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Suburu vs. Golf engine replacements

by David Marshall

I started my home based business, Fast Forward, around the Volkswagen and Audi Inline Four Cylinder conversion. Starting in 2001 we began selling the KEP parts for the Subaru conversion - basically because most people have already talked themselves into it! I have driven both motors and both kits have their pros and cons. My first choice is still the inline engines, but the Subaru isn't bad.

The inline offers many advantages. We don't recommend anything under 1.8L is displacement. We sell more kits that will have 1.8L engines that 2.0L engine about a 3:1 ratio - so I think more people out there are looking for inexpensive and reliable engines than anything else.

Vibration

I have heard a lot of people say that the I4s are prone to vibration. I think the 50-degree kits are prone to vibration due to the lack of choice in motor mounts. We mount our engines at a 15-degree angle using rubber mounts from the Audi 80 in the same configuration that Audi still uses in the A4 Sedan. Our Syncro has a 268-degree cam installed in it, which makes the 850-RPM idle a little bumpy. Looking at the engine at idle you can see it move around a little. Sitting in the driver seat you would never know the engine is on due to the complete lack of vibration - even in the back seat everything is fine. There are also none of the 3000ish RPM vibrations that plagued the Eurospec conversion. So lack of smoothness is not an issue with our I4 kits.

Power

Both the 1.8L and 2.0L engines offer respectable power outputs at the RPMs where the original wasserboxer peaks are. Meaning that the transmission gear ratios are perfectly matched to the inline four-cylinder engines. All I4 engines have more horsepower than the 2.1 boxer engines and almost as much torque (3% less in the 1.8L). This is the main reason why people go for the 1.8L engine as it most closely matches the 2.1 for power and it costs less than a 2.0L. Subaru engines are designed to make their power at the higher mid 4000-RPM range. For people wanting more power a 2.0L can be upped to a very reliable 130 to 135hp with the installation of a simple camshaft. This will push the HP and torque peak up a few hundred RPM but not to the extent of the Subaru engines. The 130hp 260 cams that we sell are California Air Resources Board (C.A.R.B.) legal.

Engine	Power (HP)	Torque (FT/LBS)
1.9 Wasserboxer	82@4800	105@2600	83-85 Vanagon
2.1 Wasserboxer	90@4800	117@3200	86-92 Vanagon
Golf Inline 4 (I4)	105@5400	114@3800	DIGIFANT
2.0 Golf Inline 4 (I4)	115@5400	122@3200	CIS-Motronic
2.2 Suburu Legacy	130@5600	137@4400	OBD-1 Subaru

California legal

Both the Subaru engine (OBD-1 only) and ALL the VW I4 engines are C.A.R.B. legal. In order for both engines to be C.A.R.B. legal a few simple rules have to be followed:

• The engine must come from a car as old or newer than the Vanagon you are installing it into.
• The engine must be from a California legal car.
• All emission equipment MUST be used.
• All engine warning lights and electronics must be used.

After the engine is installed in your Vanagon you must take it to a referee station where you will have your Vanagon reclassified as the donor car and you will have to pass emission regulations the same way the donor car would have to from that point on.

Cost

Inline Four cylinder engines are inexpensive and plentiful. The 1.8L in our 84 Westie cost us $250 USD for the complete engine. 2.0L Audi engines can be had for $500 USD for a complete engine. Campbell Nelson in WA state quotes $900 USD for an Audi 2L and $600 USD for a VW 1.8L. 2.2L Legacy motors are $1300 USD.

Mechanic friendly

The inline four-cylinder engines are VW mechanic friendly - the local VW dealer doesn't mind working on our kits as they can plug their VAG 1552 computer into the engine and diagnose any problems with it. They have told me they will not work on a Subaru equipped Vanagon that we convert. The Subaru dealer has the same concern. Lots of private mechanics are very experienced with the Golf and Jetta motors and they are very easily trouble-shooted even when installed in a Vanagon. Subaru mechanics are less common, at least in this area of the country. If you are going to install a Subaru engine you will be the one maintaining it!

Ground clearance

The I4 engines have as much ground clearance as a boxer engine. In fact Syncro owners can re-install their rear skid plate in its original position. The Subaru engine will result in a 4 to 5" loss in ground clearance due to the low-slung oil pan and exhaust system. Last work from KEP is they are still working on the oil pan problem, but have yet to really tackle the exhaust problem.

Engine cover

The I4 kit does require an engine cover modification - with the 1.8L and 2.0L Audi engines this is a 2.5 to 3" box that you have to put on top of your cover in order to clear the intake manifold and throttle valve. Some people have gotten this down to 2" by modifying the throttle linkage on the throttle valve. The biggest issue people have with this is the bed in the back of their Weekender or Westfalia. No problem! We stock bed hinges that lift the bed 4" in the bed position and 0" in the seat position. No lump in the mattress, no cutting of the mattress - instead a nice, usually plywood, false floor can be built enabling you to have a hard surface to set the mattress on and provide much needed additional storage for blankets which you don't need until you fold down your seat! Subaru - no deck lid mods are required, which is nice!

Wiring

If you feel you can't do the wiring for you engine - we can do it for you. Volkswagen or Subaru!

 

As I said in the introduction to this article, we do sell both conversion kits and they both have their merits and problems. The biggest fault of the I4 conversion kit is the engine cover modification. The biggest fault of the Subaru conversion kit is the low oil pan and exhaust system. ALL engine conversions present a trade off of some sort - there is no exception to that rule!

David Marshall
Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning

 

Another point of view

I went through this personal debate myself. I have been a VW nut for many years and deep in my heart I wished to have an all-german van. In the end I used my brain instead.

I chose the Subaru for several reasons. Bear in mind that these are my opinions and I am sure that there will be many folks who disagree.

1. The engine is what VW should have built in the first place. A fully balanced opposed engine that is quiet and smoooooth. Many owners have reported the fine experience of not knowing if their van is still running at idle. Another phenomenon is the ability to hold quiet conversations with passengers who are in the rear seat.

2. The KEP kit is very nice and requires minimal modifications.

3. I chose to have someone else to the conversion for me and I found a place that has done over a dozen conversions and the customers to whom I spoke were delighted.

4. The inline engines are buzzy.

5. The Subaru has more stock hp and torque. I knew that I could hotrod an inline but it was my goal to have a reliable and low-maintenance van.

6. The support community is fantastic for these conversions. The links that Warren supplied will show you that.

7. Everything fits under the lid with no cutting. The outfit doing my conversion uses factory hoses that make the installation look stock.

8. The engines are inexpensive. You could buy a couple used Subaru engines for the price a single quality rebuild of a WBX.

9. A peek at this address will show you just a few of the owners and their opinions.

10. The KEP kit is completely CARB approved so there are no emissions hassles.

There is more but I do not want to waste more bandwidth.

I know that there are many stories of WBX engines going multiple thousands of miles with no problems but these are usually restricted to original owners with exceptional maintenance habits. Since most of us are buying these vans used, we do not have the luxury of immaculate maintenance. It is much easier and less expensive to find a good used '90-'94 2.2 Subaru engine than it is to rebuild an 80's WBX.

My opinion for what its worth,
Mike Pidcoe

 

See also

• Vendors - Engine Conversions