Routing the ducting up the pillar is no problem.?
As you mentioned, the tough part is working around the A/C lines. It is a tight fit and I believe I had to bend the mounting bracket just slightly to get everything to fit.?
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Re: I am looking for the best conversion kit
I have found the Bostig Kit (2000-2004 Ford Focus base) good: lots of them out there for next to nothing, and Jim Akiba is so good at answering any questions not covered in his online manual: that said, he is now prototyping a kit for Honda 24A engines (Accord) and has several early adapters doing beta testing. and I think he has sold the last of his Focus kits, though he still supports those customers. I am impressed with him, and his kit. Good luck with your search, and let us know what you do choose & how satisfied you are with it.
All the best, Rick in Austin, TX
On Friday, May 23, 2025 at 09:44:51 AM CDT, John A via groups.io <xstreamcanadian@...> wrote:
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?
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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I’ve ordered the Smallcar intake with snorkel. Was it difficult to get it mounted up the column? ?Also I’m a bit concerned because I have AC hoses and wiring back there in my Westy. Hope it will all fit!
-
Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Great idea.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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If you need a round shape you can use a heatgun and a wood bar with the desired diameter et voila !?
Lots of BMW bikers and myself did this on their intake pipe in order to get a good breathe on their flat twin ;)??
Attaching the stock snorkel might be a challenge because the opening at the bottom is oval.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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I'm using the which includes provisions to run their included ducting up the driver's side pillar.
?
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Attaching the stock snorkel might be a challenge because the opening at the bottom is oval.?
--
Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Exactly. Mine was way worse than this too.? I want fresh air in the intake. Heck VW even designed it this way.
My question is: How did you connect the airbox to the stock snorkel?
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No, I now have the “snorkel” routed all the way up the pillar to the roof line, basically.?
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I’m done with warm air intake and dust clogged air filters. I have forged a river that was deeper than expected and I won’t stress about that anymore. Three cheers for VL! P.S., I won the snorkel at Syncrofest. But I would have purchased it regardless. ?
I live in Colorado and generally hadn’t had too many problems with regular filter replacement/maintenance.?
?
I took one trip to Moab and the K&N-style cone setup I had was absolutely caked in fine red dust after a trip down the Schafer Trail.
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I’ve since upgraded to the Small Car snorkel setup with the Subaru filter. ?
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Great, fact based evidence from out west ( we know dirt and dust ;-)? ) ! So now, with your SC filter setup,? do you have to clean out allot of dirt ?
?- Sean G
On Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:05:05 AM MST, Ryan C via groups.io <candagrm@...> wrote:
I live in Colorado and generally hadn’t had too many problems with regular filter replacement/maintenance.?
?
I took one trip to Moab and the K&N-style cone setup I had was absolutely caked in fine red dust after a trip down the Schafer Trail.
?
I’ve since upgraded to the Small Car snorkel setup with the Subaru filter. ?
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I live in Colorado and generally hadn’t had too many problems with regular filter replacement/maintenance.?
?
I took one trip to Moab and the K&N-style cone setup I had was absolutely caked in fine red dust after a trip down the Schafer Trail.
?
I’ve since upgraded to the Small Car snorkel setup with the Subaru filter. ?
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I agree, this probably more true here.? However we are not running the DAKAR or BAJA. I believe we are all recreational folks here. Not professional driver running dirt race circuits... and my non-snorkel set up proves it (for at least myself). To each their own however.
Sean G
On Friday, May 23, 2025 at 10:30:35 AM MST, Ryan C via groups.io <candagrm@...> wrote:
I think when most people mention the snorkel it is not in the true sense of the word, for the purpose of fording a river.?
Personally, I just wanted something that would get the intake up and away from the dusting environment that can be the engine compartment.?
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In my 15 + yrs of driving dirt rds out in AZ, CA, CO... I have only changed my filter once. Never experienced a dust bowl in my filter and intake area. I should mention I have a RMW Airbox setup.
?- SeanG? ?- 87 Syncro , 2000 Subie 3.5
On Friday, May 23, 2025 at 10:51:16 AM MST, Dr Mark <mark@...> wrote:
Remember before the engine swaps ?? . the little clear plastic dust trap just before the VW air filter Box ?? ?after driving dirt roads & beaches, especially if behind another vehicle) ?it always felt good
to see what was caught in there (I would wipe it down with motor oil to make it trap even better). On California freeways I like the idea of getting air from 5 ft above traffic exhaust (not sure there is actually a difference but I like it) . on my syncro
I custom connected the “snorkel” but I never got around to setting up the trap . remember corrugated hose will trap dust which could shake loose off roading and airflow is better with smooth tubing .
?
?
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of SEAN GARRETT via groups.io
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2025 10:10 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SubaruVanagon] Snorkel set up
?
IMHO you dont need a snorkel unless you’re going to be driving through creeks deeper the 18-24 inches. Even if its snowmelt then you could crack your heads.
87 Syncro , 2000 Subie 3.5
?
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!
|
Remember before the engine swaps ?? . the little clear plastic dust trap just before the VW air filter Box ?? ?after driving dirt roads & beaches, especially if behind another vehicle) ?it always felt good
to see what was caught in there (I would wipe it down with motor oil to make it trap even better). On California freeways I like the idea of getting air from 5 ft above traffic exhaust (not sure there is actually a difference but I like it) . on my syncro
I custom connected the “snorkel” but I never got around to setting up the trap . remember corrugated hose will trap dust which could shake loose off roading and airflow is better with smooth tubing .
?
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of SEAN GARRETT via groups.io
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2025 10:10 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SubaruVanagon] Snorkel set up
?
IMHO you dont need a snorkel unless you’re going to be driving through creeks deeper the 18-24 inches. Even if its snowmelt then you could crack your heads.
87 Syncro , 2000 Subie 3.5
?
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!
|
I think when most people mention the snorkel it is not in the true sense of the word, for the purpose of fording a river.?
Personally, I just wanted something that would get the intake up and away from the dusting environment that can be the engine compartment.?
|
IMHO you dont need a snorkel unless you’re going to be driving through creeks deeper the 18-24 inches. Even if its snowmelt then you could crack your heads.
SeanG? 87 Syncro , 2000 Subie 3.5
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On May 23, 2025, at 8:35?AM, swissarmychainsaw via groups.io <swissarmychainsaw@...> wrote:
? 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
Ditto that for Jeff @ Autoventures, great product, service !!! SeanG? 87 Syncro , 2000 Subie 2.5
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On May 23, 2025, at 8:27?AM, swissarmychainsaw via groups.io <swissarmychainsaw@...> wrote:
? 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
I agree with John A. To my knowledge no kit is fully complete. I’m in the final stages of installing an RMW kit and, although I think the components are well made, the instructions are incomplete and somewhat confusing, especially in terms of sequencing and photos. I’m thinking their products have been updated but the instructions are lagging a bit behind. ?RMW’s expansion tank is great but I’m not sure for a Subie conversion why the overflow barb faces the front of the bus when the overflow tank is at the rear just behind the license plate. RMW’s exhaust system was so easy to install I couldn’t believe it. And it looks great as well.
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I removed my plastic coolant pipes and replaced them with stainless steel. I will not do that again. Those old VW pipes are very thick and durable except for the ferrules that slip out of the ends. Just get GoWesty’s repair kit, install it, and forget about it for another 20 years.?
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?Go with Jeff at AutoVentures for your harness because as far as I know it’s the most sophisticated available. And if you call for help installing his harness, he will likely be the person who answers the phone and he will answer your questions right then and there.
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Yes, install a quality timing kit (I went with Aisin). If you have your heads machined, replace the head bolts with OEM bolts from Subaru. And be sure to use multi layer steel head gaskets.?
?
I’m going with Smallcar’s intake because it looks cleaner to me and more straightforward to install (and easier to change filters). ?I have also ordered Smallcar’s power steering hoses. ?If I had it to do over again I would probably use Smallcar’s shortened oil pan as well.?
?
You will want to know your oil pressure so I recommend one of the Glow Shift sandwich adapters with gauge. ?I installed one in my forever buzzing 2.1 only to find that my oil pressure was fine all along (better a gauge than an idiot light). I also plan to install an oil temp gauge in one of the extra ports in the sandwich adapter.?
Once my conversion is complete (and if I can find the time) I plan to post a fairly comprehensive guide to installing the RMW kit with decent photos and proper sequencing based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.?
When I get my 89 Westy conversion done and running well I plan to start a Subie conversion on my 88 tintop while this experience is fresh in my mind. The fun never ends!
--
Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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James Archibald
Dr Mark