Subaru EJ22 to VW Trans-axle question

Any one here done this before ? I am running into and issue.

The lower adapter plate bolts (the ones that secure the plate to the engine) hit the trans mounts not letting the bottom of the plate fully seat against the trans-axle.

I have a call into KEP, they are going to call me back after checking with another employee, that said the guy I spoke with has not heard of this issue and the lead is out today and all of next week. 8o( Like today, I scheduled Vacation time next week to work on this. Hopefully there is a simple answer but at the moment I dont see one. The holes on the engine that the adapter plate bolts to are lined up with the trans mounts. I think the holes on the adapter plate needed to be recessed for the bolt to sit down in the plate.

With the mounts being rubber, I am guessing they are going to say just to crank it down, if that's the case I think I just have to go with it as I don't have the machining tools to counter sink it nicely, and it would leave little material between the head and the outside of the adapter plate.

Edit: Got the call back, the plate was not milled for fitment with a stock VW trans-axle and mounts. I will have to send it to them to have it modified for a charge of $25 bucks plus the shipping.

Unbolting everything now. 8o(

Edit2: Plate is at the local machine shop, and they can do it today. 8o)

The plate is 1/2 thick, the head of the bolt is 3/8 tall. The shop is going to counter sink the 2 lower holes 1/4 inch and I am going to take 1/8 off the heads of the 2 bolts. The shop recommended not going 3/8 deep leaving only 1/8 of material on the plate. I agreed.

For anyone else planning on bolting an EJ22 to a VW trans-axle, make sure you let them know if you plan on using stock IRS trans mounts to make sure your plated has "relief cuts" in it.

Steve

Good to see you got the problem solved. I'll have to ask a friend if he had this problem, but I won't see him until after the holidays.

Better solution is a countersunk allen with corresponding tapered hole.

My adapter plate is buried or I would check for you, my ej22/vw is dismantled and the adapter plate is way down under literally everything else

After slimming down the heads and going to reassemble I found a new issue. The bolts were shouldered and now that the holes are countersunk the shoulders bottom before the head touch the surface of the adapter plate.

To correct this I used some non shouldered shorter bolts which also had to have their heads knocked down an eighth of an inch.

Engine is now in the car and I have to say getting the pilot hole lined up with the shaft was much easier when the bolts don't hold out the bottom of the adapter plate.

PS I love that bug I hope it runs as good as it looks.

lrrs wrote: PS I love that bug I hope it runs as good as it looks.

Runs pretty well, still refining the cooling and heating systems.