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Motor/Transmission Combo's

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
I was wondering what everyone was using for their motor/ transmission in their sterling. The reason I ask is the motor I got with my sterling is only good for a boat anchor(type 1) and the trany is a type 1 and I'm not sure the condition of it.
I'm not worried if it's water cooled or air cooled but if I need to replace the whole drive train I just would like to know what you have and if your happy with it.

Thanks
Brett
 

ydeardorff

New member
When I received My Sterling the Engine ran, but poorly.
Come to find out its running on (variably) 3 cylinders.
My transmission is even worse, being there is no discerning between 1st, 2nd, reverse and of course 3rd and fourth. After all the checks done it turns out internally its worn beyond practical use.

Im planning a swap out to a liquid cooled unit.
But heres what I have found thus far.

Available space in the enging bay fron to back is 47 inches.

The subaru EJ22 produces in stock form about 140 HP. This engine is 15 inches long front to back.

The EG3.3 liter flat 6 from the Subaru SVX is 22 inches from nose to tail and produces roughly 240HP.

The Manual 5speed tranmission from a 2000 or newer AWD subaru once modified to be a FWD only unit becomes 21.6 inches long.

So combined youd have a drivetrain thats either 36.6 inches long, or 43.6 inches long.

Im also planning on installing mine as a mid engine setup.

Ive chosen the Subaru setup due to their being plentiful, fairly inexpensive, (so long as it doesnt say STI on the label) and seem to be the smallest package that will fit within the body (Albeit very snugly).

I hope this helps.
 

letterman7

Honorary Admin
I'm a big believer in keeping it simple. Retaining the VW engine and transmission is always going to be the cheapest, most reliable (in general) route if you're just starting out with kit cars. If you search your area for used parts and aircooled specific clubs, you should be able to find a decent running engine and transaxle for well under $2K. And, if you're not sure about the condition of your transaxle, they can always be rebuilt inexpensively or used as cores for a remanufactured unit by any number of VW vendors. Moving out of the VW realm requires some lateral thinking, a fairly sizable wallet, and the resources and knowledge of making a non-VW swap work and work reliably.
Yaughn, amoung several others, is heading to the Scooby side. It's a great swap to do if you have the means to try it. Scooby motors are as reliable as they come, but they do require regular maintenance or you will have a boat anchor fairly quickly. Lots of info on Scooby swaps on the VW forums and on one of the bigger dune buggy forums (including custom transaxle builds), so search these forums for links.
 

ydeardorff

New member
What mods to the subaru transmission do you need to do to work in this application??

You have to remove the last 8 inches or so off of the AWD transmission, lock out the two output shafts, than put a plate over it all, leaving the shift shaft still functional. Its a much cheaper mod than the flip the internals idea.
But when usin gthe scooby trans, you have to use it in a Mid engine setup, lest you have 5 reverse gears, and one forward in a rear engine setup.

Letterman is right,
The VW setup is 1.) by far the cheapest way to go, 2.) already designed into the car

The Mid engine swap is not for the fool hearty, impulsive person. It must be thought out in every detail. Proper planning is a must, and Yes, alot of cash to be dumped at it depending on your skill level, and experience. But once completed, it will be an enormous reliability, and power increase as compared to the VW unit.

Yaughn, amoung several others, is heading to the Scooby side.
:D I didnt know the scooby side involved red light sabers. :D
 
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Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Air cooled motors don't do to well here in the desert even with aux oil coolers to help keep things cool. Stop and go driveing with temps in the 100's(asphault gets into the 140's) take there toll plus AC is a must here. It's not uncommon to see a car on fire in the summer here. Thats why I'm looking at other combinations of engine/transmission swaps that will work with the car. Going liquid cooled seems to be the only way to go

I haven't totally excluded the type 1 but if the subaru swap works then its worth considering.

Have you guys heard of the modification (of coarse you have) to the subaru trany where you can bolt up a subaru engine and trany like the type 1. He has a conversion that replaces the ring and pinion in reverse rotaion so it works like the type 1 trany and still retains the same shift pattern.
Has anyone tried this?

Brett
 

ydeardorff

New member
Yes, I have talk with him.
His product seems to be well made from what I can tell, but comes with a VERY prohibitively high price tag. He seems to be a very nice guy though.
Youd be able to buy a complete motor for the price of just modding just the trans.

Some people I believe have just used a kennedy adapter plate go to from the VW trans, to a Subaru motor. They just take it easy on the transmission.

