Hello all Well through a few weeks of random happenings I am about to be the owner of a cool JDM 1998 Subaru Domingo 1.2 EFI Minivan (I know it’s not a Kei but it’s almost there lol ). Basically my mate tagged me in the advert as a joke knowing I like quirky Japanese vehicles but as vans go it’s pretty small for a 6’2” guy……… however, it was the right price, it is really cool and I don’t shy away from a project so I ended up buying it. Deposit paid and I pick it up this week. I’m rather excited . So what I have is a van that looks pretty solid, slightly aged paintwork, a VW style front end, interior partially stripped (but seems to all be there), no engine in it (although it comes with 2), a broken CVT gearbox (the usual lol) and it’s been standing for at least 5 years outside. First impressions is that it doesn’t look too much work to get it back together visually, I just need to work out my options mechanically! I intend this van to become my new fun Japanese daily to replace my slightly thirsty v8 barge, providing I can make it usable and roadworthy. Ive been reading up about them a lot and realise that the CVT gearbox’s aren’t great but the engines are, so what I’d really like to do is manual swap it to make it bombproof and more drivable. This is why I’m here, to pick your brains on if it’s possible, how to do it and what I need. Just for starters lol. You may well see me popping up on the relevant technical threads on here very soon. Anyway, here’s a few pics and I hope to speak to you all very soon.
Welcome to the forum from a fellow JDM enthusiast! This 1998 Subaru Domingo sounds like an awesome project – quirky, practical, and perfect for someone who doesn't shy away from a challenge. Here's my take on your Domingo project, based on my own experiences tinkering with cars: Manual swap sounds ambitious: Swapping a Domingo's CVT for a manual transmission sounds like a significant undertaking. It's definitely possible, but be prepared for some fabrication and custom work. You might need to find a donor car for the transmission and other necessary parts. Domingo forums are your friend: There are online forums dedicated to obscure JDM vehicles like the Domingo. Search for Domingo forums and see what other owners have done with their vehicles. You might find threads or guides on manual swaps or other Domingo-specific repairs. Start with the basics: Before tackling the manual swap, focus on getting the Domingo running. That means dealing with the non-existent engine and potentially other issues that come with a vehicle that's been sitting for a while.
Hi, thanks for your reply! Well since I wrote this back in February, plans have changed somewhat! I have been searching almost worldwide for a manual or CVT gearbox and it seems they just don’t exist and it’s not worth my time messing about any more. Seeing as having no gearbox also makes the 2 factory engines redundant, I’ve decided to try and put a completely different engine from another car in it, but one that availability and parts are easy in the UK. I’m now looking into whether a 90s Toyota 1300 or 1600 will fit along with the backwards gearbox from a Toyota IQ to get the driveshafts forward of the engine. This will also mean the engine will probably have to come up through the hatch in the boot floor and then a false floor built on top of that. I’m still at the ideas stage so this may change but it’s the closest to theoretically fitting so far. Oh and I’m and engineer and fabricator by trade and member of many Domingo/Samba/Kei van clubs!
