Subaru 1.8 Install

[thepuddlejumper]

Hi all just bought a Subaru 1.8, the one out of the pick up, now the work begins.  Anyone done this mod as any help with adapter plate would be helpfull i.e how thick etc.

Ralph

[dajwid]

Hudsonhenry ? Nigel

I am sure there was one on the 500 site.

[hudsonhenry]

HI Ralph

Sounds like a great project. I've not heard from Alistair for a while but looking at the pics I would guess that its going to be around the same thickness as the one we use on the fire engine which is around 30 - 35mm thick (I will check for you). What we did with the fire engine is mock up the adapter plate in MDF on the bench with the engine and gearbox. Once we got it right we used that as a buck for casting in alloy.

I've been talking to another chap who is putting a Subaru engine into a 500. He is using a 4wd Subaru box that has been converted to 2wd by a company in Australia http://www.subarugears.com/. they supply a flipped diff and blanking plates so you can convert your own box or, if you have deep pockets you can buy a complete gearbox. He has Zcars in the UK building it for him and there are some pics on their facebook page: http://en-gb.facebook.com/ZcarsPerformance. There was a little modification to the body for the box to fit but it looks like  a very neat conversion and means that he will be able to exploit the full power of the engine. I may go this route myself once I get bored of breaking fiat boxes...

Would be happy to help any way I can, PM me if you want my phone number for a chat. Its been slow progress on our latest 500 as so many parts are one off custom made. We will soon have the plumbing done so with a bit of luck will be able to start up the engine before Christmas. We have gone with Davies Craig electronically controlled water pump and fans linked up to a Porsche 996 turbo center radiator (as wide and low as you can go without custom making) and using a waterless coolant (real belt and braces stuff) so I'm hoping that the tuned engine will stay nice and cool.

Catch you later

Nigel

[thepuddlejumper]

Nigel thanks for the info, I contacted ZCARS to find out if they would sell me an adapter plate, as they have fitted the same ea81 into a 500.  He wanted me to supply the engine, my car without engine and he would fabricate the parts for me at a cost of £2,000 and he would supply an exhaust for £1,000.  I thought this a tad expensive so a few phone calls and I have a 25mm thk x450 x 450 aluminium plate.  I have a local machine shop who can carry out any machining I need.  It's a bis gearbox I intend to mate the engine to.  The company in Aus sells crownwheel and pinion to reverse the drive, allowing the gearbox to drive in all gears in reverse.  This is the kit the VW guys use for their bugs and campers.  I had thought about this but at £1,000+ and carriage cost from Aus put me off.  They also do a kit to shorten the Subaru gearbox, this might help.  I will take loads of photographs and keep you all informed of progress.  This going to be a long project, looking at 10 months at least.  Hope you get up and running by christmas, sounds like a super trick set up can't wait to see the finished car.  Talk to you soon.

Ralph

[thepuddlejumper]

Hi all just returned from the machine shop with my new crankshaft adapter to allow the installation of the 126 flywheel onto the subaru engine.  I will post some photographs of the trial fit this weekend.

Ralph

[thepuddlejumper]

I had some problems with the boss as supplied, but all is well now, the first 2 photos show the boss adapter, third shows the additional holes in the 126 flywheel and the 4th the boss and flywheel together.

Ralph

[thepuddlejumper]

Another couple of photos, the 1st photo is the subaru crank, the 2nd shows the boss in position and the 3rd has the flywheel in place.  I intend to replace the pencils with some nice new bolts. Next is to fab the 5mm thick adapter plate.

Ralph

[Fiatos]

Nice Project, I hope you get it ready.
In the last 10 years I did a project with an Alfa Boxer engine in a 126.
http://philipp-scholz.magix.net/#/alle-alben/

[thepuddlejumper]

Hi nice 126, I had wanted to use an alfa boxer but couldn't find any available so I opted for the subaru.  There is a fiat 500 up in Cooper Fife with an alfa boxer mated to the 126 gearbox it goes very well with no problems with the gearbox.  I will do a photo diary when I start in earnest.

Ralph

[pietschokkenbroek]

Great project!!, nice progress...

[thepuddlejumper]

How time flies anyway I managed to get into the starter adapter this week. So I have drilled and tapped holes for bolting to the Fiat bell housing and attaching the new starter.  I spent a few hours cutting the adapter out of the billet aluminium. See photos, next trial fit to establish area of bell housing to be removed then polish up to finish.
Ralph