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

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

What are the chances.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Holy ----, a ------- mouse? little bastards.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

wow!! never seen ---- like that before. a mouse taking out a motor. i guess you learn something new everyday :D

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

that blowz bummer jeff

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

as always the project came out awesome. the set-up looks bitchin in the engine bay, everything is positioned perfectly in there.. you and your bro did a incredible job.
but the mouse thing is just ------ gay. i personaly would go out to the pet store, buy all the mice they have in the store, put them all in a box, drench the fuckers with some gas, then burn the critters... ALL OF THEM HAHAHAHAHAHA >:D

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

that is awesome. horrifying, but awesome. a buddy of mine told me a story where there was an engine with no timing belt cover and a bird got sucked up and into the cam gears, making the engine screw up timing.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

My neighbor and I are putting a WRX motor in his Porshe 914. It should be a fun project.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Thats a shame but mice happens.

That engine is KLEEEEEN (besides the rodent carcas)

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

good ----. its been a while since we've seen a project from mr. frank

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

biggest pissoff ever

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

That's ------ sick man...

Have fun cleaning the mouses guts and ---- out of the engine... eww...

That sucks bad.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

if im not mistaken, wasnt it a lil furry woodland creature that made you total you crx? or was it that pink elephant?

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

i would leave the whole block in the grass for like a week, ants will take care of all the meaty stuff.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Mouse = 1
Jeff Frank = 0

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

and then they will make their new home in your block ;)

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Time to go on a mouse hunt to make you feel better you killed one of those bitches family :P

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Wow, that's an expensive mouse trap you made.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

I'm suprised you didnt see the whitey bend we got going on ;)

lol, one picture the sun completely blocks it out.

Talked to my brother this morning, looks like were going russian rebuild route. Set of bearings, gaskets and new rings and roll it.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Other than the mouse trap mod, I reall like this project, that's one hell of a sleeper.

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

sell it on ebay with some crazy mouse story someone would by it just for the story and chunks

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Yeah I didn't see it or the heat wrap. take a close up picture of that stuff so I can flame the hell out of you for using Whitey bends and heat wrap :P

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

hell ass nice there fits well

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

Haha, nice sig Matt. ;)

Re: Project: Vwrx "the Mouse Killer"
 

This gives Mighty Mouse a whole new meaning :o

That van must've been fun to drive once you guys got it running right. Kinda ironic how a small feeble mouse took out an egnine block. Good luck w/the rebuild!