tundrawolf

Thank you for all of your help, GeneralDisorder. So the tranny is a junkyard item. Do you personally have, or know of any websites that I could find such a Legacy for under $500? Is there anything I should look for?

I have been thinking about this. I am going to literally probably have to buy two different used cars for the parts and pieces to make it work. I have a question: If I buy the vehicle that has the 4x4 5 speed with dual range (EA81, right), let's say I don't have the EJ22 yet. Can I fit and weld the running gear of that vehicle in the beetle without the EJ22, and just bolt the EJ22 in later? My question is, is it a straight swap between the EA81 and the EJ22? Or, do I have to wait to get the EJ22 for proper fitment, and fabricate engine mounts, etc?

Thank you. I will hit the junkyards here soon. I just got a lot of good news on an important part of this project and I am really jazzed about it. Although severely lacking the cash to go forward. At a junkyard, are there any identifying marks that would tell me what engine I am looking at? Edit: I just found a 1991 Loyale 5 speed 4x4 1.8 runs great, (Needs work) passed smog, for $350. Is there anything wrong with the 1.8? Maybe I'd better stick to the 2.2. I need to fight the urge to get everything I need in one swoop.

You guys are an absolute Godsend. Before I go out there trying to find all of these components, smog issues aside, for reliability, matchability (ability to be matched to the 5 speed), and economy, the EJ22 is my best bet? And, the 5 speed D/R tranny is what I am going for. Does anyone have any ideas on places to search for transmissions, or used vehicles with maybe tranny trouble? All I am finding are adds for new subarus, or fairly expensive used ones.

Great points, friends. I have decided to build the project the way I want to, and then move to a remote portion of Iceland where there are no smog requirements. Thanks everyone for your advice.

Have you set the mixture screw? Between 3 turns you can get a car that runs like it has twice the displacement, or runs like a turtle and gets great gas mileage.

Good point! I didn't even ask that in my other thread about the engine swap. I was referred to the 5 speed dual range transmissions. Does anyone know if those are 4wd trannies, or AWD selectable units?

Hello, I have been in a huge battle trying to get past the smog issue in California. However, I think I may have found a loophole with my custom project build. Vehicles with permanent AWD, or traction control that cannot be disabled are exempt from having to go on the dynamometer. So my question is: In my 79 BRAT there is an option for all wheel drive, and an option for just front wheel drive. What is your fuel mileage in all wheel drive mode, and what is your fuel mileage in front wheel drive mode? If I make the transmission AWD only, (D/R tranny) then I don't have to have the thing on a dynamometer, and that will make passing the check that much easier. Thanks!

Thanks, Twitch! I should probably be asking, were any of those vehicles equipped with a stock gear ratio that is incompatible with the dual range 4 or 5 speed transmissions? Thanks again guys you are a huge help.

OK, so the EJ22 came on: Impreza 95-01, Legacy 90-99, Outback 95-99. Which vehicle should I be asking for? I think maybe I should just buy the whole vehicle. I'm not sure. But it needs to be cheap haha.

The difference between 4.111 and 3.9 is so small it would be easy to mistake it for either one. What I am thinking is this: I am working on a high capacity motorcycle tank for a Yamah V star 1100 cruiser, which I can easily sell for $700. I will take the $700 and buy a Subaru with the EJ22 in it (So there's no such thing as a vehicle with an EJ22 AND a dual range tranny in it?) and use everything out of that, abandoning the BRAT idea. It is seeming to be just a huge hassle with engine swaps, ratios, etc. I would love to have a pre 75 engine and even a 4 speed d/r tranny to circumvent smog issues, but I guess that just is not happening. So I have to look at a more realistic solution, because I am not abandoning the VW Beetle/ Subaru idea. The EJ22 does sound appealing. I am going for good highway gas mileage just as much as I am going for a unique hybrid idea with the Beetle and a Japanese AWD platform. If I can get 100+ HP in the super light beetle, then that's going to do me just fine. The only problem is finding an EJ22, or a cheap vehicle with one in it that does not need a bunch of work. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who is helping me out, you guys are great. I am going to take lots of pics when I get this thing going. I really am anxious, but I know good things take time.

Bummer. I wanted to use as much BRAT as I could. I will try and find out what the ratio is for my diff. It's a good diff and has zero slop or play.

Bummer. You don't have a reliable method you use for doing that, do you?

I have a question.. The rear diff in the BRAT has the following markings: On the top: 213 A N19(? on the 9) B On the bottom: 213 7711 T24 Does anyone know what ratio this differential is? And consequently.. What front transmission will match it? Thank you!

That's a good point. What about fuel efficiency?