As you have read, the Beck 550 is well on its way to completion. But first, you need an engine, right? A lot of Becks get VW motivation, but a more powerful choice is the 2.5L Subaru boxer engine. So this little Scooby wagonette gave its life so a cool little sports car could be born…
According to Cary, a VP with Beck, the Subaru is a 2007 model and the engine was in excellent shape with great compression and great leakdown.
Actually the little wagon looks almost too nice. These Imprezas were nice looking wagons, and this gen was the last for the wagon. Oh well, all in the name of love and war!
According to the message these pics came from the Beck team will begin tearing down the motor and stripping it for 
powdercoating next. Stay tuned, Curbsiders!
Where do the radiator and all the associated piping go in Subaru/air-cooled VW & Porsche frankensteins? I’ve always been intrigued by such swaps–I think putting a Subaru EJ into a Porsche 912 would be especially interesting–but adapting the body and engine compartment for water cooling seems tricky, especially with what are likely larger cylinder heads.
Well, there would be no radiator for an air cooled VW/Porsche conversion, but you would still need airflow…
I’m pretty sure one would need to squeeze in a radiator when swapping a water-cooled Subaru engine into an air-cooled VW/Porsche.
I think Ed misunderstood your question.
In the Beck, and in other old Porsches, the radiator goes in the very front, wedged into the place where the spare tire would have originally been. It’s fed from scoops below in front, and has a shroud to channel the hot air back down under the car, with more exit vents cut into the floor pan. Plus two big strong fans to make sure the air keeps moving.
Yes, the radiator is up front on Joe’s car. But on real 550s, the spare is aft of the engine. So it is with Becks too!
Whoops–sorry Ed!
Can it be done sans fans?
Sure, if you live above the Arctic Circle. 🙂
Otherwise, undoubtedly not. Just about every water cooled vehicle needs a fan (or two), and in this installation it would be even more critical, since there isn’t a nice obvious intake like on traditional front engine cars.
But with modern radiators and powerful electric fans, almost anything is possible.
Also, given the huge run-up in genuine Porsche prices, a Subaru in a 912 would probably not be a good idea, economically speaking. Those days have passed…
But a Subaru in a Karmann Ghia is a very attractive alternative, and has been done by others.
Not that it’s the same thing, but my Porsche (watercooled 996) has the (two) radiators up front without fans but then there are two fans on top of the engine compartment that run as needed (like most modern cars). But no fans in front of the radiators themselves. Temps stay remarkable steady from observed zero degrees Fahrenheit to observed 122 Fahrenheit. Fans run mostly when sitting for a while idling or in the garage after a run with the engine turned off.
Too bad a wrecked car couldn’t be found. Seems a shame to use a intact 2007 car.
That’s what I was thinking. Is there nothing wrong with it, or is there something we can’t tell from the photos?
Seems an expensive way to buy a used engine.
Looks to me like it was hit in the right front. Could also have been a flood vehicle.
After blowing up the picture, it does look like it has had a hard hit on the right front, and the driver side airbag is deployed.
Looks like the right rail is pushed in pretty far.
Which engine is heavier? VW or Subaru?