eponodyne

I skipped pages 2-7. did anybody mention the VW Vanagon Synchro transaxles and/or the BMW 325 iX drivetrain? Not necessarily dirt cheap but sourceable and stout.

Stories like this are why I'm just going to redrill my brakes for Toyo 6-lugs. Faster, cheaper, no haddocks.

Yeah but you can accerlerate like crazy until the plug pulls out of the wall!! You're all pretty much right, it might be more hassle than it's really worth. But if I could get 6-7 pounds of boost out of the thing with minimal fabrication and hassle, it might be worth it. Until I start burning holes through pistons and melting spark plugs. I dunno. Seems a lot less interesting now that I'm sober.

That is all assuming I use electrical power to run it, I don't plan on doing that, for all the reason youse guys described. The electric motor has to hook up somehow, presumably with a shaft. So there's no reason it can't at least be tried with belts and pulleys like regular folk do things all the time. Don't be so quick to pooh-pooh a new idea. Worst-case scenario, it don't work, and I have a air source for my forge at home, to fab up parts and do other cool things. Really, guys. If no one had ever thought of a Flat-4, we would all still be running our wagons on bearskin knives. It's nice that I have so many people willing to tell me what ain't gonna work; but who is ready to put their rig on the line to see if it can? Me, that's who.

Just found this: http://www.centaurforge.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PB50VS and immediately thought of you guys. If it can produce 500 CFM with 1/5 hp, and is engineered to stand up to the heat on my brother-in-law's coal forge.... Wouldn't it work on one of our motors? I am gonna start scouring barn sales for old forge blowers. I saw one go at an auction about three years ago, I know it was under $100. I bet they're available on eBay. I bet this might work pretty good. The question that immediately comes to mind is, "well, yeah, sure it'll give you 500 CFM; but will it produce pressure?" I think there might only be one way to find out, and I'll let youse guys know in a couple paydays. Might be on to something here.

**bump** I've been thinking about buying one of the shorter-wheelbase sand rail rolling chassis kits and putting in a Subaru transaxle in the rear with this 22hpJohn Deere Diesel I've got out at the farm, so I'd end up with midengine rwd. Maybe building a body out of 3/16" birch plywood, and using the rear window from like an old MX-3 for a windshield. It'd work, I think, but is it more hassle than its worth? 5,000 dollars when all is said and done just to get like 90 mpg on biodiesel?

I've always wired into a blank circuit just for the ease of troubleshooting later on. Interesting.

That'll do it every time. I had a bunch of horned orb weavers in my work van, they were elbowing the palmetto bugs for living space. For those not in the know, "palmetto bugs" are extra-large flying cock-a-roaches that run from wee little babies that move at an appreciable fraction of the speed of light to hefty, three-inch monsters that just do a push-up when you try to smoosh 'em and then you can ride them like a little tiny creepy skateboard.

Goin' there Monday. Will try to get into the yard and get some pics. I'm gonna wave a fistful of printed pages from this site all up in his grille and rant-n-rave about how much business this guy stands to gain if he just LETS ME IN, MAN!!!

Cool, howdja do it and what did you use? new process or are you standing on the shoulders of the ulitmate Subaru giants?

I don't think the guy's on the Internets, he seems to be Google-proof. I'll try, though. Red Pig is a good little machine (And that reminds me, I need to get some undercoating on it while I'm in Floridia so it STAYS rust-free) but it's still 1300 miles on the 200,000 mile NA engine. I'd like to pick up some spares. **Edit** I stand corrected. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=57688&highlight=Subaru+Heaven Here it is!!

Oh hot damn you're right. I totally forgot he and I exchanged PMs about it like a year ago.All right, back to watching cartoons and drinking beer! Move along, nothig further to see here, show's over.

It's in Wisconsin, kind of between Madison and Milwaukee. I drove by it a couple years ago, but I was (A) lost and (2) in a fever haze, so I don't remember where it is exactly. I just moved back here in a hurry from Florida, had to leave Red Pig behind but am flying down in about a month to pick it up and bring it back; I'd like to swing by this Mecca of a JY, but don't really know how I'd go about it. Any of the other cheddarheads here know the contact info? It'd be greatly appreciated. Much obliged, epo.

One thought I'd like to offer: They look like clones of the BBS "basketweave" wheels that came stock on my '91 BMW 325iX. Sure, they look sharp. Sure, they're 15" across. But did you also know that they are a great large pain in the boo-tocks as soon as it snows? What happens is that snow packs in all the little spaces; this is fine up to about 20 MPH. After that, you will find that you have succeeded in rebalancing your wheels. If you've only got a mile or two to drive, some of you might be willing to live with it for the bling-bling of it all. I wouldn't.

For what it's worth, the front seats from a Honda Prelude fit with just a minimum of cutting and welding. Definitely more comfortable and probably cheaper in the long run.

I wish I could tell ya where to find one. Both my wagons need new carpets. I suppose you could go through a dealer...?

Here ya go: http://users.adelphia.net/~davidtief/hitch.html courtesy of Dave T. It's in this thread: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=56390&highlight=trailer I just bought the channel iron and angle/bar stock from Harbor Freight. I think 5/16" is overkill so I went with 3/16" thick, but otherwise I'm gonna follow Dave's example pretty closely. I do plan on installing a 3/16"X6X10 backer plate in the bottom of the cargo-area tray, just because I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy.

Soobscriot, what kind of power was/is that thing making? And what in the hey-diddle-diddle is a "turbo P&P"?

Ooops, my bad. I read it on Mr Al Gore's Internets so I thought it must have been troo.

That 'little metal cannister that gives off the chemicals' is a F*#@^(G DYNAMITE-GRADE BALSTING CAP!!!!! Do you have ANY idea how lucky you are to still have all your fingers attached? Please send me 6 numbers between 1 and 50. I'm gonna play Lotto on your luck, and I ain't gonna share when I win!

Huh, I saw the flares and thought they were off a E30 body Gen I BMW M3. But there's a Rodeo in the JY just settin there waiting for somebody to buy parts off it, I think I may have to bring the tinsnips with me next time I go lol.

If you *have* to, you can leave the caliper off, fold the brake hose back on itself a couple of times, and use your good friend baling wire to hold it in the crimped position. Not your first choice, obviously, but it'll work for a couple of days.

Doubler plates on both sides of the floor and grade 5 bolts are part of the package I have planned. It's got to be easier than fitting '88 Daytona seats into a '68 Beetle. THAT was a huge pain in my (seat).

I thought about that, but the Honda seats fit me so well.....(I weigh 245# and am 6'4") Prelude seats=dark grey leather, stiff foam, supercomfy, $35 each at J/Y Subaru seats-grey cloth, weak foam, pointy sharp springs up my butt. I reckon the worst I'll have to do is fab up a custom mount for the Hondas.

The J/Y has about a million old Hondas, most with OK interiors. I'm thinking about swapping in the front seats from a '91 Prelude (with the width-adjustable bolsters). Tape measure says it should work. Thoughts, questions, concerns, comments, ideas, all welcome.