LS1/T56 into GC8 theory for heretics

[aspera]

There's already a 'Corvette engine into WRX' thread, but any older Impreza would be a good donor car. Lighter, better looking, and cheaper.

Why the Impreza? Why not? It is a solid little car with a few specific advantages.
1) wide frame rails
2) long enough engine bay
3) already has transmission tunnel
4) already has IRS
5) everybody (including insurance company) thinks it is a low horsepower/high traction AWD car and will freak out if you do a smoky burnout
6) gigantic aftermarket and technical support for Subie and Chevy stuff

A) So, what will be different than the LS1-into-WRX swap?
B) Is there less room between the hood and engine?
C) Is there less room between the radiator and engine?
D) Is there any difference in the front crossmember (other than the dent for the uppipe) that would cause a problem?
E) How much narrower is the transmission tunnel?
F) R160 and R180 will need to go. What should be done?

Please, please, please if you don't like the idea of a RWD Impreza don't post. We already know you don't like the idea. And you'd never buy a 5.7RS if Subaru offered one right on the showroom floor next to the 2.5RS.

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[Homemade WRX]

well, for hood clearance, a boxer motor is a very short motor...a V8 generally isn't...things would need to be measured and a crossmember/adapter would have to be made...radiator to engine there would be less room, unless expanding the tranny tunnel further back...the LS1 has 4 pistons sitting side by the side, the EJ only 2...

[aspera]

Yeah, it turns out the boxer isn't the only thing in the engine bay. The transaxle sticks in there nearly a foot. The guy that is doing the Corvette/WRX swap showed how the LS1 fits in the WRX engine bay front-to-rear when the car is RWD only. The T56 doesn't intrude into the engine bay. This *might* give the car better F/R weight distribution.

One little thing that the 2.5RS has that should help is the hood vents (one over each cylinder bank) and a hoodscoop. That should help keep the engine cool.

[soslow]

interesting.............
I saw a porsche 944 for sale a while back that had an LT1 swapped in. at any rate its an interesting idea, but for curiosity's sake why not an LS1/6 or newer?
definately different

[aspera]

Ummm...LS1....that's what the thread is about. Do you mean LS2/6 or newer? Any GenIII or GenIV SBC, but I just used the common term LS1. All aluminum would be preferable as well as older OBD2, cable throttle engines. A crate motor might be the way to go, too.

Some of the things to think about would be the wiring harness/throttle cable/clutch/tach/speedometer/power steering.

Might be illegal, too.

[Scoobie Steve]

It cant be done, atleast not within reason. End of story!

[subbyspeed]

i say get an rx-7 and do it..

I've seen those.. And thats badass.

[brighton96]

IMHO it is not a great idea to put a V8 or inline engine where a boxer belongs. There are plenty of other cars that would be easier and more practical for this swap.

However, I have to respect anyone who can actually pull off a swap like this. But by pull off I mean Daily Driver reliability. A radical swap is just mixed up parts if it won't run or is a garage queen.

[aspera]

Originally Posted by Scoobie Steve

It cant be done, atleast not within reason. End of story!

Care to elaborate? Whenever I see 'end of story', 'period', or 'enough said' I always think the person is trying too hard to declare victory too soon. You even see those terms in Hotrod magazine. The editors use them. Most of the time they are saying that domestic cars are superior to import cars in every way. Period. FWD cars will never break into the tens. End of story.

The 'within reason' part is where I think you have a point, so I'd like to hear it. This thead is basically a feasibility study. We know the engine and transmission fit in a WRX with some work. That's a given. We know that earlier Imprezas are nearly identical platforms, but cheaper. We know that LS1-T56 combos make good power and should be very reliable in a small car like a GC. No broken transmissions.

[Scoobie Steve]

Originally Posted by aspera

. We know the engine and transmission fit in a WRX with some work. That's a given.

I have never seen a Chevy V8 bolted, mounted and running in any subaru. I have seen one dropped in an engine bay with no rad, trans or anything else. I hope you dont consider that fitting. I also have seen one with all kinds of fancy CAD drawings and such, neither one will ever be completed.

I covered this pretty well in the other V8 swap thread. It wont fit its that simple!

