Hey Gang!
I actually have two vanagon conversions, one a 2.2 Subaru and one is a SVX Syncro.
I've never owned a stock vanagon, and only recently realized that the factory air box uses a snorkel.
Neither of mine have the snorkel attached to the airbox.
I take my vans off road, and realized I need to hook this up.
Anyone do this? Most of the conversions I've seen don't have it hooked up.
Send some pics of your solution!
Thanks!
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Re: I am looking for the best conversion kit
What are you converting?? I can think of three options off the top of my head.
Also: does it need to be legal in California?
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Re: I am looking for the best conversion kit
They all have their pluses and minuses. If you have a 2.1 I¡¯d consider looking into Marco Mansi upgrades, I have a 1.9 and went with RMW. Their support kind of sucks and their instructions also are not amazing, but you should be able to get help from the group. The items I have purchased from Smallcar in the past have not been of great quality and I don¡¯t like their buried clutch slave cylinder idea, so that wasn¡¯t for me. The bostig kit is honestly a kind of stupid. Makes no sense to use a hard to find motor that doesn¡¯t really give much more HP and sits too low. Same with the diesel kit, now I¡¯m trying to remember what that¡¯s called, it¡¯s very very expensive, very well put together and super high quality but you end up with an engine that sits VERY low and that is not for me, nor was I interested in a diesel. The think with all of them is that the ¡°kit¡± isn¡¯t complete. None of them really are. The diesel one seems to be the most complete. With RMW you¡¯ll need someone to do your harness(I used Jeff at Autoventures as he is the best and has amazing support) also you¡¯ll need an oil pan, a better intake, an engine to start with that isn¡¯t tired and high miles, likely a transmission refresh on yours, new clutch, also get the tank reservoir as it¡¯s great and bomb proof. Replace the sensors on the motor with new oem ones, likely you¡¯ll also need a subie timing belt kit. I probably missed things but that should give you an idea of what you¡¯re getting into. Also these are strictly my opinions and are meaningless to anyone but me, so there is that?
J
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On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 7:39?PM dhillmanskibum via groups.io <dhillmanskibum@...> wrote:
What's the best conversion kit
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Re: I am looking for the best conversion kit
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On May 22, 2025, at 10:39 PM, dhillmanskibum via groups.io <dhillmanskibum@...> wrote:
? What's the best conversion kit
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I am looking for the best conversion kit
What's the best conversion kit
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
So I went to a parts yard this morning that had quite a few SOHC Subarus in various stages of disassembly. ?I noticed that some had one damper, some had two, and some had none. ?I found an 04 (mine¡¯s an 03) and it had none. ?The others I did not know the year.
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I can purchase them for $5 each if I need them. ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: '91 Westie with '07 Forester 2.5
Hola Joel, We are usually parked near the back entrance. Brown guy in a brown Westy named Winston.? I actually have a couple of spare computers for my 2002 2.5 n/a Subie. Let me know if I should bring one. Hmmm, maybe I'll bring it anyway, I heard parts of the Labrador road are a wee bit rough. Terry
On Mon, 19 May 2025, 23:03 wallaces_21 via , <grandfatherjim= [email protected]> wrote: Terry, I'd like to connect with you at BusFusion to compare our conversions. I'm trying to figure out just which engine I have and it may be the same as yours, in our 85. We'll likely be parked near the ag hall end; ask around as lots of people know us, and I'll try to find you too. Cheers,? Jim Wallace? On Mon, May 19, 2025, 9:27 p.m. Noras dad via <norasonlydad= [email protected]> wrote: Yo Joel,? Glad to see you got this prob figured out. Let me know when you are headed up to Labrador/ Newfoundland please. We are heading on that journey directly after BUSfusion in Almonte Ontario. Would be great to sup on a pop somewhere along the route.? 85 Westy ( Winston)with 2002 N/A 2.5 Subie with Tod's reverse ring and pinion installed in his 5 speed tranny. Terry
Hello all, Hoping someone may have an idea, been working on this for a few days with little success, and of course we are supposed to be heading out for a 6 week trip across Labrador & Newfoundland.
Had the conversion done a year ago, everything was fantastic for last year's 12,000 km trip to the west coast of BC. (Should have done the conversion year's ago)
Couple days ago was heading to the garage for a minor upgrade, when things started to 'turn off', until the van was barely able to run, battery down to ~7V.? I have a battery switch to flip between vehicle and house battery, enabling me to go the additional distance.
