TheSamba.com :: View topic - Advise needed on a EJ22 engine,1999 Subaru Outback

Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:38 am

Aloha folks!

one of my friends has a Subaru Outback sitting in his car port for years,abandoned there by an ex girlfriend of an ex roommate.About 60 000 miles.

Long story short,I can get the car for a song.
I just checked out the engine,and unfortunately,it's a EJ22 OBDII engine.

I have a 1992 OBDI engine in my vanagon ,but the heads look like different.Mine have the head bolts outside the cylinder head.

So my question is:
what can I do with this engine?Is is the same block?Do I have any interest in swapping the injection over onto my current OBDI engine?
Can I get it for parts or what?
I'm pretty disappointed,I was expecting it to be an EJ25 and then build a Frankenmotor with it :? :?

Thank you for your advises guys 8)

Alika

Tue Oct 09, 2012 3:07 am

From the VIN it is a 1999 auto with an EJ222 engine. This wiki page gives a pretty good description of how the engine differs from the earlier EJ22s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine

Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:02 am

just curious, if it was 2.5 OBDII, why wouldn't you just transplant the whole thing with the harness and all. OBDII is not that complicated, well documented and provides better engine management (more power, less gas, cleaner emissions).

Do you have smog laws like in California that prevent such a swap?

Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:44 am

Hi Alex, yes the block should be the same. The heads and intake are different though. Single port heads. It might have an egr you would have to remove, but other than that it would work. The heads also have roller rocker arms which you can put on your 92 heads.

Hey i just got to Paris! First visit,
Ciao

Paul

Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:50 am

Thank you Mackaymanx,I've seen that it's a 99 EJ22 :wink:

Hi Paul!

thank you for your accurate answer :wink:

I think I will take it just for parts with the harness,either resell it or keep it in case mine goes bad.

Are you currently in Paris?If yes,you'll have tons of fun,enjoy the good food for me :P

JPrato: Frankenmotor on a 2.5L short block has more torque and I won't have to redo the wiring harness.
Does the 2.5 OBDII get a better gas mileage than a EJ22 OBDI?

Have a good day all 8)

Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:29 pm

My ODBII 2.5L stock 4 speed, gets anywhere from 19-23 with 19 screaming down the interstate at 75+ mph and 23 leisurely cruising the back roads. My average is about 21 mpg.

Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:08 pm

ALIKA T3 wrote: Aloha folks!

one of my friends has a Subaru Outback sitting in his car port for years,abandoned there by an ex girlfriend of an ex roommate.About 60 000 miles.

It probably won't matter much, but the model code GFC**** indicates the car is an Impreza wagon. (G for Impreza, F for wagon, C for EJ22.)

Larry H.

Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:40 pm

ALIKA T3 wrote:
I just checked out the engine,and unfortunately,it's a EJ22 OBDII engine.

Why is that unfortunate?! I have basically the same engine in my syncro and i absolutely love it.

There are some advantages of the EJ22 from '96-'99 over the EJ25 of that era.

It has more power and a lot more "pep" than the earlier EJ22.

The exhaust is single port on most of the post '95 EJ22. More simple to work with.

All USDM harnesses and ECUs are interchangable on all '96-'99 EJ22 and EJ25.

The EJ22s of this era don't suffer the head gasket problems that the DOHC EJ25 of this era had.

You'll get better gas mileage with the EJ22. I get 22mpg consistently in my syncro. I've gotten as good as 26mpg on long trips.

I can cruise at 75mph all day with stock gearing and 27" tires.

Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:49 pm

Well, unfortunate because he says he wants to build a frankenmotor.
2.5 bottom end, 2.2 heads.

Lots of info in this thread.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...mp;start=0

This is something I've been planning on doing too, just been waiting for it to cool off some since I'm not that interested in working on it when it's 100 degrees outside.

As for gas mpg, that's something I've been curious about too.
Not going to stop me either way, but I've been curious about it....

Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:22 am

I have read on the Subaru forums a 1-2 mpg increase in fuel economy with the hybrid engine. And those guys have lead feet!

Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:01 am

99 is a phase 3 (2.2) engine, pretty sure... it was in 2000-01.
It's basically a 2.5L with 2.2L displacement. The heads are exactly the same as a 2.5L (shape). This was a 2-3 year engine and a test platform for the 2.5L SOHC head design. In 99 the Forester had the first 2.5L SOHC.

1 head design for 2 car. 99 is the last year of the DOHC 2.5L (Legacy).

98 was the last year of the 2.2L the way we know it. For me, one of the best engine of that era. I drove (car) one hard for 3 years, never did one thing on it.
Ben

Wed Oct 10, 2012 8:17 am

I have a 98 2.2 in my van after running a 90 2.2 for four years and absolutely love the engine. I paid $500 for and engine with 70,000 miles and after running now for a year am amazed at how peppy and smooth it is. Very pleased. Uses no oil. Smooth and quiet. I need look no further