kilo_4que

Well i know anything is possible but does anyone know or have an idea of how difficult it would be. Would it require a lot of work to fit the engine in, gearbox also?

I have always liked the shape of a MK2 vectra GSI wagon or one with GSI kit on it. Since I have been in two minds as to buy another sti wagon or build a kit car. I was thinking what if i put the two ideas together and drop a sti engine in a vectra.

Your thoughts guys

cheers

911

Not a silly remark:
Havn't Subaru worked with Saab recently to do the same?
The Vectra is much the same platform as the Saab?

rentonone

iTrader: (1)

like you say 'anything is posible' look what im doin...

https://www.scoobynet.com/projects-4...t-project.html

Tim W

iTrader: (1)

Graham, the Saabaru, was an Impreza with a Saab nose:



Unfortunately it was only available on the North American sub-continent (ie US and Canada) and was a flop, I beleive it has been dropped now that GM no longer have an interest in Subaru, Toyota have taken their place.

However, one wonders if you could get the front end parts from the Saab and fit them on a new age wagon over here...

skywalker23

Don't look 2 bad that though.....

911

Twin engined Impreza anybody?
Graham.

kilo_4que

rentonone, I have been following your project. Great inspiration has been taken from it

Graham, I did actually think of the chain relation that may exist but was thinking the saab/vauxhall connection occured after the MK2 vectra was phased out but i may totally be wrong. I did think about saab using vauxhall engines (dont know why they did that) and saab working with subaru. So thought there may be something there for me to play with.

No matter what happens i know its going to be difficult. Even an impreza NA turbo upgrade is difficult. My only concern is fitting the engine and gearbox in securely.

911

In my past hot rod days, the issues that were the most difficult were the steering, the exhaust and the engine mounts.

As the thread on the Escort/Impreza, the easy way to do this is to take the Impreza on it's subframes which has the suspension fulcrums, the steering is attached and you know where the exhaust will be (down pipe)
Same for the box crossmember.
Then go to the shell, measure all the Vaux parts and compare. You may be surprised how close they are as modern car design is so similar today across all makes.

That would be my approach anyway!
Graham

Tim W

iTrader: (1)

Looks like all the parts are available for the 9-2x Saabaru: The Saab Site

kilo_4que

so graham, maybe its not as daunting as it may seems?

911

''You hold it, I'll weld it'' comes to mind.

If you could see some of the pics in my photo albums of the early 70's when I built American style Hot Rods, this is a stroll in the park.

Love these projects to bits!

Graham

kilo_4que

ha impressive. Im sure your always busy on Discovery Real Time lol

911

sadly, YES!

StickyMicky

i think the calibra turbo engine swap is fairly easy

i did look over a converted vectra once and the bloke told me IIRC he only needed to weld one engine mount? and i think the clutch needed converting to a hydraulic system (cant remember the details on this bit sorry)

i was all for the conversion myself, until the rear arches when rusty, and i flogged it to buy the scoob

kilo_4que

LOL the number of people that have picked up on this one issue of Rust. The first thing everyone has mentioned is rust.

But the thing is, weve had 4 vectras. Yes i repeat 4 and none of them rusted, maybe due to looking after them?

But back to the main reason why i want to do it. I just simply love the looks of a GSI wagon or a wagon with GSI kit on it. Just seems like its parked up crying for more power lol.

StickyMicky

rear sice windows were not sealed at the factory properlly, letting water into the seams, this in turn rusted the rear door latch area/rear arches and such

IIRC there was a recall for this problem and lots of cars were fixed under warrenty

they are just ****e cars mate, although i think they look nice

i think i looked after mine more then most, it had 20 coats of diamondbrite body glaze on it FFS

David_Wallis

Speak to howard at HDC Subaru, Im sure he will do it for a fee.

He has just done a 206 with impreza running gear

kilo_4que

LOL nearly read that wrong, thought you said he'd do it for "Free"

Another thing that worries me is that the impreza is AWD and as far as i know there hasnt been a 4wd vectra made. Wouldnt I have issues with fitting the gearbox, or would it just mean a "little" more use of the angle grinder

StickyMicky

Honestly, why not just fit the calibra turbo engine ? LOL
the one i saw converted could shift

Andy T

What about the 4x4 Calibra Turbo transmission and engine?
There was also a 4x4 Cavalier many years back.

kilo_4que

Micky and Andy, thank you for your replies guys.

firstly I actually liked the cavalier turbo and it was a pretty rare car.

As far as i know the Calibra turbo and the Cavalier turbo had the same engine.

Since somone mentioned it the other day, I have been thinking about doing a calibra turbo engine swap.

Now the only problem with dropping a calibra engine in the vectra is that Im not making many gains in performance with all the effort put in. If im working with a GSI wagon then im improving the performance by jack all but then again im not very familiar with how much you can modify a calibra turbo engine.

911

Too simple a solution?

The Impreza drivetrain is far more interesting with a potential for a solid 400bhp and 380 ish lbft reliably.

kilo_4que

Yes very true

Now whats remaining is a final decision lol.

What Id be happy with is anything around 300bhp or above likewise the impreza engine with subtle mods in the end should do this for me.

However Graham, say you was in my position with a vectra wagon. What would you personally do in order to achieve the performance expectations i.e. what engine would you fettle with.

Chip Sengravy

Rear seats out, 5.7 chevvy in

kilo_4que

LOL, I still want it looking like a car you know.

With ideas on the drawing board. There has been an incling of having an engine in the rear, having a roll cage etc etc but i guess Ill stick with the traditional layout of the car. Just to surprise a few numpties when they have an itch in their pants

maydew

iTrader: (9)

why not just super charge gsi v6 meant to be easy to do heard they don't turbo very well something about the back piston but super charge no problem knew a bloke who sold a super charged one to buy a scoob and regretted it and brought the 3.2 vectra plus those super chargers sound awesome had a v6 saloon myself love that v6 noise
i know someone with a v6 gsi engine for sale thinks its the limited edition msd one was it

kilo_4que

This thread is making me chuckle because everything people are posting ideas wise, a couple of hours prior id have already had a discussion with a mate on the same subject.

I.e. i have just spoken to a friend of mine regarding a supercharger but like he said. Much cheaper and less hastle to do but the power im wanting I may not get with a supercharger.

Plus I wanted something a little more challenging and besides, I really miss the flat 4 rumble on my sti

maydew

iTrader: (9)

great minds think alike mate lol

911

I would fit the whole Impreza drive train and make special note of the suspension top mounts verses the Vaux dimensions. Everything is on subframes and the 2 cars are very similar in dimension and weight, and body construction will be similar.

It will need some precise fabrication, but just take your time.
If you can invert the body so to build up the subframes upside down it will make welding much easier.

This way everything is strong enough for the output and you have 4 x 4.

The suspension HAS to be in the right place. The engine box will follow, so then you only need to massage the trans tunnel to get the box in and the prop to the back.

Lastly, there is the steering, but UJ's will fix that issue.

You get a great drivechain, low c of g with the engine etc and very very novel car.

Interesting.

Biggest heartache will be the electrics, but raid the Impreza again.

StickyMicky

AFAIK
and this is a while back when i had stuff to do with vauxhalls, some of the phase kits people were fitting to the calibra turbo lump were putting good power out, 300ish bhp, this was years ago, would be surprised if technology has not moved on a bit......