electrical gear finished fitting-out in CA with the CA-HCD RV/Trailer Approval Plate), 12' L (10' L box) x 5.5' W, 660 lbs empty, 70 lbs hitch wt. - sleeps 2-3 at dinette made into bed, 2 burner LP stove, Icebox (some had the optional 3-way fridge), sink & +/-10 gal. fresh water tank, center pop-top lifts for standing room & down to fit in a normal ht. garage.

Click to view attachment Click to view attachment
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Wife is happy now!

Cheers!
Tom
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That is soo sweet. Congrats on your acquisition.

Tom,

Congratulation. Super nice. Enjoy in good health!

Bob B

That's really cool, Tom. In my case, the only issue is that it would need a bathroom/shower to make it 'wife friendly'

I got my '84 Westy back a couple months ago - with a new 2.1L, so it should be able to pull a small trailer - slowly

Yes Mark - slowly! Plus you need more room to stop the little rig. Our Westy is also the stock 2.1L.

Eriba does make the newer Pucks with a tiny bathroom, as well as in bigger models with baths up to the Trolls & Tritons, & a San Diego company makes a Puck copy with a bath option IIRC. You just need to watch the trailer wt. & hitch wt. with small cars!

We'll get a Thetford porta-potty for the Westy & Puck, & I already have a solar shower for it - both of which can be used with the Lil Pucker, but don't know if that will satisfy your wife.

We already have a bigger restored 1960 Avion T20 trailer with a full bath (which we're using for facilities at home right now during our home resto), but it requires a larger tow vehicle. The Avion is for full on "Glamping"!

We've been showing our Westy with the Avion T20 at the Newport Dunes Vintage Trailer/RV Rally since 2013:
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.


Now the Lil' Pucker gives us an option to tow a small camper with our 325e & Westy (& maybe 914?). Note that - while the Puck names offers endless puns that both my wife & I use - that isn't the name which she's given "her cute little trailer"!

.

Thanx for all of the great comments everybody!

We have a Thetford porta-potty. Need to concoct some sort of shower though ...

Mark,

Zodi has a pop-up / fold up shower enclosure, & propane powered intstate water heaters -

http://zodi.com/hot-showers


GoWesty used to carry them both, but they also have a couple of PVC Solar Heated Bag for shower heated water, which we got one -

http://www.gowesty.com/product/portable-sh...solar-shower?v=

http://www.gowesty.com/product/portable-sh...er-5-gallon-?v=

http://www.gowesty.com/search-results.php?...h_phrase=Shower

.

I got a rear hatch tent enclosure which slips over the rear hatch while up, which we can use for "outside facilities" of porta-potty & shower when camping. IIRC it was from Bus Depot in PA.

PS - VW Bus Shop / Perter Gunzl in Germany is another parts & accessories source to check first, because you get your order within a week or so, they have loads of parts, their prices are better than GoWesty, Bus Depot, Van Cafe, etc. - & those guys buy them from him & mark it up to sell to us!

http://www.vwbusshop.de/en_GB

.

GoWesty also makes a repro of the Euro Option Storage box for Westy's behind the passenger seat, which will hold the porta-potty, & they sell the Thetford (but Walmart, Amazon etc may be cheaper).

http://www.gowesty.com/product/storage-org...reproduction?v=

http://www.gowesty.com/product/portable-to...table-toilet?v=

.

I'm still on the fence about getting the box myself.

Cheers!
Tom
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PS - Note different floor plans with baths Mark -

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It may be easier to find the other models & plans/options in the UK/EU, & export them here, & then convert the electrical to our standards, & the stove (& optional fridge &/or heater) from Butane to LP (I know a few owners who did so for about the same as finding a USA model).