We have tried 4 different alternators, with the engine running all of them max 12.4 V.? Have unplugged the alternator cables so no load, still only about 12.4V.? Take them out of my van, install in another, and they go up to around 14.4V.??
Belt seems ok, cam shaft pulley also ok.
Do one of the 3 connectors on the one plug of the alternator provide some kind of V sensing where if it isn't connected or loose/corroded, so max the alternator puts out is around 12.4V?? If yes, where is the other end of that going?
Any other ideas or thoughts are much appreciated.
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
I¡¯m not sure if they matter, there was only one on my car. I have a couple of spares if you want one. Not sure what it would cost to ship likely cheap at the dealer ??
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On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 6:43?AM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
All mine has now is the fuel pressure regulator.
?I may go to a local parts yard today to see if I can find one of those. ?Are they required? ?One or two? ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
All mine has now is the fuel pressure regulator.
?I may go to a local parts yard today to see if I can find one of those. ?Are they required? ?One or two? ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
My stock 2.5 2002 NA had one, I kept for re install. There is a fuel rail mounted thing that appears to be the same as the dampener but it is not the same. My understanding is that it¡¯s a pressure regulator. At least in parts diagrams. I¡¯ve also purchased an external adjustable regulator from small car although I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s needed?
John?
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On Tue, May 20, 2025 at 5:09?PM Wayne Sitarz via groups.io <wesitarz@...> wrote:
Do you have the fuel line dampers (black valve looking thingys)? I had one that I installed on the return line. On some pics I see there are two. I don't know how critical they are.
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
I guess this is what I had in the return line.?
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https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/fuel-pulsation-damper-how-its-constructed-and-works-and-issues-symptoms-etc.514134/
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
This evening I loosely fitted the throttle cable. ?
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Then I used some 10mm silicone vacuum line to connect the brake booster line to the passenger side intake manifold. ?Some folks, I understand, are fortunate enough to be able to connect the booster to a port on the driver¡¯s side.
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I routed it under the intake and out the other side. ?I¡¯ll wait to clamp it permanently once other things are sorted on the passenger side of the engine. ?There¡¯s lot of stuff going on there.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
I had this Glow Shift oil pressure gauge on my 2.1. ?
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It uses a sandwich adapter between the oil filter and the block. ?I¡¯ve ordered the adapter to make it work (hopefully) on my 2.5.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
I found some by Evil Energy on Amazon. ?
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They come in different sizes. ?I¡¯ve never used one of these.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Where did you get your new aluminum expansion tank? ?Either it had a sensor mounted or a place for one.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Yes, there was a factory coolant level sensor that screwed into the top of the original 2.1 expansion tank. It had two prongs. When you started the 2.1 engine the temp light flashed a few times then, if there was coolant enough to touch the contacts, it went out.?   --
Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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So wait, there was a factory coolant level sensor? How did it work? How did you know it went off? My Vanagon was converted in 2002 and I didn¡¯t own it until?10 years after that so no surprise I didn¡¯t know about this.?
The coolant expansion tank from RMW includes a coolant level sensor.
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But they also sell just the replacement sensor for about $15
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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The coolant expansion tank from RMW includes a coolant level sensor.
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But they also sell just the replacement sensor for about $15
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren¡¯s Conversion - Update #1
I have not installed any fuel line dampers. ?To my knowledge there were none on the 2.1 setup, so there are none on my 2.5 installation. ?Are they critical? ?Do you know where they can be purchased?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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I just caught a mention of a coolant level sensor in Warren¡¯s emails regarding his install. I enjoyed his pics and write up very much. When I get through my current failed head gasket situation I want to add a coolant level sensor. My expansion tank cracked on the freeway and I lost the gasket. I¡¯ve since installed a new aluminum expansion tank but the damage was already done. What are you all doing for coolant level sensors? Where¡¯d you get them? What parts did you buy? Where did you install them? How did you install them??I¡¯m actually open to some kind of horn situation but want to hear what you¡¯ve done.?
Back in my salt flats days we put a massive horn on our racers coolant level sensor so you could hear it over a 736 cubic inch diesel engine with a helmet on.?
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