Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
08-01-2005, 12:18 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
For the past few months I've been helping my brother work on his VW Vanagon project, last weekend we were finally able to get the van running. What makes this such a unique project? It's powered by a 96 Subaru WRX STI (version1) around 275hp. What also makes this unique is that my brothers van is a Westy (the camper van) and is Syncro (4wd).
The power plant, EJ20
Heres a shot of the Adapter plate and custom flywheel.
The Exhaust system aka "the Cannon" 2.5in DP to a Flex, then to a high flow Cat into a large 3in Muffler.
The custom manifold me and my brother also made, beau welded the badboy up. only like 38 welds
Everything is Stainless, from the flanges/bends/flexs etc.
It really came out nice, about 75% of it is heat wrapped. The turbo is a Stock rebuilt TD05h
Custom intake pipe all done in aluminum.
Engine mounted in with the custom cross bar (tranny torsion bar) me and my brother made.
Engine installed with the intake manifold all on. The intercooler was going to be on the pass side, but we decided to move it to the driverside for easier charge pipe routing.
After we got it running, we were having several problems with it reving and idling. Every sensor was checked and other than the IACV being all gunked up everything should have been fine. However the engine would not rev past 3000 rpms. Found out the mass air flow was not happy with the custom intake and needed to have the large stock chamber before the mass air flow in order for it to work properly. This was just some test fits with the stock parts to see what was going to make it work.
Finally got everything dialed in and the van rips, peaks around 14-15psi (stock actuated at 9-10) Idles good, runs good. Just one huge problem.. The engine is developing a bottom end noise. Sounds like a rod so my brother rips the engine out today starts tearing everything apart. The oil pan and pick up tube were full of metal shavings and some odd stringy ----. He thought for sure the oil filter came apart internally and took the engine out.
Ahh yes, the little mouse that killed the STI, apparently a small mouse crawled down the breather tube and died. Then came apart and went through the oiling system, ---- got plugged and starved the bottom end of oil.
Thats one expensive mouse
Whats next? not sure if we are going to rebuild this engine or buy a shortblock already done.
The power plant, EJ20
Heres a shot of the Adapter plate and custom flywheel.
The Exhaust system aka "the Cannon" 2.5in DP to a Flex, then to a high flow Cat into a large 3in Muffler.
The custom manifold me and my brother also made, beau welded the badboy up. only like 38 welds
Everything is Stainless, from the flanges/bends/flexs etc.It really came out nice, about 75% of it is heat wrapped. The turbo is a Stock rebuilt TD05h
Custom intake pipe all done in aluminum.
Engine mounted in with the custom cross bar (tranny torsion bar) me and my brother made.
Engine installed with the intake manifold all on. The intercooler was going to be on the pass side, but we decided to move it to the driverside for easier charge pipe routing.
After we got it running, we were having several problems with it reving and idling. Every sensor was checked and other than the IACV being all gunked up everything should have been fine. However the engine would not rev past 3000 rpms. Found out the mass air flow was not happy with the custom intake and needed to have the large stock chamber before the mass air flow in order for it to work properly. This was just some test fits with the stock parts to see what was going to make it work.
Finally got everything dialed in and the van rips, peaks around 14-15psi (stock actuated at 9-10) Idles good, runs good. Just one huge problem.. The engine is developing a bottom end noise. Sounds like a rod so my brother rips the engine out today starts tearing everything apart. The oil pan and pick up tube were full of metal shavings and some odd stringy ----. He thought for sure the oil filter came apart internally and took the engine out.
Ahh yes, the little mouse that killed the STI, apparently a small mouse crawled down the breather tube and died. Then came apart and went through the oiling system, ---- got plugged and starved the bottom end of oil.
Thats one expensive mouse
Whats next? not sure if we are going to rebuild this engine or buy a shortblock already done.
What a way to stop it already.
. any pics of the outside?