Tom
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I think that something like this hitch which our Puck's PO made for his `68 Bug, might work with some adaptation on a 914 -

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I haven't found a pic of a 914 towing a Puck nor other Eriba yet, but FYI here are some other Porsche & interesting tow vehicles with Pucks -

IIRC - This Combo sold for about $189K at Barrett a few years back -
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Mit Porsche 911 Cabrio -
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Mit BMW/Isetta 600 3-Door -
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Mit VWs - Thing (131), Squareback, Fastback & Baywindow Doka -
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Mit 2L T4 Powered Trike & Bike w/ Sidecar -
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Mit MBZs & Smart Half-a-Car -
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Sans Citroen DM Sedan & Wagon/Touring -
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Mit Opel Kadett & Rekord, & With UK Ford Escort & Green?? -
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With UK Mini, & Mit New Mini & BMW 3-Cabrio -
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With Off-Road 4-Wheeler -
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With "Overkill"!! -
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.


Tom
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We went camping with some of our vintage trailer buddies last weekend in our `88 Westy up at Cachuma Lake County Park near Solvang & Santa Ynez CA (northwestern Santa Barbara County - where the last LA Olympics held the rowing/crewing competitions).

On Friday morning we were visited by "The Crew" - the total flock was at least 50+ & cruised the park on their daily feeding tour, as taken by one of our buddies walking her dog early am while we were asleep.

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They were obviously oblivious to what tomorrow is about!

Happy Turkey Day!
Tom
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Looks like a lot of fun Tom. I'm about to rebuild the old 1.9l engine in mine...for some reason I can't help myself. Will post pics soon.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

My dream is a Suby EZ30 with a 5MT. REALLY REALLY want to do big brakes and be able to tow my 914 on an aluminum trailer with the Westy.

Chris, have you thought about tossing a longer throw crank (2.1L) 'while you're in there' ?

We did that on 'Eileen's rebuild, and what a difference it made

FWIW -

Ours is an `88 with the 2.1L which we've owned since new - but we had to replace the original 2.1L in 1999 due to rod thrown thru the top of the case, with a rebuilt one from my guy Hans Imports (he uses Tuttles in LA for VW engines since the early 1970's, & my `73 914 2L was done by them on the original motor), then we had the top end of that rebuilt in 2005.

We're now at almost 230K mi - so another full or top end rebuild for it may be in our future soon, judging by typical life spans.

While I wish we had a bit more HP & TQ, we'll either stay with a 2.1L or slightly up-built factory WBX4. Not interested in all the changes to go to the dark side of Subie.

It does okay loaded for a trip - if a bit slow on hills/mountains .... or a lot slow! It's also done well towing our Eriba Puck in my pix posted in the prior posts - which is about 700-750 lbs wet & loaded (70-75 lbs. hitch wt.).


Tom
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EG33 with your name on it

Wow I didn't expect all this great feedback so soon!

Interesting idea on the 2.1 crank Mark! I have the engine completely disassembled...just cleaning it up now. Do you happen to know if I need anything else besides the crank?

Thanks for the reliability feedback Tom. The inside of mine looked great other than the fact that it had been sitting for a long while and a had broken head stud. The bearings look fine but they're so cheap I just can't not replace them. I de glazed the cylinders with a dingle ball hone (240 grit). Brought the cross hatch pattern right back without removing any material.

Dan, the EZ30/5MT is a great combo for a Vanagon/Bus. Would make a really nice hauler. I picked up a set of rear disc brake adapters to swap out the drums.

Stephen, you know I love the EG33...I figure the 1.9L is literally worth NOTHING in pieces, or as a "ran when parked" motor. I can rebuild it for a couple hundred bucks all in and sell it much easier as a fresh runner. I'm strangely intrigued by the WBX though...just can't stop myself from working on it. Such a simple motor...the cam and rod bearings are the same ones used all the way back to the 1200cc air cooled engine. We'll see how it goes.

Pics to follow very soon!

Hey Chris - please post your info on the rear drum to disc conversion parts/setup.

I know that GoWesty & others sell a front bib disc brake kit to upgrade the front, but haven't seen anything to change the rears to discs, which seems like a natural swap to get better braking for the "brick on wheels".

Hope All Y'all Ate Yersefs Silly today!


Tom
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We'll expect lots of pics.