subaru motors

There is nothing at all wrong--and a lot very much right--with a Type 1 motor in a Speedie. If I had a Speedster I would probably choose a Type 1 just for the "born-that-way" factor.

 

The Suby engine actually weighs about 20-50 pounds more than a Type 1 engine (depending how they are fitted out, respectively), so a high-riding car is so because of something other than engine weight. As you know, the torsion springs on a VW are indexed and adjustable in approximately 3/8-inch increments. You can set her down in a weekend on your first try, I hear. Though the job is a bit tricky.

 

If a Soob-powered VW-based car is ass-high and it's not an accident, that means the engine has either a stock Soob oil pan or a deep sump aftermarket model (though why anyone would put a deeper pan on a VW-ensconced EJ motor I have no idea).

 

The stock Suby pan requires about three inches more leg room than a stock Type 1 engine would. 

 

On Most Speedsters, this should not matter. David Stroud installed his Suby with the original pan and his ride height is fine--something close to stock VW, or maybe stock Speedster.

 

For those who like the in-the-weeds stance, the fix is the Small Car Performance Subaru oil pan. Spendy at about $350, but it gets you back to within about an inch of the Type 1 underhang. 

 

I used on on my build and have about 6 inches under my pan. The lowest spot under Bridget now is a cross brace under the middle of the pan that hangs about 5 inches from the floor when no one is in the car. 

Trouble is the stock subby's oil pan has to be modified so it can sit lower without dragging butt and leaving an oil trail.  Order one from place in Tenn and it will be 5 years older when you receive it - so not really so modern. Do you know the carbon foot print of that obsolete air cooled polluter - shame on you. It drips oil and doesn't met CAFE mpg.  Argh and the noise from that exhaust.

 

Wolfgang...with all due respect, the Soob oil pan did not need to get modified on my ride...an older IM. I have a '98 2.2 Legacy engine though and perhaps the more common Soob engine is a 2.5 which is another animal altogether and might be deeper. I just measured and will say for the umptheenth time that my clearance with a stock pan is just over 5 3/8".

 

Different strokes for different folks, John. Nothing wrong with aircooled at all in my book. I just like to tinker.

 

Here's how my car sits.

David:

 

How's the windshield holding up?

 

 

I still haven't replaced the one that broke at Carlisle, Bob. I'd better get onto Carey for the new one soon before he forgets his generous offer. I've replaced them before and had no problem till that rock came up and whacked the windshield entering Florida on the way to Carlisle last May.

A stock Soobie oil pan can be modified (saving much $$) by sectioning and shortening it, and welding on a bottom plate.

 

It seems like a perplexing modification because of the irregular shaped circumference,... but if the pan is suspended into a shallow container of paint, that's at the depth you want to remove, .then it will leave a very accurate cut line 

 

I have the low profile sump from Small Car.  I don't think I ride high in back?

Your car looks great. Bet that Subaru motor barely works to move that

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Your car looks like you kicked James Dean's butt and took the keys. Ha ha

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If Marty had kicked James Dean's butt, he would have done it wearing some expensive Salvatore Ferragamo's racing shoes.

Or slapped him around while wearing his Fratelli Orsini Italian leather, hand-stitched, driving gloves.

 

From 'The Most Interesting Roadster Driver in the World':  

 

"I love to drive my Roadster with great Gusto and, when I do, I always wear my Fratelli Orsini driving gloves."