Subaru Engine Prep - Subaru Vanagon Engine Swap Part 4

[@Blackfilmguild]

Wow, you saved me $20,000 doing this myself.

[@gregorybarneymcwhorter6472]

I love your attention to detail man you do incredible work it takes a special set of skills and a whole lot of patience to do some of those harnesses that you do have talked to your brother you actually explain it in a way to where I'm almost not afraid to attack my harness situation that I have I bought a 85 van again regular passenger van tin top. It already had the Subaru conversion swap in it when I bought it recently but there's a whole cluster of wires that have to wires the insulation is missing on them a real nightmare of a project for someone who doesn't do electrical but I think I can get it after watching your videos or at least I'm going to cross my fingers I like your quote about there being a million ways to skin a cat I use that line all the time have a great day

[@johnallcote7153]

hi i must say your layer back way of explaining this is fantastic. however please can you answer this question. what wires get connected to the black box in the engine bay. Sorry for the stupid question. once again great video bud. Regards John.

[@Busaru]

+john allcote Hey John, for a Van you have to connect the keyed ignition wore, starter switch , B+, oil pressure, alternator lamp, water temp. Cheers!

[@SUBDUB67]

Mine has the original oil sump just brought whole gearbox and engine to tilt a little higher. Will see how that goes. Great detail and explanation mate, appreciate the time that goes into your vids. Used your vid last week to do the front breaks, that for the tips. JP

[@killerb317]

Cool videos! Is there any literature on the subject of Subaru/VW engine swapping?

[@forthwithtx5852]

Great reminder to swap the vacuum fittings and reposition the heater hose connections. I haven't done that yet, and since the engine is still on the stand, I'll have to make sure I do that. I was surprised to see you delete the oil cooler. Too bad I had already spent dealer prices on new hoses at both ends of that coolant line across the front! I am looking at the cast aluminum low profile pan from Smallcar. Very spendy, that one. You are correct in that especially with the low profile pan, the oil filter becomes the low point on the engine. Have you considered a remote filter arrangement?

[@forthwithtx5852]

Decided to delete the oil cooler as you did. Parts from the Subaru parts counter on the way.

[@Busaru]

Forthwith Tx You know, it really could get snagged in a Vanagon and that would be disastrous so I think that's a good call. If you were concerned with oil temps down in TX, I would run a remote system like you mentioned. I haven't personally run one but I'm sure there are Subaru guys who do this and I bet they have recommendations.

[@Volknstein]

Great video. So, which do you think is a better conversion as far ass cooling goes? Belly radiator or 2 in the engine compartment? My conversion will have a/c. I was planning on mounting the condenser under the belly and the radiators in the rear. Any thoughts? I'm trying to do a dry fit and plan out everything so I can paint the engine compartment and under side of my bus be for final install.

[@Busaru]

+David Kelly the belly mount has more fluid capacity and possibly more airflow. So if you're not concerned with road debris then I would go that direction. If you camp or drive on dirt roads a lot then you may want to go with engine bay rads.

[@hankhankyourhankerin401]

Help me to understand? I see a lot of these conversions where people put in a used subie. I would think that you would want to put in a reconditioned or rebuild subie after going through all that work

[@Busaru]

+Hank hankyourhankerin a rebuilt Subie engine generally runs $3K - the cost of a conversion. Once converted it takes a few hours to replace a dead used engine with a JDM, rebuilt, or other good used engine. I love used Subie engines - they last a long time if you take care of them. I hope that helps!

[@jacobnorton1]

2 questions: Where do you get the cap for the oil cooler? I got the new oil filter stud pretty easily, but can't figure out what you used to cap that off. Also, what about the piece on the bottom of the water pump where the other end of the oil cooler runs to? Do you just cap this off as well?

[@jacobnorton1]

I rewatched the video and see you put on a thermostat housing without that line. If I don't want to buy a new housing, can I just cap mine off the same way you capped off the line behind the oil filter?

[@Busaru]

+Jacob Norton you can use caps, plugs, or run a coolant hose to connect them. Usually I order a plug for the engine block and pick up a different thermostat housing at a junkyard.

[@m.camacho8925]

How much was the total cost of that conversion? Great video by the way... I'm about to buy a 1987 westy and I'm thinking on swapping an engine in like 2 more years probably... so your videos are very good, thanks!

[@Busaru]

You can do a swap for as little as $3500 if you’re resourceful and can find an inexpensive donor. An inexpensive conversion for someone else to perform the work would be around $10k so you’ll save a ton of money DIY.

[@speedtime2834]

planning on buying a 2004 for the winter Subaru Forester how much would something like that cost to get fix if it go bad?

[@juliandominguez4404]

I been looking for a donor subaru with a 2.5 soch but all have blown head gaskets if i get a jdm 2.5 soch engine what engine harness do i. Need to get from what car. If i go to pick u part

[@sammyndegwa8464]

am from kenya where can i get that adapter plate

[@alexhorton2321]

www.kennedyeng.com/

[@randylucas7751]

do you grease the new rear main seal before installing? inside out side edge? or install dry

[@Busaru]

+Randy Lucas I use engine oil.

[@randylucas7751]

on the inside and out of the new seal? i heard if you get oil on the outside it can cause premature oil leak? thanks for the quick response

[@Busaru]

+Randy Lucas That's how I do it, Install dry if you wish ;)/

[@runboyrun]

Have the headgaskets been replaced on this engine?

[@Busaru]

I would do the head gaskets if it were going into a Subaru but since it's going into a Vanagon, and its very easy to do them in situ, I did not replace. Welcome to the joy of the VW/Subaru combination!

[@runboyrun]

Busaru Okay makes sense, was worried since late 90s early 00s 2.5ls have infamous headgasket issues.

[@Brad.Lancaster]

How are you? What conversion plate did you use?

[@Busaru]

Hey Brad, I like using the Kennedy Engineered Products adapter plate and flywheel.

[@Brad.Lancaster]

Busaru in the video you use a Rocky mountain westy plate? If so which one? They do not have an option for a t2

[@DidierBan]

do you think I to do the same with a engine from a 2013 with 98k miles?

[@New777World]

For a splity what is your best recomendation for engine swap? 2.0 2.5 or the 2.2

[@Busaru]

+Isaac mondragon I haven't had the honor of converting a split window yet, but imagine any of these engines would physically fit and work great.

[@New777World]

Thats what intend to do! But i need all information i can get! A liite nervous cus this will be a first for me! Your videos are great to build confidence! Thanks again for uploading quality content!

[@DanTheManIOM]

+issac mondragon, what did you decide on ? A guy posted a picture comparing 25 to 22 and if space is a concern, 22 would be the way to go....johnathan silver art (??) put a turbo 25 in a split..300+ Hp...and no brakes ....lol

[@selectivebreed]

Were can I buy a throttle body reverser

[@Busaru]

Busaru.com

[@AlexCavaz]

why not to use the subaru transmission instead vw?

[@Busaru]

+Alex Cavaz you certainly can, it just doubles the cost of the conversion (approximately).

[@kellyt5056]

if you did ask much work on camera as you di talking you be worh watch

[@Busaru]

+Kelly Lamb yeah, boooooring! Haha!

[@kellyt5056]

joke