I want to build a Izh 27175 pickup. I live in Ukraine and I am searching for a chassis now. This is a pickup version of the Fiat 124 based Lada Riva 210x sedans built in the Soviet Union from the late 60s until about 2009? Lots of guys have swapped the 4 door cars but I've never seen a pickup swapped. However, the challenges are pretty much the same for both as the front of the pickup and the sedan is the same.
There is pretty much one transmission that fits in the tunnel, the one that comes stock. It's not known for its strength. Every time I've cut the tunnel in a swap it looks like hell. The stock engine is a pushrod non crossflow 1.6/1.7l 4 cylinder. It's not a pretty thing to look at but the later ones are EFI with MAF. It makes about 80hp stock which isn't too bad. Turbos have been done and I will consider it. But I'd also like something with serpentine accessories and be able to mount an AC compressor and power steering pump (although maybe electric assist makes more sense).
The most obvious answer is the 124 Spider twin cam. However, they were never sold in Ukraine and are essentially nonexistent here.
Some guys have been able to adapt FWD Fiat engines. I've never seen one that looks all that great but it's definitely an option that bolts to the stock trans. I think a Miata trans might fit in the tunnel but they are also extremely rare in Ukraine. I've seen BMW 4 cylinder swaps but you have to cut the tunnel.
So my crazy idea is to use a 4 cylinder Subaru ej20, 22 or 25. I have read that rwd only is fairly easy on those transmissions, and they seem to be pretty small. Obviously I would need to rework the entire front end, and most certainly would need big fenders to get the wheels out wide enough to steer. Another option is to put the Subie engine in the bed of the truck. I think there is plenty of room between the rear wheels and the cab bulkhead.
So my question is if you have ever seen a front engine, rwd subie swap in something other than a Subaru.
This guy (Matt Weaver) has a Subaru engine, running rwd only, in his RX7 rally car:
You can look him up on Facebook or I can try to get you an email address for him if you want. The car seems to be pretty reliable.
Looks like he adapted to some sort of Toyota transmission, looks suspiciously close to what comes in an FRS/BRZ:
That would be great if you could give me more info or a link. I looked up Matt Weaver but it seems pretty common. I tried googling Matt Weaver RX7 Subaru and couldn't find him that way either. There is a surprising amount of room in that RX7. Looks like a cool car.
That bellhousing is made by https://www.billsautofab.com/ , I think he will drill it to fit either Toyota W56/W58 or R154.
How about a Subaru engine mounted in the bed? There's all kinds of room and you'll get mid-engine weight distribution. A Subaru might be low enough that you still have usable bed space above.
In reply to carwhisperer :
You should see an email on whatever account you used to sign up for the forum, let me know if you don't get anything.
APEowner said:
How about a Subaru engine mounted in the bed? There's all kinds of room and you'll get mid-engine weight distribution. A Subaru might be low enough that you still have usable bed space above.
That's definitely under consideration!
The Subaru trans runs power past the front differential to the transmission. The transmission has two shafts. The top one brings power from the engine and is the input, the bottom is the output. The output is actually a pair concentric shafts with the outer shaft being the transmission output and the inner shaft being the front diff drive. The AWD system is a differential in the back of the transmission. This diff is a typical spider type open diff on MOST Subaru trans. The transmission output shaft drives the cage cage of the differential and the differential gears drive the front and rear output. The front is driven through the inner concentric shaft on the transmission output. If you FWD convert a Subaru you lock this side of the diff to the cage and remove the rest.
For the RWD side the differential drives a short shaft that has a 1:1 gear on the back of it. A shaft that is inline with the transmission input (but completely split from it) is above the differential and drives the rear through the transmission output.
You could weld the differential cage to the rear drive output and create a Locked RWD transmission. In that situation you could remove the FWD differential completely as well as it's half of the AWD differential. Freeze plugs could probably be pressed into the bearing seals races for the FWD output or you could JB weld some plugs in. You would have to look to see if the transmission bearings would work without the FWD concentric shaft inside the trans or if it could be removed for more weight reduction. The Subaru trans without rear diff is a fairly light transaxle. With removal if the front diff assembly and ring gear it wouldn't be much heavier then a normal RWD trans. Power capacity is probably lower because of the extra shafts when compared to a normal RWD transmission.
