Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

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matt brighton
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Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by matt brighton »

Hello,

Im getting everything together to transplant a 2.0 legacy into my camper.... 1982 Devon Conversion.

The kit will be RJES, and engine from a 1999/2000 ish 2.0 Legacy. I don't plan to have it "chipped" or whatever it is we do to make modern engines fast nowadays

But given that is not suitable for a chucking around the corners and twisty bits (I have a 1970 mini that does that very well) my question is....What sort of performance in terms of 0-60, 50-70, cruising speed (with a standard 4 speed gearbox running 225/80/14 tyres) and all important 1/4 mile times can be expected... ??

Not necessarily to take to RWYB at santa pod .... but its a useful benchmark to compare and see what approx 130bhp of Subaru will realise on the road in a T25 camper..

Thanks

Matt - Brighton

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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by multisi »

What engine / gearbox is in the van at the moment ?
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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by matt brighton »

1.9 skoda aef I put in about 5 yrs ago

Originally it had the 1.6 CS and its still got the standard 4 speed diesel gearbox - I put 225/80/14's which fortunately made more of a difference to the gearing than I expected..

Funds won't permit a recon more appropriate gearbox at this stage - Im pushing it with the chancellor to buy the kit and engine as it is...

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slowcoach
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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by slowcoach »

It's all a bit subjective without any benchmarks or control engines, but I'm sure you will be happy. I have the 99 forester engine so probably the same (ej202). Peak power seems to be at about 3200rpm by my guage, at which point it sounds and feels fantastic :-) vrrm vrmmmm!
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matt brighton
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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by matt brighton »

Thanks S Coach

Its probably double the BHP of the 1.9 AEF I put in it a few years ago - and to be fair theres nothing wrong with that - it motors along , keeps up and even overtakes - gets me up any hill I have come across with much less fuss than the 1.6 (which felt it was really struggling at times ... poor thing)

so Im sure it'll feel worth the effort/money ....

Thanks again


Matt

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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by slowcoach »

If it's going to be double the hp, then I think you'll like that a lot ! I went from a 1.9dh (dg with injection, 80hp ish when new) and it's a lot lot faster than that was. Also much neater, far less ancillaries and hoses to deal with.
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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by silverbullet »

130bhp will be sufficient for a T3 tintop to (just) hit the ton on the level.
A hightop will be somewhat handicapped, depending on the design.
Mpg is determined by driving style and vehicle mass, you'll be lucky to get 25mpg and that will depend on if the torque "sweet spot" is matched to the gearing for motorway cruising.
It should keep up with motorway traffic ok though, adequate rather than exciting.

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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by 937carrera »

silverbullet wrote:130bhp will be sufficient for a T3 tintop to (just) hit the ton on the level.

:ok I just dropped the numbers into my top speed calculator to validate another data point. 99.5 mph is what my maths say 130hp gets you in a tintop, thanks

Changing to a high top camper top speed will drop by about 5 mph, assuming the gearing works.
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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by silverbullet »

A front spoiler and a slight drop help to reduce turbulence and drag under the van (an undertray is worth 5mph on the top speed and several mpg, or so I have been told)
Do you have an accurate figure for the T3 frontal area?
The Cd is about 0.36 iirc?

And 60-65mph is the golden speed for T3 fuel economy ;)

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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by 937carrera »

I would say that I probably don't have an accurate Cd, but have taken a number of data points and estimates from the internet, including a thread on The Samba I think where various German high tops and tilt tops were tested I have a reasonable estimate.

I built the model to back calculate what power my DF/DG engine was producing based on its top speed and validated the model against known VW performance figures and a couple of other cars where data points and Cd are known, starting point was a BMW 3 series.

If you want to have a play I'm using frontal area of 3.069 for a tin top, Cd 0.45 for CdA 1.381. For the high top I'm using 3.609 m2 and drag 0.42 for CdA 1.516. With an allowance for rolling resistance based on mass and 15% transmission losses I tend to come out within 1-2 mph of stated figures, sometimes closer so probably more accurate than the speedo. IIRC the tin top figures came from a VW source.

If nothing else it certainly brings home just how significant drag is when getting to a top speed, how much extra power is needed to increase the top speed by a small margin and how little power is needed for maintaining single carriageway speeds.
1981 RHD 2.0 Aircooled Leisuredrive project, CU engine
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Re: Subaru 2.0 - performance ??

Post by matt brighton »

Thanks everyone for the responses - I think 130 bhp will be exiting in comparison to most engines we can install or improve on

Mines a side elevating top, so "streamlined" in comparison to a Mr Whippy (sorry hi toppers), well..... as streamlined as a breeze block could ever be...

It'll sound nice - have some grunt up to 80+ ish mph , and I don't plan on being north of that figure for any sustained period of time and interesting to do as a project.

Im awaiting completion of a deal on selling my 1.9 and will let you all know how things progress

RJES have been great at giving me info and best guess at prices...

Watch this space

Best


Matt

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