But how? Russian mechanics transform the Subaru Boxer engine into an inline-four.

      Garage 54 via YouTube

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      If an engine has four cylinders, they are typically aligned in a straight line—unless it's a Subaru engine, of course. The boxer-four is almost as recognizable as all-wheel drive when it comes to Subaru. However, the inventive team at Garage 54 takes a different approach, deciding to transform a Subaru boxer-four into an inline-four engine.

      These YouTubers previously attempted to run a diesel engine on gasoline and built a V16 from chainsaw engines, but this new task was even more technically complex. The process began with splitting a boxer engine in half and positioning the two banks of cylinders vertically side by side. Since the factory setup has a water pump attached to one bank, that bank became the front of the new inline-four configuration. Additionally, the reorientation allowed for a Toyota 1JZ timing belt to fit perfectly.

      Garage 54 via YouTube

      Aligning two once-opposed cylinder banks resulted in an engine twice the length of the original boxer-four, leading to the sourcing of a second engine to create a crankcase, which was then welded to the first engine's crankcase. Similarly, the cylinder heads were crafted by welding two stock heads together.

      The same approach was used for the rotating components. The camshafts were formed by welding two factory cams end to end, ensuring they maintained the original timing. The crankshaft was constructed from two factory cranks connected with custom-made tabs. While this may sound straightforward, the assembly posed challenges, as there was no way to secure the crankshaft while joining the top and bottom ends, unlike in a traditional inline-four.

      We are converting a Subaru boxer engine into an inline-four.

      The cut-and-stitch method also means that instead of one oil pan at the bottom of the engine, the inline-four features two oil pans on each side. Figuring out how to make this setup work will be addressed in a future video, along with the intake and exhaust manifolds, plumbing, and pulleys. Nevertheless, the engine is fully assembled and functions, which is an impressive accomplishment in itself.

      Subaru enthusiasts may wonder why one would modify such a unique boxer engine to create a type of engine found in nearly every vehicle in typical office parking lots. The answer lies in not overthinking it.