PLAY TIME IS OVER IN MEXICO

That Subaru engine doesn't look so "Aircooled" - will you be changing your handle to H2Ocooled?

aircooled posted:

Just thought I'd check in. It's been a while since I actually talked about cars n stuff.

 

Lastly, Thank all of you for being my friends and sharing your experiences ! I hope that we all will have a chance to meet in person at various times throughout the coming years. I might even get to Carlisle this year. Probably with out my new ride but that's OK............Our Best to all of you...........Bruce n Susan

Wow, Bruce....LARGE congrats on all I can see. Could you please give a little info on the engine ? It looks to be wired and plumbed and ready to go. What Soob engine is that one, why did you chose that particular engine and where did you get it ? 

Bruce, thanks for sharing those cool pics! Looking forward to following your Spyder project.  @aircooled

Good for you, Bruce and Susan! Great pics. Enjoy the Spyder.

Wolfgang....I think I'll just keep using "Aircooled" since I'm a little bit known by it now. I guess I could say that the Subaru is still air cooled since it cools the water circulated inside. This subject reminds me of what an old mechanic once told me when I was trying to get info to solve an engine overheating problem I was having. ( A 389 Pontiac V-8 in an Austin Healy 3000) ( I also had a Jaguar XK 140  6 cyl. in a Ford Falcon). Both miserable endeavors ! Anyway, this old sage mechanic said, "Well Son, you've one or both of two problems. The air ain't cooling the water or the water ain't cooling the engine !" Surprisingly, I was 50% on my way to finding the problem with that information. That's another story for later though.

David.... Basically it's an EJ25 DOHC with an after market ECU that the builder (Outfront Off Road in Buena Park Ca.  I chose the Subaru because of it's relatively low CG and high power production W/O a turbo. Also I just wanted to break away from our old air cooled technology and venture into the modern realm of ECU's for example. It's been a long time since I wrenched on a water-pumper too. 

The engine has been totally overhauled and in the process I added lots of shiny stuff so it will look brilliant when the lid is lifted. I'm pretty sure I will polish the transaxle to match it. I'm not sure what the trans will be yet. Either a VW or a Subaru though. The engine is set up for VW right now.

For me, this is the first time I have NOT built my motor from the crank up so even that is new ground. Looking inside of my Subaru crankcase as it was being built just dazzled the crap out of me.  Jeez !...A 5 main bearing crank !  Ultra strong looking crank case with heads to match !!  Oh....And don't forget DOHC !  You know ! ........When you look at those MASSIVE valve covers on any DOHC engine !

Anyway......I'm pretty anxious/excited to get started  !  2019 is gonna be fun ...Aircooled

Aircooled wrote: “engine overheating problem I was having. ( A 389 Pontiac V-8 in an Austin Healy 3000”

OMG!  My brother and his friend did that exact same thing back in athe 1960’s!   Once they (almost) solved the overheating problem, the next problem was MASSIVE axle hop after dumping the clutch in 1’st and 2’nd, plus this nagging habit of always wanting to keep going straight ahead on almost any turn.

Guess you were not alone in your efforts.

Yup....This was 1965  Gordon.  Didn't have a lot of $ back then to fix the overheat problem.  More radiator was needed and a customer one was  not in my budget. It took about a half hour to overheat but we got into plenty of mischief in that amount of time before shutting it down in the local Rod's restaurant to cool off.  My brother told me how to fix the wheel hop with some home made traction bars. Transmissions became the next weak link . Scary when I would stand on it !  ..........Bruce

Bruce, can't wait to meet you! I'll have my type1 aircooled Spyder.

To add to the motor swap adventures, I have a recurring dream of an LS V-8 powered Mazda RX-8. Now that would be a hoot! Good weight distribution/balance/handling and gobs of power.

Talk about Killer power to weight ratio !!!
Jeez ! There’s no end to this madness is there !!
I’m back in Arcadia Ca. now. I just uncovered my new Subaru and drueled all over it in anticipation of things to come.........🤗 Aircooled