Note:  This project is officially dead

Sadly I decided to kill off this project and have sold both the engine and the '73 Thing.  I really just didn't have the time or resources to continue with it and felt that that others could use them.  I have decided to keep this page on the site for the time being in case anyone is interested in this swap and my approach to some of the design considerations involved with doing it.
  Subaru 2.2l engine swap

This is my Subaru swap into a VW Thing page. I'm using the engine adapter kit manufactured by KEP. The project continues moving forward and I have added some new pictures of my 1973 VW Thing project. This vehicle had been converted to electric power by a previous owner and was missing the electric motor and batteries when I got it. Not being a big fan of this type of electric vehicle technology and given the amount of modification to the it I decided that this Thing would be the ideal vehicle to convert to Subaru power! The big advantage of the Subaru 2.2l engine is that it puts out almost 130 Hp:) In the pictures here* notice the white container visible through the engine compartment. It was used to hold ten car batteries which ran the electric motor. There is a huge cut out where that was installed which makes access to the engine really easy right now. In the future I will fill this area with sheet metal and a good sized access panel for engine maintenance.

Here are some new pictures of modifications made during the engine swap. Some of the problems I have left to address are running the coolant lines to the front, adding a radiator, building a rear engine mount and connecting the throttle cable. Then there is all the body work to fill in the hole cut out by the PO. The engine runs at this point but stalls when coming back to idle because I still have to connect the VSS that I made using the KEP kit. There are a whole bunch of Vanagon freaks out there converting to the Subaru engine these days as well as a lot of sand duners so I probably got the engine just in time before the clamor for them raised the price and reduced availability. There is a Yahoo group for Vanagon Subaru swaps that has provided a lot of information and work arounds for many the conversion problem. My conversion is in a beetle based car so naturally there are a few details that I have had to work out on my own.

Here's a shot of the engine in the Thing. Another view of the installed engine. Here's the heater by-pass circuit.
Tee fitting to connect the IAC water return line. Detail showing the bend in the heater feed pipe. A close up of the Tee.
1-1/4"x1-1/4"x1/2" Tee fitting. Compression fitting machined to fit the Tee. Completed temperature sender mounting Tee.
View of reversed coolant cross pipe. Close up of cut, turned and welded pipe. Exhaust manifold spacer to clear transmission cradle.

Things left to do:

- Add coolant lines

- Get radiator modified

- Install radiator mounting brackets

- Build box to seal airflow through the radiator only

- Install fuel sump and run fuel lines

- Fill in large cut out in area over engine compartment

- Fabricate accelerator cable connection between Subaru and VW cables

- Fabricate right side muffler bracket

- Fabricate cross bar to bumper mount brackets

- And much more...

* Photos courtesy of Roger Nang

All other content �1997-2003, Thomas M. Ainlay


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