Sambar EJ22 swappage

Please don't turn this into a discussion about the legality of kei-class vehicles. I'm planning on registering it as a constructed vehicle.

My 660cc engine was kinda messed up... burned quite a bit of oil and the clutch was slipping, so I removed it and decided to go big. The original engine was a liquid-cooled inline four making about 40 HP. The truck was capable of 70-75 MPH tops.

Originally, I wanted to source the transmission from a VW Vanagon Syncro so I could retain the AWD, but since they're rarer than hens' teeth, I ended up with a 5-rib VW bus transaxle. It's going to be fun-wheel-drive only, but that'll do.

I've got an '86 GL wagon sitting in the pole barn, so I was tempted to use the EA82 until I started poking around the interwebs looking at adapter plates. If I'm going to sink $500 into the bellhousing adapter, I might as well go EJ. I found a freebie non-interference EJ22 with a broken timing belt (looks like an idler pulley bearing let loose.) So here's where I'm at now...





I'm just in the early mockup stage for the time being - the engine is sitting in a milk crate and the bellhousing is supported by a jackstand. :biggrin:

I need to get the adapter plate before I can commence with fabbing mounts. When I get that done, I'll be having some custom axles made up. I don't want to get too wild with the engine - I'll probably leave it mostly stock, probably just intake/exhaust with stock management. I'm hoping I'll need to fab some wheelie bars. :laugh:

Don't expect frequent updates in this thread... this is a long-term build. I've got a thousand other projects (swapped Ruckus, Merkur, diesel truck, blah, blah, blah... :ugh: )

Colin

 

I love it!

 

Agreed.

And the way I see it is---once its mated to the EJ22, its ready for an EJ20 turboz.

 

Or an EJ257.

 

what adapter plate/flywheel did you go with? I've heard great things about the outfront motorsports setup!

also curious what you plan on doing for axles....

 

I haven't ordered an adapter yet - I was looking at Kennedy, but I'll check out the Outfront product, too. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm not sure what I'll do for axles yet. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Most likely going to end up with a custom shaft with the Sambar outer joint on one end and the VW style inner bolt-on joint on the other.

 

This is a very cool project! I cannot wait to see how it progresses.

 

Best swap, EVER.

 

I like this... should be sweet when it's done..

needs some boost eventually...

 

Quoted for truth.