Is it necessary to modify the bodywork to fit a Subaru engine?
A7: That depends on what you’re putting the engine into. The four cylinder Subaru engine itself is a very similar size to a VW Type 4 engine that has had its rear mounted fan replaced by a Porsche fan. The bodywork modifications needed to fit the engine into your chosen VW will be similar to if fitting a Type 4 with a Porsche fan (a fairly common conversion), and will easily fit within the external bodywork of almost all VW’s, with minimal modification to the engine bay. The six cylinders are larger, particularly the 3.3, and would not fit within the external bodywork of a Beetle. They should fit into type 2’s, 3’s, Karmann Ghia’s etc. OK though. The DOHC Subaru engines can require body modifications when fitting into the small engine bay of a Beetle. The DOHC engines are a tighter fit due to the cylinder heads being much taller to accommodate the extra cams. The plastic cam covers fouls with the gutter around the engine lid, just above the rear valance. Running with no cam belt covers
