Half cut question?

Johnny T · Post by **Johnny T** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:04 pm

Hey everyone,
I would like to know if it is possible to fit a the ej20 turbo into a vortex, has anyone done this before and what would I need to do this?

I'm looking to buy a half cut next year because I plan to fix the body and the roof this year before I start my mechanical work.

Also is it worth buying a 2005 STI engine or should i buy a late 90's half cut?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:15 pm

Fury and Craigus have got similar - EJ turbo Vortex

shuffbag · Post by **shuffbag** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:30 pm

well im doing a ej22 and awd box into a vortex at the moment.

so far i can say the cross member needs to be dropped at lest 25mm or the bonnet wont shut.
i all so dropped the gearbox mounts to, but used EA front mount - drilled the use EJ center mount - home made rear mount
chop,mix and match the shifter linkages. ej box side and orig vortex rear mount this way it will clear the tailshaft easy.

im going to use a one piece tail shaft from a MY lengthened.

brakes are a whole other ball game depending on how you do it, 5 lug or EA gear?

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:31 pm

I love the title... "half cut question".

I thought you were asking a question when you had a few too many beers haha

Sounds like a great idea, hope you manage to do it

Johnny T · Post by **Johnny T** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:41 pm

thanks for the reply guys,
if i take the car to a mechanic to do that would they be able to lower the mounts?
i plan on using the same gearbox from the ej20t lol.
also i'm going to need an engineer cert. so if i can get a mechanic to install the engine and gearbox can they give me the certificate i need or do i have to go someone else for that?

spike · Post by **spike** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:29 pm

Johnny T wrote:thanks for the reply guys,
if i take the car to a mechanic to do that would they be able to lower the mounts?
i plan on using the same gearbox from the ej20t lol.
also i'm going to need an engineer cert. so if i can get a mechanic to install the engine and gearbox can they give me the certificate i need or do i have to go someone else for that?

theyd probabaly charge you close to 10k (possible exageration)

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:04 pm

No exageration - you would be lucky if they only charged you 10k !!

B00sting · Post by **B00sting** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:38 pm

Johnny T wrote:thanks for the reply guys,
if i take the car to a mechanic to do that would they be able to lower the mounts?
i plan on using the same gearbox from the ej20t lol.
also i'm going to need an engineer cert. so if i can get a mechanic to install the engine and gearbox can they give me the certificate i need or do i have to go someone else for that?

if they are a good mechanic they will have an engineer (VASS vicroads certified) that they use.

you can get the list of VASS engineers by googling on the vicroads website. and then be prepared for 90% of engineers to tell you they are busy with "long term projects".

I'm going to hazard a guess that even if you do all the work yourself to get the engine/box/everything else in, its going to cost you at least 3000-5000 just to engineer the engine alone (THIS IS A GUESS ONLY). It could well cost more.

shuffbag · Post by **shuffbag** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:45 pm

just move to SA, make a sleeper

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:04 pm

$10k would just be the starting figure to get you in the door and to make the shop owner know that you were serious about doing it. Would definately be a lot cheaper to do yourself if you have the time, skill and place.

Here's my old friend Muzz that now lives over in NSW but he's a mechanic by trade and did all this work himself (even the glass bonnet). It is fitted with an EJ20 Turbo STi engine but a custom manifold and supercharger. I'm sure from memory, that he lowered the engine crossmember.
showthread.php?t=17089

Also Jules (aka TOONGA) has an EJ22 fitted in his tex.

Johnny T · Post by **Johnny T** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:24 am

thanks for the responces guys, you've been really helpful

my mate told me we can do it, im just going to hire out a few equipement things so i can take the engine out and in when the time comes,
so in theory it shouldnt cost me more than 4k to do all up, (not including the hub conversion)

to lower the cross members are there bolts or does that have to be cut and welded up?

thanks again for your time guys

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:30 am

slide under the front and have a look where your engine cross member bolts to the body. Every spot where there is a bolt to the body will need a spacer - if it is 25mm as suggested - a solid lump of 25mm sandwiched in between engine crossmember and body with 25mm longer bolts.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:42 pm

Johnny T wrote:to lower the cross members are there bolts or does that have to be cut and welded up?

If still standard, it will have 2 long bolt/bracket (on each side) that comes from the top and then bolted from under the crossmember. Just remove one side and then buy bolts to the desired length. I also like to use large washer on the top of the rail, to help spread the clamping pressure.