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Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of gas mileage will it get?

In general, you will get better mileage than a good running WBX traveling at the same speed. Since the subaru engine is so efficient, mileage can go up anywhere from 1 to 5 mpg. Typically we see the vanagon getting around 21 mpg on the highway if you keep the speed down to 65 mph or so. The type of van is also important. An 1984 7 passenger 4 speed van with an EJ22 is going to get better mileage than a SVX powered Syncro Westy. Surprisingly, for the same van a six cylinder SVX motor will usually get similar highway mileage to a four cylinder EJ22.

Once installed, who can I get to work on it?

The engines use stock Subaru, worldwide standard OBDI or OBDII diagnostics, which let the mechanic use computer diagnostics to find problems. Any local car shop should be able to work on it, although a subaru specialist would be ideal. Any subaru specialist will instantly recognize their usual motor sitting quite naturally in its new home. It is natural for any shop to be hesitant, so if you have a favorite mechanic and they have questions, just have them give us a call.

Where do I get parts from?

Engine parts come from Subaru and van parts come from VW. Subarus are sold in all 50 states and Canada, so everything is domestic market. Actually, any subaru parts you might need will be much easier to get than the vanagon parts! Since subarus are sold all over the country, subaru parts are commonly stocked in local auto parts stores, just like domestic automaker parts.

There are only a few conversion-specific parts such as the engine mount and the exhaust headers attached to the engine. Even the rubber engine mounts are stock vanagon parts and the entire exhaust other than the headers can be replaced with standard vanagon exhaust parts!!!

What kind of warranty do you offer?

We offer a 1 year warranty on all our conversion parts, and a one year warranty on the engine itself. We can offer an extended warranty on the engines for an additional price. All our turn-key engines are test run in a vanagon for several hundred miles, to ensure that you are shipped a good product.

Subaru engines typically run for several hundred thousand miles with only minimal care. Typically on these cars the body wears out before the engine quits.

Is this a proven conversion? What kind of track record does it have?

Engine conversions for Vanagons are nothing new, even from VW themselves. The company Overland probably had the first "kit" of a VW inline 4 cylinder, set up in much the same way as the diesel vanagon. Porsche even set up a few 'factory' vanagons with their 6 cylinder carrera motor!

Hobart Kennedy is generally credited with "inventing" the Subaru conversion in the US. He loves vanagons and did a few for himself, and then decided to offer parts that he had come up with for do-it-yourselfers. He even did the legwork to get the original 2.2 motor CARB approved in California (still one of the only conversions CARB approved!). Kennedy Engineering makes adapters and parts to fit dozens of engines to VW and Porsche transaxles for race cars and sand rails and such. His parts are extremely well engineered and we use some of his parts in our conversions.

Smallcar and H&R Motors are specialty shops that specialize in subaru conversions for people on the west coast of the US. Smallcar makes many of their own parts and sells them to others, including us. H&R also makes a few parts for conversions and sells them. Both shops put out very high quality products proven on many conversions. There are hundreds of vanagons driving around with Subaru engines, many with tens of thousands of trouble free miles. It's difficult to tell, but it's definite that there are at least several hundred driving around.

Vanaru did not invent the Subaru conversion. We simply are trying to improve upon it and want to bring it to the east coast of North America, and to the far reaches of North America where there are no conversion shops.

How does the Subaru conversion compare to other engine conversions?

Anybody that makes Vanagon owners happier is OK in our book. It makes it all fun and interesting.

For long term ownership costs, an engine conversion is going to cost you less than replacing your powerplant with a WBX. These engines simply last a long time and could outlast a WBX at least twice over.

We think (of course we do) the Subaru is the best choice for Vanagon conversion. If you do your research, we think you'll come to the same conclusion. It is the same size and shape as the original engine, hands-down the most powerful conversion, and one of the smoothest. It even looks like a WBXer, albeit far cleaner than most, with no oil and coolant dripping on your driveway. Some people have to have it all VW. For them the Gowesty WBX upgrades or TIICO (South African actually) or TDI are going to win.

Have a look at the other conversions and keep these points in mind:

- Same format and layout as the original WBX engine. The subaru fits in like it was made especially for the vanagon engine compartment. Indeed, it fits better than the stock engine, with easier access to components like spark plugs. Check the exhaust system on other conversions. The subaru engine keeps the exhaust and associated heat on the bottom of the engine where it should be, outside of the engine compartment and in the air stream.

- Superior power and torque. For gasoline engines, the subarus offer the highest horsepower and available torque as bone-stock engines. These motors have a long flat torque curve; the EJ22 has 80% of its torque available already at 2000 rpm! You don't have to get it up to high rpm and keep it there to have access to the power it offers. In the tuning world, popular power upgrades include such items as aftermarket cams or free-flow exhaust. What they don't emphasize is that there is no free lunch - power is gained at the top end at the expense of low end power, specifically at the expense of low-end torque. Great if you're drag-racing in a light Honda, but our heavy vanagons need torque at low rpm to get all that mass moving. If you plan to go off-road or tow a boat or for general all-around driveability, get an engine that was designed from the outset to make solid power.

Does the engine compartment or other parts of my van have to be modified to install a subaru engine?

No! Since the four cylinder subaru engine has the same boxer layout as the original VW engine, it has roughly the same size and shape but is more compact. Therefore it actually fits better than the original engine, with more space available to get at the maintenance items like spark plugs. The oil filter is in about the same location as on the VW engine. Our conversions let you use the same VW exhaust components that your van came with, so it retains a stock appearance from the outside.

The SVX engine with its six cylinders, still fits like a glove into the compartment and still requires no mods to the body. Porsche even slid their six cylinder 911 motor into the vanagon. Since they made only sports cars but needed transportation for VIP visitors, they made several 'factory specials' to ferry people to the airport and such in style. Porsche had the right idea, but we think the SVX improves upon it since it has even more horsepower and is water-cooled like the van!

What about my transmission? Does it need modification or replacement?

The conversion works with all of the water-cooled vanagon transmissions (except diesel), including the syncro 4WD, and the 83.5 up 2WD water-cooled manual and automatic transmissions. Transmission modification is not required but can greatly enhance the driving characteristics of your vanagon with its new-found power. A popular upgrade for manual transmissions is the higher 3rd and 4th gears. It is also possible to give the automatic transmission a higher ring and pinion for better cruising rpm.

What about the water pump? How easy is it to change?

Subaru water pumps are extremely reliable, well engineered, yet inexpensive pumps. Normally these pumps last well past the timing belt change interval. Or two intervals. We actually have yet to see a failed water pump, even on engines we have encountered with well over 200,000 miles. Eventually we are sure to find one.

Vanagons and some other engine designs have a pump that is mounted with easy access. Relatively easy to change, but vanagon pumps often last only 50,000 miles.

Would you rather have a pump that is easy to change out, or a pump that rarely fails?

I have an air-cooled vanagon. Can you install a subaru engine in it?

Yes. All of the vanagon bodies from late 1979 through 1991 were built almost identically. On air-cooled models, all of the provisions in the body are there to install water-cooling, except the extra radiator grill is missing from the front. The cost to do such a conversion will be significantly higher than if you started with a water-cooled van. Generally it is much more cost-effective to trade up to an '86-up water-cooled vanagon and then have the conversion done. If you have a pristine van and you want a conversion done, contact us to discuss it.