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).

https://www.homemadeturbo.com/vwrx/vwrx4.jpg

The power plant, EJ20

http://www.vwrx.com/images/engine-hang.jpg

Heres a shot of the Adapter plate and custom flywheel.

https://www.homemadeturbo.com/cannon1.jpg

The Exhaust system aka "the Cannon" 2.5in DP to a Flex, then to a high flow Cat into a large 3in Muffler.

http://www.vwrx.com/images/eng-stand3.jpg

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.

http://www.vwrx.com/images/eng-stand2.jpg

http://www.vwrx.com/images/eng-stand5.jpg

It really came out nice, about 75% of it is heat wrapped. The turbo is a Stock rebuilt TD05h

http://www.vwrx.com/images/eng-stand1.jpg

Custom intake pipe all done in aluminum.

http://www.vwrx.com/images/engine-mounted1.jpg

Engine mounted in with the custom cross bar (tranny torsion bar) me and my brother made.

http://www.vwrx.com/images/engine-mounted2.jpg

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.

http://www.vwrx.com/images/hmt-love1.jpg

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.

http://www.vwrx.com/images/hmt-love3.jpg

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.

http://www.vwrx.com/images/mouse1.jpg

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.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

BWHAHAHAAH

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Oh jeez. A mouse of all things :o What a way to stop it already.

Nice job, as always. ;)

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

wow, thats crazy, nice project, sucks a dam mouse killed the motor :'(. any pics of the outside?

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

More like the Killer Mouse >:D

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

That's a really cool project and it looks great so far. It sucks that you finished the whole thing only to have to take the motor out again. Oh well, should go in a lot quicker next time.

------ mice!

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

ouch that sucks major dong Jeff, I know you and your bro have been working on that thing for a while now. :-\

I guess there is no need for me to ask for a vid anymore.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

You gotta be kidding me. Damn mouse, he must of wanted to feel the suby power. Sorry to hear about your bad luck jeff. Next time leave some cheese in the exhaust pipe for his brothers.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

at least his little mousey wife can rest easy knowing he's worth a couple G's haha