Battlewagon

It's been done and it works very well: lifts the front by I think a little over an inch. I'm not sure if he is on this site, but a guy by the name of MudRunner on SubaruOutback.org and SL-I.net did it. http://subaruoutback.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19261 http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16337

That thing is freaking nutz. I'd love to see videos of it running and/or wheeling. I wonder how reliable that set up is...

People have done this... to EJ22t engines to get more top end power. I haven't seen anyone do the swap on NA EJ22s. If you did it, you'd have to run a EJ25d ECU (or a piggyback or standalone) because your EJ22 ECU would get confused and you'd honestly not gain much power and you'd probably hurt your reliability. Yeah, and phase I heads are DOHC and phase II are SOHC.

It's really just seals and routine maintenance. The EG is really just a stretched out EJ22 with modified DOHC heads. It has a timing belt and is fairly simple (but fantastic). Is yours a OBD-I or OBD-II car? And as others have said, it's the trans that needs to be watched out for.

That looks down right beautiful! Is that a USDM block or a JDM?

+1 You my friend, are in for a serious eye opening! Look around and be amazed.

It will bolt right up to the bellhousing, but everthing else... I take it you have a 2000-2004 Outback, which might make things easier since that's what the Baja is based on. You will need a turbo cross member (probably from a Baja), Baja ECU, wiring harness, and exhaust manifold. You should also get yourself a baja hood for the intercooler. It's going to be just like a 'standard' STi swap, which means the wiring is going to take some time.

Nice BD! Those headlights need some serious attention though. So much so that you might want to consider some JDM projectors!

The seafoam shouldn't have caused the misfire. The knock sensor on the other hand can cause a misfire or two. I'd do what ShawnW said and clear the code and if it popes up again, check your plugs when you do the knock sensor. Usually the only dangerous thing about seafoam is that there have been cases were people have hydro-locked their engines putting too much in at once...

Sorry for the late reply, but thanks guys! I was just really worried about it. I eventually got them off using a massive breaker bar and a friend. I want to do everything 'right'. so that's why I removed the cams. Also, it seems easier to get to the head bolts with the cams out. Anyways, the headgaskets have been replaced (preventative maintenance really, we all know how DOHC EJ25s can be) and the heads are back on. Now I just have to find time to put everything back together and swap it.

I'm doing headgaskets on my JDM Phase I EJ25, and I'm at the part where I need to get the cams out but I'm having trouble getting the sprockets off. Since I don't have a cam locking tool (love to get one), I'm using a friend and a wrench to hold the cam (via the open valve cover) while I try to loosen the bolt. I've tried a breaker bar, an electric impact, and an air powered one, but nothing. Is there a better method, do I need a bigger impact wrench, or should I just keep trying?

I say do it. If the engine is as low mileage as you say, it sound's like a pretty good deal. EJ22 longblocks are going to run anywhere between 200-500 depending on the condition, plus you would have the ECU available. If anything, you could part the Legacy out after you pull the engine and try to get your money back. You could just sell it for scrap, even though it's pretty low right now (about $6.50 per hundred pound here in TN). Or, you could wait around, find an EJ25 or EJ22 and lift the damn thing!

I'm really liking that bumper! Did you and your brother just weld it together and did you just bolt it to the old bumper mounts? Can you guys make more of these?

Thanks guys! I'll keep you in mind. You don't happen to have a Phase 1 DOHC EJ25 in good shape lying around do you? I still need to find my block so I can get this thing swapped.

I'm pretty sure the Final Drive ratio for Outbacks are 4.44. Mine is, but I have a 97 that had a EJ25 in it originally. The 96 EJ22 cars might be different, but I doubt it. In any case, you don't have to swap the trans if you want to to get a LSD.

If you want a full trans swap, I take it you've got an auto...... In any case, you've got yourselve a 4.44 final drive, so you'll want to find a 4.44 final LSD to go along with that. You can use the LSD from a third gen (00-04) Legacy GT with an auto and it will bolt up fine. You'll have to use axles from something else; I remember reading somewhere that WRX wagon axles will work with the diff and will fit your Outback (I could be wrong). Now, this LSD is Viscous, which means it uses hydraulic type fluid that stops slipping. Over time, the fluid simply stops working, basically turning the LSD into an open diff. So if you go OEM LSD, get a low mile one. You could always buy a clutch type LSD for a WRX/STi and moddify the axles to make it work......... (money). You might want to ask yourself if it's worth it. A 5sp swap won't be much different. As for the turbo......... turboing an NA EJ22 is honestly not really worth it; sorry. There is a company out there that makes turbo kits for NA subarus: AVO. But, they work with the Phase 2 EJ25 found in the BE/BH and 2.5rs; plus they only recomend 6 psi. Now, there are many people out there (myself included) that say the EJ22 found in your car should not be turboed, and anything about 5 psi of boost on stock internals will cause a big boom. You did say that you wanted to build the block, but why when you could swap in a EJ20 or EJ25 from a WRX/STi or for cheaper, an EJ22T from a first gen Legacy SS. You could build a franken motor with your block and EJ22 heads, but the amount of work to go into that would offset the cost of swapping in an EJ22t (which has been done and is documented). You will have to go to OBD1 for that and a ECU swap would be a must for any turbo application to run 'right'. Keep looking man, and sorry if I'm bursting your bubble; I'm a downer sometimes. Try anything you feel like, turbocharging an NA EJ22 isn't imposible...........

It'll fit........ but, you'll have to modifiy (or change) your ECU so it understands that you have a manual. Plus you'll need a manual crossmember and of course clutch, flywheel, pedals and shifter linkage. Here is a write up for you: http://www.legacycentral.org/library/transmission/convert.htm But that is just tiddly bits; the transmission will fit up nicely.

Hello everyone. I'm new to the site but not to Subarus. I'm a regular member on Subaru Legacy International (SL-I.net) and occasional member on SubaruOutback.org. I've got a 97 Outback with a 5mt and a swapped EJ22 from a 96 Legacy L (the original EJ25 blew it's headgaskets and the previous owner swapped the engine). It has it's fair share of problems which will hopefully be worked out with an Phase 1 EJ25 swap plus some goodies. I had a 96 5mt L wagon before (plus a Jeep XJ and a BMW E28). I love old school Subarus (first car I learned to drive on was a 83 GL) and would like to find some offroad parts for my BG (plus some more aux lights), so I figured this site would be a good place to look. I'll see you around.