My New Buggy Project

Engine

Subaru 2.2L from a '90 Subaru Legacy Station Wagon

Pros:

• More horsepower than any stock VW engines (130 horsepower out of the box!).
• Red lines at 6500 RPM out of the box.
• Overall much less expensive than stock Type 4 engines and built up Type 1 engines.
• Great Deal pricewise (bought the whole Subaru for $400.00 and drove it home ... had to return the tires and wheels for the discount price!).
• Inexpensive to replace when the time comes.
• EFI (no carb(s) or mechanical ignition parts to mess with/worry about!).
• Large and growing following.
• Lighter than a Type 4 VW air cooled engine!
• More robust than a built up Type 1 engine.

Cons:

• Water cooler ... requires some plumbing.
• Computer control wiring harness will be a bear to pull out of the car and set up for a dunebuggy.
• Requires $500.00 adapter (plate, flywheel, etc.).
• Requires modification of the oil pan (the stock configuration is too deep).
• A little heavier than a Type 1 VW engine.
• Hard to find custom off-road exhaust system (and probably going to be expensive).

More Pictures

Engine in car. 

Engine pulled from car.  Notice anything funny about the exhaust pipes?  email me for the answer ... this is significant!

Cleaned up ...

Possible (but not likely) radiator location (yes, there's room!)

Cleaned up engine and possible radiator location ...

"donor" car