I may be getting some parts from him, just not the ring and crown gears.
 
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letterman7

Honorary Admin
Nobody I know runs that combination from the fellow in Australia yet. OutFront Motorsports will have all the information you need about a Suby swap, up to and including rebuilt engines and wiring harnesses. Lots of guys still running aircooled where you are from what I can tell on other forums, but a/c sounds like a definate must! A beefed transmission can always be built to handle higher horsepower motors, or find a good rebuilt Bus transmission (which really has a better gear ratio for Suby motors). Good luck!
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
I'll look into what it will cost to rebuild the type 1 to hold to the HP of the subaru.
I heard that the bus trany is geared lower than the type 1. It's built stronger but geared lower.
 

letterman7

Honorary Admin
It's only geared lower at the axles. Buses run (usually) axles to reduction boxes at the wheel, which reduces the gear ratios. The box itself has slightly "better" gearing for street use than a Beetle box. Lots of guys will run a Bus box with a T4 motor in their Beetles for the combination of strength and torque.
 

David201

New member
It's a great exchange to do if you have the means to try it. Scooby engines are as efficient as they come, but they do need frequent servicing or you will have a vessel core quickly. Lots of information on Scooby trades on the VW boards and on one of the larger dune cart boards (including customized transaxle builds), so do some queries onto the boards for hyperlinks. . . . .
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
I went with a Subaru EJ25D NA engine bolted to a VW type 1 transaxle but I don't have a warm and fuzzy feeling about it. The clutch is a KEP and it has a very heavy feeling to it when depressed. If I use it, driving in traffic is going to be a real pain(in the leg)

Brett
 

ydeardorff

New member
Brett,
I thought you were running a 901 tranny with that engine. Per GEX, I asked them about going big on a VW engine, and they told me I could do anything I wanted, however, their freeway flyer models were designed for about 100hp max (To go with their 1775 dual carb models). The EJ25 should have about 140-160hp which as you know is a 30% excess. I know there are those that will swear by VW stuff, and that's fine. But the VW was designed for much less input. Just because it may tolerate abuse for awhile doesn't mean it good.


I would be nice, and drive maturely while looking for a beefier replacement. But that's me.
 

letterman7

Honorary Admin
:( Don't say you've been talking with GEX, Yaughn! Run, don't walk, from those people. I wouldn't buy a spark plug from that outfit.

As for the transaxle... lots of guys out there running high horsepower engines through almost bone stock transaxles with no issues. Some guys prefer to weld the three/four gears for the extra strength, but it's up to how it's going to be driven. Really, the transaxle should be geared for the engine - a stock tranny with a Suby behind it is going to make the engine scream at highway speeds - remember, they were geared to keep a VW motor turning at 3500-4000 rpm for cooling. Rancho or any other reputable (not GEX) builders can advise on a good gear ratio to use.
 

ydeardorff

New member
HEH, Nope,... I haven't talked to them in years. Im a big fan of over-engineering things. Safer, than sorry thought process.

I had moved to an RX-7/901 transmission system on my bradley GT2 but never got it installed before I sold it for being a crappy (in general) kit car.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
Brett,
I thought you were running a 901 tranny with that engine. Per GEX, I asked them about going big on a VW engine, and they told me I could do anything I wanted, however, their freeway flyer models were designed for about 100hp max (To go with their 1775 dual carb models). The EJ25 should have about 140-160hp which as you know is a 30% excess. I know there are those that will swear by VW stuff, and that's fine. But the VW was designed for much less input. Just because it may tolerate abuse for awhile doesn't mean it good.


I would be nice, and drive maturely while looking for a beefier replacement. But that's me.

I have a type 1 transaxle that I put a 3.88 ring and pinion in plus a few other up grades but after I got the engine bolted up and felt how heavy the clutch feel was I'm thinking of other options. Even the suby transaxle conversion is starting to look good.

What Porsche's came with that 901 transaxle. The yards here have 924 and 944 all the time.
 

letterman7

Honorary Admin
The 911 has the 901 transaxle in it. The 944's and 924's had bespoke transmissions from Audi - the 944 was the superior box as it was mounted in the rear and fed by a drive shaft.
 

Brett Proctor

Well-known member
What Porsche's came with that 901 transaxle.

Now that was a stupid question. that took me a little time to realize what I said but a 901 transaxle could only come out of one Porsche. The 911
The 924 and 944 have their engines in the front and don't use a transaxle. Dang another senior moment :eek:

Once in a while the yards get a 928 but thats no help.
 
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