Was just wondering if anyone has managed to keep the spare wheel under the hood with an EJ swap? I would like to with mine and was just after any previous experience if anyone has done it. With the EJ in place it seems i either need to drop the intake ~2" so it will fit under the wheel (2" lift with 2" spacers) and maybe a block between TB and intake to angle it level or down slightly with this i run into the problem of 2" lift with 13" wheels, or get the intake away from the back all together, now I know they use flipped manifolds in  later model subarus to shorten FMIC piping but I'm not sure about these early ones? If i tried flipping the intake my problem would be pipe to hood clearance over the alternator (also trying to keep A/C) on the bright side with a flipped intake my throttle cable would be the perfect length (nowhere near long enough at the moment).
So, thoughts? Should i give up and just accept the spare wheels going to be in the cargo area?

Cheers,

Thomas

I've seen the odd flipped intake on TradeMe, there was one in Invers a while back they wanted $30 bucks for - it was a hacked and rewelded oem STi V4 one, was pretty tidily done I thought.

If you do this you'll have to relocate the alternator and you may or may not lose either power steering or aircon, depending on where you can fit the alternator.

BRZs have a front-facing intake plenum.

 

The other problem with flipping the intake is that welding is required, you can't just rotate it 180 on the manifolds due to the offset pistons...

 

It would be pretty sweet and unusual to have an underbonnet spare on an EJ swap! If you can't fit the spare underbonnet, apparently there is a captive nut under the boot carpet (left corner about a foot out from the seat) that you can use to hold the spare down with the correct bolt.

 

I'd be keen to see this beast in person one day! I'm presuming you're going to get it certed and everything?

Yeah I've seen a couple on there too, not sure if the intake changed at all and if so when though, i would imagine it did at some stage. Apparently it is quite easy to ditch a/c and flip the alternator over to its spot, although i would like to avoid that just to keep A/C even though its not really needed. Seems it might be possible without it. Probably try and get the swap done and running then deal with getting the spare under the hood. Yeah, i will be getting it certed, easy way to spend some coin but has to be done I spose. Once shes all running again you're more then  welcome to see her.

unbolt the throttle body, get a custom pipe made that aims off at an angle, fit the throttle body to the other end of the pipe?

not sure what it'd do to your throttle response though

drop the intake ~2" so it will fit under the wheel

 

What about a skinnier space saver wheel? Rather than a ~2" intake drop, maybe build a spacer to lift the skinny tire over the manifold. (In the picture, my stock tread vs donut.)

unbolt the throttle body, get a custom pipe made that aims off at an angle, fit the throttle body to the other end of the pipe?

not sure what it'd do to your throttle response though

not even enough room for this, without the throttle body the wheel would probably just fit in. Could blank it and come out the top right angle onto the throttle body but like you say what would this do to performance?

 

 

What about a skinnier space saver wheel? Rather than a ~2" intake drop, maybe build a spacer to lift the skinny tire over the manifold. (In the picture, my stock tread vs donut.)

This was a great idea, but they are still too wide/ would be sticking out the hood.

 

Cheers for the ideas guys

 

Tom