Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 01:32:54 -0400
Reply-To: Robert Snyder <bobbino@TOGETHER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Snyder <bobbino@TOGETHER.NET>
Subject: Re: Differential lock and Sychro Vacum Plumbing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Steve,
Thanx for the reply. It sounds like you're contemplating the "big switch."
I also did for quite some time. I live in the hilly green mountains of
Vermont and when my '87 waterboxer heads leaked again for the 3rd time, that
was it! I was fed up and wanted an alternative. The Kennedy conversion is
the way, hands down. I used a '91 turbo Legacy which was probably a mistake
just because it took so long to make all the additional turbo plumbing fit
and custom the exhaust. Any fresh legacy motor will do, around here they're
a dime a dozen ($300-600) Kennedy makes all the parts required. When its
done the damn thing looks like it belongs there, and nearly twice the
horsepower! As to experience level, I consider myself mechanical inclined,
but I think that any patient, intelligent person with some know-how could
figure this out or have it done. I found that the Kennedy staff was very
helpful. The total cost for adapter + motor + accoutrements was around
$1100-1300, easily the cost of some new heads alone. The single drawback
that I can find in this conversion is loss of ground clearance. I would
guess that I lost about 4", and if you like going off road that's a few too
many ". My turbo engine gives some oil pan protection from the headers, but
I plan to build a skid plate next. The wiring is laborious and tedious, but
again very doable. I can't tell u how pleased I am with the overall
product. A conversion associate summed it up by saying that all those,
"when's it gonna blow?" worries are now completely gone. Thanx again and
I'd be happy to answer any more questions.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Arbaugh <sneakers@oz.net>
To: Robert Snyder <bobbino@TOGETHER.NET>
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2000 11:06 PM
Subject: Re: Differential lock and Sychro Vacum Plumbing
> Robert:
>
> I'm afraid I can't help you at all on the vacuum lines, other than to ask
if
> the check valve is functioning properly, and some syncro's had a front
locking
> diff. Perhaps the forward vacuum lines are for that?? dunno, not having a
> syncro. I do have questions about your conversion (don't we all probably).
Any
> info you could give regarding that would be apprecaited. What I'm looking
for
> are your reasons for swapping, motor used (year, model it came out of,
engine
> codes, that kind of thing), kits used (Kennedy?), and problems encountered
and
> how they were resolved. Are you a mechanic by trade or doing this in your
spare
> time (or having it done). Were there wiring problems? I've heard that is
one of
> the bigger problems to be solved. Approximate costs (optional, of
course)???
>
> Told ya I had questions. My situation: I'm not in a position where I need
to do
> something right away, my wasserleaker has been rebuilt and should last for
some
> time, but the power issue is rather sensitive to me, here in the mountains
in
> the Pacific NorthWest. Anything you could share would be most helpful.
>
> Good luck on the buzzing vacuum lines..
>
> steve
> '85 westy
> kent, wa
>
> At 02:49 PM 04/07/2000 -0400, you wrote:
> >
> > Yo!
> >
> > I've just completed a Subaru Turbo conversion on my '87 Synchro.
Everything
> > came out the sweetest except that I'm completely lost on the way that I
> > should hook up the vacuum lines from my 4wd assemblies. Right now when
I
> > shut down the motor I get a "buzzzing" from a check valve that seems to
be
> > bleeding down. The Bentley book calls the vacuum reservoir. What up?
Also,
> > what are the vacuum lines off the V-C doing anyway? Any ideas or help
would
> > be appreciated. Along another line, my email gets inundated with info
from
> > this list. Is this normal? Can I filter this at all? Thanx and
Vanagons
> > rage on!
> >
> > Robert
>
>
>
>
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