I bought my used 1991 2.2L Subaru engine, harness and bits for only
US$300 and then spent about US$1200 on the various conversion parts
(www.kennedyeng.com).  If you do the conversion yourself it costs you
your time so your can allocate whatever you want for that part of the
conversion cost.

The conversion is not very difficult if you have some mechanical
sense.  The building of the wiring harness is the worst part.
Actually installing the engine etc is quite easy.  There are 1200
members on the SubaruVanagon list and it is a wonderfull "how-to"
resource - I would have had a much harder time doing the conversion
without it.  I think it took me about 150 hrs to do my conversion.
But the next coversion will take 1/2 that time.

If you want to use a company like SmallCar to do the conversion for
you then you have to be willing to pay them for about 50 hrs work plus
a built-in buggeration (contingency) factor they might add to their
quote.

I have heard of zero people who have done the conversion and regretted
it.  The Subaru 2.2L is a fantastic engine and well worth the effort.

- Laurence

----------------------------------------
 Laurence Smith
 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
 90 Westy / 90 Subie 2.2 (in progress)
 87 GL / 91 Subie 2.2
----------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of developtrust
> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 12:24 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Subaru conversion
>
>
> I know one person locally who bought a conversion kit and
> did a 4 cyl Subaru
> conversion himself. It can't be that difficult if you have
> the time. A 6 cyl
> can not be that much more difficult.
>
> You can't blame small car and others for not responding.
> They re in the
> business of making a living and not giving free education.
>
> I too think the prices for a conversion are a rip off.
>
> Someone on the Subaru list must know where to buy the kit.
>
> William
>
>
> > Tom,
> >   I have to agree with you and especially your mechanic.
> My 87 Syncro
> suffered a horrible death when the #3 piston pin/connecting
> rod exited the
> top of the case.  Funny thing, it was the day after I
> subscribed to the
> SVXVanagon group and the Subaruvanagon group on yahoo.
> Things that make you
> go Hmmmmm...Anyhow, I found the prices on the SVX motors to be from
> $500-3000 depending on mileage, condition, and how much the
> wrecking yard is
> trying to squeeze from customers.  I too cannot believe the
> rest of the
> conversion parts are several thousand dollars (motor not
> included) so it
> must be labor and profit.  I got no beef with that but I
> will not pay it!  I
> emailed Smallcar about a conversion "kit" but they never
> responded.  I also
> asked one of the guys on the SVXVanagon list that does
> conversions how much
> he spent and what he used but he never wrote back either.
> I just can't see
> myself spending money on that 2.1 WBX with it's known
> problems, low power
> output and crappy gas mileage.
> >  Now that the motor is a REAL boat anchor I figure it's
> time to do a
> conversion.  Hell, if I get crappy gas mileage and have 200
> horsepower you
> won't hear me crying at the pumps.
> >
> > TJ
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing
> >
>