Karmann Ghia Suby swap
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Karmann Ghia Suby swap
The body work on my Ghia is nearly done and I'm looking at a subaru engine swap for more power. Looking at a donor car purchase.
Lots of Questions
1 - Radiator in the front or back? How are the hoses/pipes run? Can i use the suby rad?
2- Can i use the heater and AC
3- The AT code trans has 3.88 R&P and .089 4th gear. How will this work?
Any other tips or suggested reading?
Thanks, J
Lots of Questions
1 - Radiator in the front or back? How are the hoses/pipes run? Can i use the suby rad?
2- Can i use the heater and AC
3- The AT code trans has 3.88 R&P and .089 4th gear. How will this work?
Any other tips or suggested reading?
Thanks, J
- dlamyle
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:27 am
Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
JHHeiger wrote:The body work on my Ghia is nearly done and I'm looking at a subaru engine swap for more power. Looking at a donor car purchase.
Lots of Questions
1 - Radiator in the front or back? How are the hoses/pipes run? Can i use the suby rad? Front mount works best. Pipes ran under pan along tunnel or bent around heater channels are popular methods. Subi rad is probably too wide and not worth the effort to make fit
2- Can i use the heater and AC Not sure how much of the systems you're thinking about using here but the heater core lines are very accessible for use with after market heater units. Others and I have successfully used the subi A/C compressor with aftermarket kits to get cold air
3- The AT code trans has 3.88 R&P and .089 4th gear. How will this work?Engines are not picky about the trans they're pulled from but computers are. I'd look for a manual donor if you plan to use the stock ECU
Any other tips or suggested reading? There are a few build on here which have tapered off but still have lots of good info. Mine is in my signature and you can scroll through this forum for other builds. Just look for any topic with 4 or more pages and its usually a build. I'd read them all
Thanks, J
1968 Karmann Ghia, JDM EJ205, Subarugears, OBX LSD, Blouch 16g XTR, Killer B Headers, DW 750cc, Meth Inj, Cobb AP w/Mach V 22psi Dyno tune (332whp)
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Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
Thanks for the tips.
But let me ask about the transmission gearing and the ECU you mentioned. Why the potential for incompatibility? The donor car i'm looking at is a 2002 Legacy automatic. Who might be a vendor for a more compatible ECU? Sorry, I'm not versed on the electronics
J
But let me ask about the transmission gearing and the ECU you mentioned. Why the potential for incompatibility? The donor car i'm looking at is a 2002 Legacy automatic. Who might be a vendor for a more compatible ECU? Sorry, I'm not versed on the electronics
J
- dlamyle
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:27 am
Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
My guess is that you could get the auto ECU to work without much effort. You might have to chase down a CEL or two for things like neutral position sensors and anything else the ECU sees signals from. But I thought you were still looking for a donor and would recommend finding a manual for that and other reasons...http://www.subarugears.com/
For ECU most will agree stock works the best out of the box. There are many discussions and opinions on this involving people way more knowledgeable than me. Here's one with the names of some companies http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... 9&t=146280
search "stand alone ECU Subaru vw conversion" for more fun reading.
For ECU most will agree stock works the best out of the box. There are many discussions and opinions on this involving people way more knowledgeable than me. Here's one with the names of some companies http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... 9&t=146280
search "stand alone ECU Subaru vw conversion" for more fun reading.
1968 Karmann Ghia, JDM EJ205, Subarugears, OBX LSD, Blouch 16g XTR, Killer B Headers, DW 750cc, Meth Inj, Cobb AP w/Mach V 22psi Dyno tune (332whp)
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Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
I still haven't purchased the donor, but found the AT Legacy at a good price. Much (most) of what your referring to is way over my head. What is a CEL? Or better yet, why not just buy a MT ECU?
J
J
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Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
Just did an interesting thing. I called the Subaru dealer near me. I can buy an ECU for the legacy for $605. I made a point of asking if it was for auto or stick. He told me its the same part number!
- dlamyle
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Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
That makes sense. The differences will be in the harness. CEL = Check Engine Light
1968 Karmann Ghia, JDM EJ205, Subarugears, OBX LSD, Blouch 16g XTR, Killer B Headers, DW 750cc, Meth Inj, Cobb AP w/Mach V 22psi Dyno tune (332whp)
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Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
one last consideration. The engine has 219,000 miles on it, and has what I'd call a lifter tap. With OHC does it have lifters?
J
J
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Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
roller rockers, for lack of a better term. you are probably hearing piston slap at that mileage. I wouldn't use that engine with that mileage on it
- Buggin_74
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Re: Karmann Ghia Suby swap
The 3.88 0.89 4th will work really nicely with that engine in a KG.
I'm running the same combo in my bug with an EJ25, I had the original 0.93 4th swapped out for a 0.89 for better highway cruising.
WIth the A/C the only thing you'll really only be able to salvage is the compressor.
I bought a new Subi compressor for mine and matched it an aftermarket condenser and evap core hooked up to the original A/C ducting and outlets.
I can;t vouch for the late ECUs but with mine there was one pin that was either grounded to tell the ECU it was in a manual car or left open circuit for automatic, sounds like they still do it that way in your model.
I'm running the same combo in my bug with an EJ25, I had the original 0.93 4th swapped out for a 0.89 for better highway cruising.
WIth the A/C the only thing you'll really only be able to salvage is the compressor.
I bought a new Subi compressor for mine and matched it an aftermarket condenser and evap core hooked up to the original A/C ducting and outlets.
I can;t vouch for the late ECUs but with mine there was one pin that was either grounded to tell the ECU it was in a manual car or left open circuit for automatic, sounds like they still do it that way in your model.
1974 Germanlook 1303 Suba-Beetle
Subaru EJ25 Boost R 17", 4 Wheel discs, Topline suspension and A/C
Subaru EJ25 Boost R 17", 4 Wheel discs, Topline suspension and A/C