I know it's been covered, but I'm very keen on doing a Scooby conversion. Is that better?

dont see why you couldnt do a scooby into a T3/T25. depends on the tyope of gearbox and if there is an adaptor available. i think i have seen a conversion in one of the mags so it is definitely possible. sure it would be easier as well as it alreay has the coolant lines etc and a rad up front

 

There a fair few T3 Subaru's in America if you google it.

However.

I now want this, just for the noise alone:

 

Try cooking bacon in that!!

 

Check out rjes he converts t3s

 

The RJES conversion is for T3s using a reversed manifold to plumb the Subaru engine directly into the T3 cooling system. Have a look at the RJES site.

 

Too late.

 

Vr6 or r32 in a bay would put a very big smile on my face

 

Check out SPANNERBOY on VZi. He specialises in T25 Subaru conversions - he's in Guildford.

 

Its hard to see on the pic but I assumed it would be cast. Sand cast could be an option but I doubt they'd get the strength and quality. It certainly doesn't look dog rough. Must likely investment/lost wax as Moons indicates but that is not cheap especially I'm design and mould production. Ferrari F1 gearboxes are about the same in size and cost about £800 to cast, albeit in titanium. They've obviously done their development work right to get to where they are. Only real downside on an adaptor is it pushes the engine a bit further away from the bell housing.

 

I know where there is a really nice VR6 engine I could get my hands in. I thought about one of these but would it fit?

 

The vr6 was designed with its small v angle so it would fit in golf engine bays, it isn't much bigger than a 1.8T but the manifolds etc are pretty big

 

I think it would fit. You may need to get creative and may be mix and match parts from passat and golf but anything is doable. There is a guy with a 2.7 twin turbo s4 engine in a t25 so vr6 in a bay should be easy lol

 

The RJES Bellhousing is Sand Cast LM25 Aluminium, which is then CNC machined after casting, There is no doubt it's a proper engineered solution. It uses the subaru flywheel, starter and lighter subaru pressure plate but with a VW friction plate so it match the standard or 091 box. The bellhousing mounting face is the same as the vw box but the subaru is slightly bigger in diameter so the 1972 X'over and 1973> has to be trimmed around the gearbox hanger. >71 have more room and are OK as T25 i believe. The adaptor plate moves the engine back a bit so it clears
My deliberation was about the best solution versus minimum chassis mods

1, Subarugears reverse pinion- great idea may have been an early adopter but higher work/mods and ridiculously high part and import cost.
2, RJES bellhousing, well engineered, light clutch, match flywheel / Starter, needs gearbox hanger mods on late bay
3, TSR Fellows adaptor. No chassis mods heavier non standard clutch.

so thanks for kev and col for feed back on (2) n on (1) Birm' ,Moons on it ok to run std box n wheels, nBaysearcher for reminding us that's it's smiles not the mile(pg)

Going the 2K DIY route any info re wiring, cooling, rads, exhaust used still appreciated.

Cheers

 

Where are you based your welcomd to look at my diy conversion

Best advice for wiring loom put it in a box and send it rjes to make u a new one unless you know what your doing

 

I am in Essex Kev, defo like to see it if you are near what year is your van? I have started stripping the loom but may go that route. How much was if for RJES to convert the loom?
Thinking of buying the bellhousing as that will allow me to mount the starter and test.

 

Helo mate im in derby so maybe a bit far away
my van is 1978
i didnt get rjes to convert my loom my brother in law did it for me and he was on it ages stripping things out plus ive still got wires i dont need
my wiring is tidy but having the loom done for me would make it look much better
apart from the wiring the rest of the conversion with the bellhousing was straight forward enough
i wouldnt say it takes any longer to remove my engine than it did with the old vw one

i bought all my stuff from rjes very helpfull guy

 

yeah sadly. If 1978 then you must have done the upper gearbox hanger. Will keep going on the harness ....have started now

 

Whats the difference with the hanger between early lates and late lates ie what needs doing to it?

 

The bellhousing is larger tha n the VW one (due to the Subaru’s bigger flywheel diameter. This is not a problem on Type 25 / Vanagon’s, but some minor bodywork mods would be needed on a Bay window.

I don't think the early bays have the hanger rail for the gearbox and have much more space around the Bellhousing so cutting as shown only required on late models with the rectangular rear lights ie >1973 + 1972 Cross over models.

There is loads of info on the RJES website although it takes some navigating through to find the info, it's all there.

 

Thanks that makes sense. So if you dont want to cut then go down the adapter plate route and live with the heavier clutch.