Date:         Fri, 19 May 2000 18:12:37 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike Barfield <barfield@GTE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Barfield <barfield@GTE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Subaru vs. VW Swap
Comments: To: ThatVWGuy@AOL.COM, Dan Kinsey <ThatVWGuy@AOL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <30.55587b1.265719f8@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain

I've been shopping for a Subaru engine for about a month now. I've been to junk
yards and the I've found prices around $1500. Understand this price includes
the engine an all the other stuff you will need from the Subaru. I talked with
a parts guy at a local Subaru dealer and he gave me a lot of good info (he has
a Vanagon too and is doing the conversion). In his view the Subaru engines last
forever. I had one that had 250K miles on it before I got rid of it. The engine
still ran ok, but I wanted a new car. The parts guy said that from time to time
owners of 1990-1994 Legacys with automatics will come into the shop to get the
transmission fixed (weak link in the chain, mine gave me problems), find out
they need a new transmissin ($3000) and end up trading the old car in on a new
one instead of fixing it. The dealer will then use the car as a parts car. I've
got my name on a "call back" list should they get a car in the next few months.

Another place I'm going to try is an insurance auto auction. These places sell
"totaled" cars from the insurance industry. Try this site: home.iaai.com. I'm
hoping to get a wreck for around $1000

For the conversion kit look at www.kennedyeng.com. The cost of the kit runs
around $1500.

So for $1500 (engine and other Subaru parts) + $1500 for the Kennedy kit + $500
for God knows what else might turn up = $3500 or less for a conversion. I
bought my Westy with a dead engine and I've had good times with Subaru's so it
an easy pick for me. I've seen South African VW (118 hp ?) based kits that cost
around $4000.

Also try asking this question at this mailing list:
www.egroups.com/group/subaruvanagon

Mike Barfield
'84 Westy
Tampa, FL



On Fri, 19 May 2000, Dan Kinsey wrote:
> I'm have a lot of experience and confidence with the IL VW 4 cyl but the 130
> hp of the Subaru engine sounds interesting.  Can anyone give me an
> approximate cost of doing the Subaru swap?  What do those engines go for?
> How much to rebuild?  Reliability?
>
> Thanks,
> Dan