V8's do however fit in hondas.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/D...9BEA2A5D90.htm

[soslow]

Originally Posted by aspera

Ummm...LS1....that's what the thread is about. Do you mean LS2/6 or newer? Any GenIII or GenIV SBC, but I just used the common term LS1. All aluminum would be preferable as well as older OBD2, cable throttle engines. A crate motor might be the way to go, too.

Some of the things to think about would be the wiring harness/throttle cable/clutch/tach/speedometer/power steering.

Might be illegal, too.

Ooops im stupid I thought I saw LT1, my bad. I say go for it if at all possible. Not my cup of tea (I like the awd to much) but it would be different and kinda cool............Especially If you found a way to turbo the 5.7L Now that would be BAD

[HndaTch627]

why would you even waste your time? you will then need to convert to a shortered 12both rear end completely wasting the whole idea of a AWD car with independant rear suspension.

and if you think for a a second a r180 will hold that power you are sadly mistaken.


it can be done but why waste the time?

[n2xlr8n]

Seriously.....If I were to do it (and I have no doubt that I could)...I'd start with finding out if a aftermarket front subframe / suspension could be "re-engineered" into the Subaru. Keep in mind, you may have to remove the tranny tunnel anyway, to get the geometry straightened out....and I'd bet the rear suspension would be a bear, too....not enough room for a 9 inch or 12 bolt with the conventional 4 link or coil-over / ladder bar setup.

I'd get out the DOM tubing / aluminum and get to work. It would probably be cheaper, and less headache.


S.

[US2JDM]

Originally Posted by Scoobie Steve

It cant be done, atleast not within reason. End of story!

Wrongo. Anything can be done with enough time and money. What is "within reason" for you may not be the same as what is "within reason" for some rich guy.

I don't see why it couldn't be done with plenty of custom work. I'd go 9" rear end, but these guys are right...if you're looking for a small chassis to plop a V8 in there are plenty of easier/cheaper ways. Unless you're simply enamoured of the gorgeous GC8 styling, pick something else.

[richard donovan]

http://www.bmrfabrication.com/F-bodyChassis.htm
http://www.bmrfabrication.com/K-Members/ls1.jpg
http://www.bmrfabrication.com/K-Members/ls1.jpg
this would help greating to speed up the build.

i have also thought of this but found after thinking about it that the shock value would be better in a loyale wagon mid engine.. ... i can agree that the impreza is a great looking car i have a 2000 rs (silver)


i belive a wagon was being build a year ago or so a impreza wagon with a early 70's truck arm rear suspension....wagon and 2 door are really the same thing so it should all fit.

also making the car no matter how cool it might be would kind of be ...wrong especialy if it was a real rs or a real sti...but a loyale who cares!!!

[aspera]

Originally Posted by D2.5Rs'99

...Especially If you found a way to turbo the 5.7L Now that would be BAD

Remote mount turbo system, giving you a light pressure turbo system on a large displacement V8. See Squires Turbo Systems.

[aspera]

Originally Posted by HndaTch627

why would you even waste your time? you will then need to convert to a shortered 12both rear end completely wasting the whole idea of a AWD car with independant rear suspension.

and if you think for a a second a r180 will hold that power you are sadly mistaken.


it can be done but why waste the time?

As I pointed out in my original post, the R180 would have to be dealt with. I'm thinking that an R200 or other Nissan diff would be the way to go. Another option would be to mount the entire rear suspension (subframe and all) from the donor car. A C4 Corvette rear end might also allow wider rear tires. Maybe use a GTO rear diff???

But why waste the time? I don't think that I will...I don't know. All the time I've wasted so far is just investigating the swap. It might turn out to be a good idea. Here's why;

If the 'roadmap' for the swap can be figured out, then it might be fairly cheap to have a small V8 car that looks like a Ver.6 STi, but is really a high mileage Impreza L and a wrecked donor car. Of course it won't be AWD and *might* not be good at exactly what you want it to be good at, but it will surely be good at something.

As far as fitting a SBC in the car...it has been done to nearly every other car made in the last century. It is only a matter of finding out if this swap is on the HARD or EASY end of the spectrum. It sounds like it is just on the expensive side of EASY, or the cheap side of MEDIUM. You should try putting a V8 in an MR2.

[Seanco]

Originally Posted by subbyspeed

i say get an rx-7 and do it..

I've seen those.. And thats badass.

+1!!!!!!!

[Jaxx]

way to bump a dead three year old thread noob