Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 23:24:19 -0400
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Linda Bartnik" <lbart@preferred.com>
Subject: Re: Subaru notes, #3
Regarding the Subaru engines, I've been impressed with what I've seen here
at work. I work at Penske Auto Center, doing oil changes/tires and such.
Every once in a while I'll get a Subaru to work on. From what I've seen of
the Legacy and more recently the Impreza Outback and Legacy Outback, 1)
These are very nice cars, this is what I would have if I didn't have a
Volkswagen, a cool old Subaru and 2) The engines are very nice, run like
clocks. Even had a mid-'80s high-mile Subaru hatchback in for a water
pump, after the job was done the tech fired it up, ran as smooth and quiet
as any car I've ever seen. Much more so than a Vanagon engine. Just
ticking right along.
Of course, with the Subaru you lose the rear license plate oil fill/check
station as the Subaru oil fill and dipstick are toward the middle of the
engine, near the intake runners.
And Tim mentions below a very important issue, the oil pan. Whereas the
Vanagon has a nice flat bottom engine case, oil sump level with bottom of
cylinders, the Subaru has a real oil pan that hangs quite low, with the
vulnerable oil filter hanging down right next to it just as low. That
would be a real issue for the off roaders, especially.
As far as the engines themselves, they seem to be well-built and reliable.
The ones I've dealt with have just needed oil changes, and I haven't seen
any come in for major repairs, except for the one that needed a water pump.
I like working on the Subaru as the oil drain plug and filter are very easy
to get to -- that makes or breaks a car in my mind, working as a lube tech
:-)
Sean
>
> And on it goes.....
>
> forgot to mention a detail from KEP folks re their autobox Subaru
> vanagon.. seems they have blown out (how?) two ATF/H2O heat
> exchangers, the tin box on the front of the trans. They don't know why.
> Awful mess, when coolant under pressure it goes into the autotrans, when
> cooling off sucks ATF into coolant system. Double flush and bleed. They
> are not amused ;).
>
> And furthermore.....
>
> Checked out a Subaru 2.2L Legacy engine close up. Modern engine, nice
> massive cast aluminium intake runners, throttle body is highest thing on
> the engine (right under a vanagon deck lid), 1 coil/spark plug, also as
> high as possible. This should run in water say 4-6" deeper than the
> vanagons wasser!! Good for Syncro Schwimmers. Very 'tight' compact
> engine, no surplus water/FI piping etc. Vanagon wasser really looks old
> tech!!
>
> Sizes: width 28", length 17", height above the centreline of the crank
> 13", height below centreline 11" These are approximate to say 1/2". So
> what... ?
>
> well.... it won't fit under a 2WD vanagon deck lid, needs very little
> however, like 1", and only 4" diam. area over the throttle body inlet.
> Cutting away padding and forming the decklid with a heat gun would do
> it. SOOL if you have a steel decklid.
> It will fit nicely under a Syncro decklid though :) :)
>
> Removing the VW airflap housing from existing filter box and replacing
> with plate/collar will allow the VW air intake system to stay in place.
> Need fat 'S' bend hosing to link up filter box to throttle body,
> possibly the Subaru hose will do it!!!
>
> Width and length are perfect match to fit in, Better fit since the
> plumbing/FI crap doesn't hang off each side. Don't know about alt/PS/AC
> since all was off the engine. They mount high, one serpentine belt
> pulley only. Also good for water protection.
>
> And now the bad news..... The vanagon oil 'pan' is only about 7" below
> the crank centre, Subaru has another 4" to go, all oil pan! This is
> definately not Syncro compatible, and not my idea for any 2WD either.
> Ground clearance drops to say 4-5" unloaded, 2-3" maxed out. Dangerous,
> at least a gravel plate is needed, preferably a solid skid plate, and
> not the existing Syncro one. Wah-hah!
>
> Finally.... If anyone has seen KEPs conversion close up and checked
> this out can you mail me your impressions. The KEP mobile has been road
> tested by one listee last year (it books!), can I get some more
> firsthand info from someone.
> And if anyone is within local phone distance can you call KEP and
> discuss this problem with them? My bills are getting up there. They
> have never mentioned it to me, despite being well versed in other
> idioSyncrosies of the conversion. Best of all, can someone go photo
> KEPs setup carefully, or suggest to them that they get it done
> professionally, and get the photos scanned and up on a webpage. It's
> long overdue.
>
> If anyone knows what it takes to dry sump an engine please mail me that
> info too. I need help, this is becoming a PITA. Definately looks like
> the right engine for a vanagon, despite all this, I waaaannt it!
>
> bye folks/thanks, Tim
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