LocostUSA.com

I'm pretty sure there's a person or 2 on here who knows a thing about Subies.

This isn't a question for me. A friend of mine has found a wrecked BRZ that he says is rebuildable. There's engine damage and it needs to be replaced. Those engines are costly at the moment and he's measured and he says the 6 cylinder engine should physically fit in the engine compartment. He's wondering if anyone knows if the BRZ transmission has the "standard" Subie bolt pattern so that the 6 would mate up? I told him I'd ask.

I loved the BRZ when I drove it, but as with most other cars I'd have liked "this much more" power so the 6 actually sounds like a good idea to me.

I know there was something about how the engine mounted that didn't let the WRX turbo motor fit, but I thought that was something to do with the turbo placement more than the engine itself.

If it would, once you can buy those transmissions for a reasonable price that also might be another alternative for a Locost. I know there are several who, with mods, have put a Subie engine in there and just recently someone posted pics of an Australian Subie powered car.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

I have nothing to contribute, but BRZ with a bit more power and making the sweet-sweet sounds of an H6?...Yes please!

_________________
-Justin

"Orville Wright did not have a pilots license." - Gordon MacKenzie

I don't know the relative weights, but I don't believe the H6 is that much heavier than the 4 so I don't think it would upset the balance.

The cool thing is that IF it will fit and IF he goes through with it then I get to drive it some.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

I think the bellhousing pattern is different, primarily due to the starter being on the other side, protruding toward the block so starter nose clearance to the block may be an issue.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12

Bill Hincher, http://www.billsautofab.com/, makes a Subie to R15x bellhousing.

_________________
"There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ..." Randall Garrett

I didn't find that on his site, so I emailed him.

My friend is pumped about the prospects here, I'm just hoping it fits and I find out soon enough so that he keeps going and doesn't loose momentum. I think this could be fun and we could surprise a few people when autocross season begins again in the spring.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

The engine and car is still a little too new to dig through the forums to get many positive answers but under typical subaru tradition the EZ engine should bolt on regardless of stater position due to the ears on both sides of the block. But I haven't mess with subies much after the late 90s rs.




However there is a very nice BRZ-LS1 roaming around the foot hills of cali! and an LS1 can cost as much as a low mileage EZ30-33-36.

_________________
-STu

There is no shame in defeat, so long as the spirit is unconquered

My Build Log

I knew Subaru had pretty well standardized their parts and I was hoping that was the case here, but since Toyota was involved . . . . .

I hear back from Bill Hincher and this is what he had to say about the adapter:

" Yes I build an adaptor to use the Toyota W series transmission to the Subaru in any version, it reuses all the Subaru clutch parts except the disc."

"It uses a 9 inch disc from the Toyota 22r engine, they are 40 bucks adapter comes with the throw out bearing and runs $475.00 plus shipping"


Here's a pic.

I'm not sure if this will work for my friend since he's trying to fit it all in the BRZ so length is important, but if someone were looking this direction for a Locost then possibly this would help them.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

I still haven't found out if the new FA20 engine fits the older transmissions but I went back and added which clutch you use and the price to the post about Bill Hincher's adapter just in case someone else needed that info.

I posted over on the Australian forum asking about it too since there seem to be some Subie guys over there.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

Did a little more foruming. Man it make me love this forum that much more ( although a search in post tool would put this forum way over the top of awesome) But wiki has been the most help.

Wiki "The 86, BRZ and FR-S are offered with two 6-speed transmissions, an in-house developed Toyota TL70 manual gearbox (based on Aisin AI's AZ6[24]) and an Aisin-Warner A960E, which is modified from that used on the Lexus IS 250"

And the toyota W trans wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_W_transmission#W56
No 6 speeds.

Honestly i suggest calling a few auto wreckers and see if they will let you measure the bolt patterns on the tranny and any ez ej engine which i'm sure all have the same bell pattern

The pics of both look damn close but my eye only has a 1/4" tolerance with photos so i don't want to say that they are.

Good luck!

_________________
-STu

There is no shame in defeat, so long as the spirit is unconquered

My Build Log

There's only one problem with going out and measuring, so far I haven't found a wrecker with a BRZ or an 86.

It seems when they wreck them they buy them back, which is what the guy did who is selling the one my friend is looking at.

Oh, I'm sure there's one somewhere - if I wanted to drive far enough, but right now I was looking for a quick answer. I was thinking this would be common internet knowledge. Guess I was wrong again.

And anyway I can't get away from the house for another week or so. My wife just had pretty major back surgery and is bedridden for that long. I can't leave the house for long enough to do much except shop for groceries.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

I guess the buy back factor and age is why there is so little info. There are bigger engine swaps and if your friend wants to call the builders and talk to them, that maybe the only route do to the newness.

When it comes to little kid forums its very hard to get the right answer so don't worry about being mistaken, not asking the question at all makes you wrong. sounds more philosophical in my head

I wish you and your friend the best and your wife a speedy recovery.

_________________
-STu

There is no shame in defeat, so long as the spirit is unconquered

My Build Log

Here is the pattern for newer subie 4s. Not symmetrical and would require butchering the bell to clear the starter unless a spacer on the crank and block were used. I'm not an expert on subies, just adding a little more info.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12

Since neither one of us could find out in time whether this really was a bolt up option he backed out on the purchase.

He was quite capable of handling the wiring and ecu issues, but didn't want to go much beyond that. Oh well, it would have been fun.

I can't say as I blame him since this was a project that "fell into his lap" rather than something he'd planned and prepared for. It wouldn't have been a case of him building his dream car that he'd always wanted.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.