Date:         Thu, 20 Jul 2000 09:28:38 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Subject:      Re: Shorter oil pan for Subaru engine? S.A. comp. to Subie?
Comments: To: John Andrew <johna@telluridecolorado.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The oil pan problem is the main reason I've rejected this conversion.
Right now the only solution is to cut the pan down and weld it back
together, shorten the oil pick up, and run with three quarts of oil.
Not acceptable to me given that you need to remove the engine cover to
check the oil. Kennedy keeps talking about developing a cast alloy oil
pan for this conversion.  We'll see.

If you are a good metal worker or know one, you could design a flatter
pan with "outrigger" compartments that could be welded to the cut off
stock pan.  There might even be money to be made from this, either from
the converted pans themselves or from selling the plans.  Something like
this:


        |   |  | < remains of stock pan with flange
     __ /   |  \ __
     |___|_--_|____| < include windage baffles around oil pick up

            ^ drain plug

> John Andrew wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I just sold my 1980 Westy and am ready to address a new engine for my
> 1984 Westy.  A friend of mine just did the 2.2 Subaru conversion and I
> was able to drive it.  I loved the power increase!  And his is an
> automatic!  Fit looks good and sounds good too. My concern is the oil
> pan.  He has already ripped the pan off once when it was towed.  Does
> anyone know of a source for a lower profile Subaru oil pan?  Some of
> the roads I like to take will definitely pose a problem for the lower
> clearance.
> Just out of curiosity, how does the Subaru 2.2 compare HP wise to the
> South African Conversion?  A brand new engine and electronics sure are
> appealing.
>
> Thanks all,
> John Andrew 1984 Westy "Schmooo", maybe soon to be "Schmooobaru"

--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle

'84 Vanagon Westfalia
'65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring)

Assisting on Restoration:
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)

Parts cars:
'68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT