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How to tell if an engine still has compression when out of the car?
I had a great running '92 Subie in a bus when the bus rusted out. I now have a bus with a great body and want to move the engine into it. However, the engine has been sitting for about 6 years. Most of it in the garage and for a while covered but outside. It turns (not seized), but from the flywheel I can turn it by hand. Some areas easy, some areas with difficulty. I never tried this with an engine by hand before, but I guess I expected the engine to put up more of a fight when I was pushing against a closed cylinder on the compression stroke. On the other hand, starter motors are not all that powerful either... Any tips for a health check of the engine? I guess I'll start with a leak-down test? ...Markus
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Updates to a rebuild
5
*Yawn* I’m hungry. Though I'm coming out of hibernation, I have not been idle regarding Freedom van Go: Rebuilt engine with new gaskets, seals, hoses, o-rings and PVC valve (excluding internals) Jets cleaned and calibrated Heads rebuilt New H2O pump Alternator rebuilt New Spark plug wires and ignition coils New SS exhaust system and O2 sensors Calibrated ECU for best fuel/performance ratios Upgraded aluminum transmission cooling pan and throttle cable Upgraded to high performance braking system (calibers, pads, disks and SS hoses) New wheel bearings and seal Re-upholstered seats, cushions and panels Repainted to stock Wolfram Grey (gone is the 70’s look!) All ground connections cleaned with dash and engine wiring harnesses cleaned up and checked for continuity. Added a USB/Voltmeter and two switches for a future front LED light bar and a backup camera with LED lights. Despite all these upgrades, my feeble brain could not justify new cabinetry. I suspect I will regret this decision. (I’m looking at you Rhino!) T@P (Transporters at the Park) is iffy. I’ve only driven around the block, which is not enough to verify there are no oil leaks. Plus, there are a few more things needed to finish, including firmly reinstalling the dash. On a side note, as well done as the Bentley schematics are, they still suck. They are confusing as all git-out. There are 5 different sections for a water-cooled, Digafant vanagon: 1986 up VIN G 055 690, 1986 from VIN G 055 690, 1997, 1988/1989 and 1990. Not one of them match Freedom. The number of fuses, their locations and the amps are off. The optional accessories are in different tracks between models and the connectors on the harnesses do not match. One would think the 1988/1989 schematic would be right. It is not. For instance, there are only 22 fuses listed. Freedom has 27. The 1986 model has 27 fuses but they do not correspond to the same locations or accessories. Freedom has two separate connectors for the cigarette lighter, a connector for a radio amp (no amp) and other inconsistencies. This does not include the schematics for Campers, Syncros, amplified radio or not and Canadian models, each of which have their own numerous variations. The best I’ve been able to decipher is that the wiring harness is a bastardization of them all. At least the Owners Manual is right, except there are modifications due to the conversion. Ergh! Whew, what a project. Almost 3 years on the rack, which commanded adding HVAC to the shop, which was perhaps the least expensive upgrade during the whole process. The main reason for this post is to primarily acknowledge and thank all the dealers and suppliers that had great patience with me and very often the resolve to source NLA items: Injector RX, Sewfine, Van Cafe, RMW, Smallcar Performance, Rock Auto, Bus Depot, Burley Motor Sports, Control Cables of CA, Texas Alternator, Navarro’s in Los Algondos, SubaruOnlineParts.com and a few, forgotten others. And as a sounding board for my electrical gripes. I’m sure others doing conversions have encountered the same. Heads up, if not. ;) Finally, thank you for the support from members of this group. You're the best. Duncan -- Freedom van Go 1989 Westy, 3.3L SVX
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tuning an ecu
Just seeing the thread mentioning tuning an ecu, I was wondering f there are opinions on the pros and cons of doing this? I put a EJ25 from a 2000 Outback in my 82 Vanagon and have been quite happy but a bit more power and/or mileage might be nice. Al
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Invite 2023 Oct 13-15 ABQ NM–Eclipse, Balloons, Vans+3d printing - Re: [SubaruVanagon] HeadsUp
re-sending for formatting Invite Oct 2023 Fri 13th-Sun 15th Albuquerque, NM – Eclipse, Balloons, Vans An invite to y’all to come and visit. This is what’s happening that weekend Sat Oct 14 an eclipse comes right over ABQ! https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/ https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/october-14-2023 Oct 7-15 The Balloon Fiesta is on https://balloonfiesta.com/ Oct 12-15 Buses and Balloons https://www.facebook.com/newmexicobusclub/ There is camping at Busses And Balloons – and depending on what inquiries I get, we can structure things as makes sense – van campout in my back yard? Road trip? Whatev’s? Best would be to email me SuperVanagon@... Thanks, Andy Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306
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Invite 2023 Oct 13-15 ABQ NM–Eclipse, Balloons, Vans+3d printing - Re: [SubaruVanagon] HeadsUp
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=784170 Come Join! Invite Oct 2023 Fri 13th-Sun 15th Albuquerque, NM – Eclipse, Balloons, Vans An invite to y’all to come and visit. This is what’s happening that weekend Sat Oct 14 an eclipse comes right over ABQ! https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/ https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/october-14-2023 Oct 7-15 The Balloon Fiesta is on https://balloonfiesta.com/ Oct 12-15 Buses and Balloons https://www.facebook.com/newmexicobusclub/ There is camping at Busses And Balloons – and depending on what inquiries I get, we can structure things as makes sense – van campout in my back yard? Road trip? Whatev’s? Best would be to email me SuperVanagon@... Thanks, Andy Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306 On Wed, Aug 30, 2023 at 12:57 PM RICHARD KOERNER <rjkinpb@...> wrote: Dang! This is something I've done once...the Balloon Fiesta....it was awesome, in my Top 10 of fun things to see. But I just took my Vanagon into body shop for extensive frame pulling and bodywork, going to be at least a couple months. Otherwise, I'd be there!!! On Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 11:52:15 AM PDT, OlRivrRat DeanB <olrivrrat@...> wrote: Just 6 Weeks ’til Buses&Balloons here in ABQ,,, https://busesandballoons.wordpress.com/ In addition to getting together with a bunch of Great VW Bus & Vanagon Folks, there could be marvelous Aerial Activity to help with Your Neck Exercises or bring a Chaise Lounge or a comfy ground cloth (weather dependent but our weather is usually pretty great) & on Saturday morn’ 14Oct an Annular Solar Eclipse path of Max Totality will pass Directly Over the Buses & Balloons event location ~ For interactive map ~ ClickThis ~ Click the X in upper right of info box to get it out of the way of the Map ~ ORR~DeanB
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HeadsUp
2
Just 6 Weeks ’til Buses&Balloons here in ABQ,,, https://busesandballoons.wordpress.com/ In addition to getting together with a bunch of Great VW Bus & Vanagon Folks, there could be marvelous Aerial Activity to help with Your Neck Exercises or bring a Chaise Lounge or a comfy ground cloth (weather dependent but our weather is usually pretty great) & on Saturday morn’ 14Oct an Annular Solar Eclipse path of Max Totality will pass Directly Over the Buses & Balloons event location ~ For interactive map ~ ClickThis ~ Click the X in upper right of info box to get it out of the way of the Map ~ ORR~DeanB
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Oil Filter Stud for Frankenmotor
4
Does anyone know the part number I need to replace the oil filter stud? Not sure if it matters EJ22 or EJ25.
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I have an intermittent problem that leaves me with getting the Van towed. 82 Westy diesel 2001 Subaru Outback limited automatic intake on EJ253 engine Van drove good for about 5 miles then started to lose power on the highway. Pulled over and engine pulsates and wants to stall when letting out clutch to start moving. Sometimes it will smooth out and idle correctly for a few seconds. Scanned codes at the side of the road. I had evap and a cat converter inefficient code. Will monitoring the live data of the sensors I saw that the speed sensor was saying 158.6MPH. Had it towed home and hooked up the scanner again. I noticed when the engine is pulsating all of the sensors are all over the place. I will upload screen shots of the sensor readings that were taken one after another as fast as the phone would take them. I am thinking the ecu might be bad. Any thoughts? I have uploaded a video of the pulsing engine on youtube https://youtube.com/shorts/jhU6-n1fFD0?feature=sharea Thank you Scott Wolfe
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VW Grounds
3
Apologies for stretching the vanagon/subie connection but it arises from the ox2 sensor/hp oil sensor work-around. Does anyone have an understanding of the reasoning for VW's theory on automotive grounds? It seems grounds go to specific locations and include different wire guages according to the Bentley. Does it matter? I always thought a ground was a ground but I'm starting to question myself. Is it simply economics? I have some decisions to make as I clean up the wiring harness. Thx in advance. -- Freedom van Go 1989 Westy, 3.3L SVX
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I am cleaning up the dash wiring harness after cleaning all the grounds. I have numerous print-outs from here, the Samba and other websites of suggestions of what to do with the yellow wire coming from instrument panel at T14/12...ground it somehow. The other end can be connected to the OXS light in pre '89 vanagons have an OXS light. What isn't clear is what to do with this end in 1988-1991 vanagons? This cut end runs to the red fuse panel connector in post '88 vans. It was just dangling free in Freedom. Is this okay or is there a better use? Duncan "Freedom van Go" 3.3L 1989 Westy
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Hi all, thanks for adding me. Hoping to get some new ideas on my recent issue. I have a 85 weekender with a 95 ej22. Did the swap myself about 5 years ago and have been on lots of road trips since with no major problems, until now. Broke down a couple weeks ago on the PA turnpike coming home from camping. At first it was as if there was no gas when I pressed the pedal, then stalled and would not start back up. I was thinking fuel pump. Got towed home and replaced the fuel pump, then the fuel pump relay. Finally dawned on me to check wiring which is when I discovered the blown 30 amp fuse in the black box. Replaced it and the van fired right up. I took it for a drive and all seemed well until the engine got heated up. Fuse blew again. Replacing it when hot only gets me a little further down the road. If I let it cool down a bit before trying again I can go further still- so definitely seems temperature related. I had an electrical engineer friend help me troubleshoot and we found the the alternator was putting out normal voltage most of the time until the temp got high - then the voltage would go up to 15.8. I have a replacement alternator (another used from eBay) on the way, thinking it is the voltage regulator. However, just so I have a backup plan in mind should that not solve the issue, I am wondering if there could be other culprits that would cause this fuse to blow at high temps. Hoping to be on the road for a music festival in a week and a half!
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engine shuts off on steep downhills
24
Hello Everyone When driving on steep downhills my 2001 ej25 shutts of after half a mile of drive. So have to shift 2nd to start again the engine, and this goes on again and again. Look like the fuel circuit is running out of fuel. I have clean the iddle air valve a couple of months before, thought i would solve the problem, but didn;t get any better with that. Is there any group member having same problem?? Any solution on that?? -- Best Regards Achilleas Garibaldi 19011 Avlona Attiki Greece Τ:22950 29300 Virus-free.www.avg.com
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Hi all, I just swapped out my original ej22 engine for one that's a bit fresher in my CA compliant KEP based conversion and it's exacerbated some old symptoms that I now think are caused by a slipping clutch. Since the KEP flywheel and kennedy pressure plate have some strange leopard print patterning on them I figured it'd be wise to swap out a new pressure plate and friction disc and have the flywheel resurfaced. From what I've read online (with one exception) folks say that the stock vanagon replacement pressure plate is compatible with our conversions. Is the difference between something like the Sachs unit and the KEP unit simply spring pressure and what effects would a driver notice in operation? Kennedy say that their stage 1 clutch is rated for 220 ft. lb. torque at the flywheel while stage 2 is rated for 270. I guess I went for stage 1, and I'm fairly certain even the NA ej25s don't break the 200 mark, so is there any really good reason to spend the extra cash on another KEP unit? Thanks! Also, just for fun, here's my super fashionable leopard print flywheel:
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P 0851 Code Question
8
Hello All, I have an 88 Westy auto trans with a 2,5 Forester engine, I think its a 2001 ?. I got a P0851 code Park/Neutral Switch Input Circuit Low. Any advice on tracking this down will be appreciated. Thank You Steve W, Albuquerque NM
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Hi folks, Can anyone recommend an alternative AC compressor compatible with a 1992 EG33, preferably new rather than remanufactured? Happy to do a little modification of brackets and/or hose fittings if necessary. Cheers, Matt
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1997 ej22 that Small Car did the conversion about 10 years ago based on the paperwork I got with the van. In the on position the switch lights up, and I notice no change in how the van runs with the switch on or off. Anyone know what it does? The switch is located next to the ECU and is wired directly into the harnes. Thanks! PJ
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Intake option
Nice looking,useable intake on this 2015 Outback. Flattened,bigger horns than the one I used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KS9K9GBzf4
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Hi all, have a 3.6 in my 89 Westy and ran a used engine for a while. Long story short, did several thousand miles on that engine with the cooling system working well. Recircs the heater coolant through a pressure tank to open the thermostat. Engine ran cool, no problems. Just got around to rebuilding the engine (was always the plan) with new rings and bearings and had the heads planed and checked at a machine shop, valve train all well within spec. First start today and idled at 1200-1400 to get one heat cycle in and check the cooling system before driving. Warmed up normally then the coolant temp (monitored at the engine as have a LINK ECU) kept going to just over 100C (220F) when I shut it down. Bled the radiator again at this point. It kind of followed this pattern when I first installed the used engine. Let it cool, added some coolant, fired it up and started driving to begin ring seating process and get the revs up to blow remaining bubbles through the system. Again warmed up relatively normally but temp kept increasing...shut it down at about 108-110C (230+F). Checked the radiator lines and both were cool including the main outputs from the engine at the engine! Room temp so literally no flow going to the rad. Bled the rad: few bubbles but then fresh coolant. The system has a new radiator, new water pump, and all new hoses which has worked very well before. I installed a new (Subaru) thermostat but, now I look at it, I may have inadvertently installed the one which came with the engine originally. It was a Subaru part and I had no reason to believe it wasn't ok. Does this sound like anything but a stuck shut thermostat to anyone? Is there anything I'm missing? I've already tested the thermostat in my parts box and it works perfectly so I will replace in the morning. Means draining the system: is there anything else I should check when I have it drained again? Didn't find any problems when installing the rebuilt engine but I'm worried there's something odd going on here.
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Moderated
FB group for SubieVanagons?
12
I totally love this group, this list! Same way as I did for the original Gerry Vanagon List. Years later, I discovered Facebook Vanagon Owners Group and also Facebook Vanagon Cafe---I have learned much from all of these, and once in a while I try to contribute. Of course the thing is immediate gratification, plus the superb method of sharing pics, videos, and all the resulting comments....and they happen very fast. I think it's a good thing. Is there some Facebook group especially for Subie converted Vanagons?
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Fw: KEP conversion kit: 1 NEW!
FYI. ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: eBay <ebay@...> To: "nbet07@..." <nbet07@...> Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 03:37:01 AM PDT Subject: KEP conversion kit: 1 NEW! Buy It Now for $1,000.00 KEP conversion kit: 1 new match today See all results KEP Westy Vanagon Subaru Conv… Buy it now: $1,000.00 New condition Similar items you may be interested in Front Bosch SnowDriver Wiper… Buy it now: $24.18 Trico Ice Windshield Wiper Bl… Buy it now: $54.95 For 1980-1991 Volkswagen Vana… Buy it now: $18.17 For 1980-1991 Volkswagen Vana… Buy it now: $29.17 See all results Turn off emails for this search ? Is this email helpful? Shop anywhere with the eBay app Follow us Update your email preferences You are receiving this email based on your eBay account preferences. To change which emails you receive from eBay, go to Communication Preferences in My eBay. Email reference id: [#8d6a730e282f416885014c1defbb6836#] We don't check this mailbox, so please don't reply to this message. If you have a question, go to Help & Contact. eBay sent this message to Nestor Baca (chewbacapop14). Learn more about account protection. eBay is committed to your privacy. Learn more about our Privacy Notice and User Agreement. ?1995?-2023 eBay Inc., 2025 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125
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