Subagon

[mdmead]

I want one! (Not instead of my van, but in addition to!)

http://subagon.com/

[Smiliesafari]

Pretty cool. That thing sounds great. I wonder if the rest of the drivetrain can take the additional HP.

[astroturf]

Very Nice...

[tribri1]

I'm partial to the term, "Vanaru" I have multiple friends who have done the conversion and love it. After lots of lamenting on to do or not to do a Subaru conversion I finally sold my '86 Westy two months ago. Bought the Astro and am now spending lots of $$$ to make the layout as great as the Westy. I think it was a good way to go in the end though, the Subaru upgrade cost $8k to $10k and when it is done I will still have a 25 year old 2wd van with no AC. But I still look at Westies with a bit of envy when I see them around town.

[T.Low]

They are nice. I also considered that option but came to the same conclusions.

$42,000 budget?!! I could build my van complete with a 350/350, plus buy a '70 Dodge Charger and a 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650. I'm just saying...

[Kidhauler]

Why not just hop up a stock 2000cc stock motor for a fraction of the cost. You can get crazy power out of a Vw motor.

[Herbie]

Why not just hop up a stock 2000cc stock motor for a fraction of the cost. You can get crazy power out of a Vw motor.

The main reason is to replace the WasserBoxer (WasserLeaker) with something a bit more reliable. Those watercooled head gaskets are a known failure point with a short MTBF.

[tribri1]

I looked into the 2.4L Waterboxer upgrade and the 1.8 TD swap. Both are sweet options but expensive. The 2.4L Waterboxer crated is $5000. The TD install with upgraded transmission ran $14k. There is a guy in Sacramento putting in a Jetta engine for $12k. The engine size was similar but the HP well exceeded the 90HP Waterboxer.

I do love/miss the seat layout and roominess and of course the knowing wave when you pass another VW on the open road which respectfully says, "cruising the interstate at 45mph never felt so good"