Scubie Dad

CORRECTION The FXT engine is EJ255. Thanks.

Hi Noobie here (silent member since 2017). I have 2005 FXT with bad EJ257 (not turning by hand ). Fooling around with open-ended third car problems consistently is given low priority on honey-do list, and so rebuild likely to take weeks. BUT I have a EJ253 still running great in otherwise expendable 2005 LOB. I'd like to use the "3" as a placeholder until I rebuild the "7." Have all accessories, etc. for both, and therefore no need to commingle any parts (both are EAT). I'm hoping that this will be a direct swap. Do I need to change out ECM's? What other things am I likely to encounter? Harness/connector issues? How can I make definitive verification that the replacement will slide right in? I will visibly block off FXT hood scoop with "temporarily out of service" tape through the transplant period, so as not to imply any turbo activity. Thanks for the help.

Thanks Jmoss. I will defer to your expertise and my own laziness. I'll go for the KYB cartridges and spacers. That sounds like enough work to me, despite the balmy December we are having. I'll let bigger tires do the talking in the Spring. The car is surprisingly clean, given its Rust Coast life.

Old Newbie here. Great thread. Bought a '98 Impreza L wagon for daughter's first car (safe for Boston winters, cheap enough that she can bang it up a bit, and we can eventually turn it into a rally car!). OBS hood/spoilers and flat-black wheelcovers adding a dash of attitude. Problem: Butt sagged and rear struts shagged; Daddy's back just as bad. Winter's coming, and don't want to dive in too deep at the moment. The front end is fine, and going all around with the 195/60-15 Blizzaks that came with the car. Question: Can I throw in Forester or Outback rear struts to solve butt-sag and maybe give the thing a little bit of forward rake that won't look too silly with the smallish tires? (I'm willing to upsize, though.) Do I need to change the trailing-arm brackets and camber bolts as well? I want to retain the sway bar and steady handling characteristics. I guess the real question is, what do I NEED to do to to fix the problem, and be able to sleep when she goes skiing? Thanks!