darkstealth16

@el_freddo - I kept the SMJ so I wouldnt have to go through and connect all the wires running through it to one another. Seemed the easiest way to go, its a solid connection, uses factory wire colors etc, and makes things pretty easy to trace. I de-pinned the extra wires coming from it, tightened it good and snug. As a matter of fact, I took it out just a bit ago, hooked up the ECU and harness, run my 12V hot lines where they need to go, relays kicked on as they should, sprayed some starting fluid in the intake and BINGO! She ran! Sounded rowdy as all get out because it has no exhaust, and only ran long enough to burn the starting fluid (I hadnt connected fuel pump yet) but, you are exactly right! SHE RAN! And yes, all wires are labeled where they need to go etc. Thats why it was killing me I wasnt getting power and nothing seemed to be working. I went over and over it and it didnt make sense. Checked my SMJ and while it had connection, it was a bit off so it wasnt getting good contact. Tightened it down good and snug and got it sorted out. I knew trying to ask for help with the wiring would be rough, but, I was at my whits end. Thanks for the Feedback Bennie! Allan

@Step-a-toe Thanks! Haha, Well, small update. Actually, big update! Got the ECU working! Whipped out my test power supply, did some more fiddling, and isolated the grounds I need to get the ECU going. On my ottoman, in the living room, I was able to get 12V to the ECU, and with the test mode connectors hooked up, My main relay fired! Put 12v to my "switched" 12V annnnnddd FUEL PUMP RELAY is firing. Yay! FINALLY. I still have the SMJ in place. I think it was a combination of a loose connection in the SMJ, and I ran my "Power supply" ground coming to the ECU directly to the power supply source ground I am using, and got it working. So now I know, Ive got a ground off that Ive gotta fiddle with. But, the rest of my harness should be sound! I am hoping to have this thing running soon!

Hey everyone, So, I have been slowly restoring (I guess you can call it that) an 87 RX that sat in the woods for 20 some odd years. Its in amazing shape despite that. Anyway... here is my issue. I am a good portion through an EJ22 swap into it. So far, Ive done alright. Got the adapter plate, clutch, flywheel modded, all that jazz. Motor is sitting happily in the engine bay bolted to the transmission ready to run. I started with a 94 Legacy 2.2, MT, FWD. I was pretty careful about pulling the harness, it was a junker car so I ripped the dash out, left the wires hooked to the engine and pulled it through into the engine bay from inside. Was a bit tricky, but, I wanted to unplug as little as possible. I thinned y harness out, getting rid of all the extras. I have, in front of me: 1: Fuel pump relay 2: Main Relay 3: Double Diode (people say this is super duper important, I accidently snipped a wire on it by mistake and not 100% sure where it goes. Currently have it connected to constant 12V+ as that was the best explanation I could find where that connects) 4: MAF 5: Ignitor 6: Both Main engine plugs 7: Back of engine plugs (that goes to o2 sensor, etc I have 12V+ CONSTANT connected to the Main Relay (fat yellow wires) fuel pump relay (fat yellow wire) and yellow from Diode I have switched 12V+ to ECU Ignition switch, Starter Switch (not in car, but switch off 12V power supply) and Small yellow wire on Fuel relay. When the harness is plugged into the Engine harness, the main ground wire comes off the engine harness plug. I have followed a video made by Busaru on Youtube showing a harness test, where he grounds said harness ground wire to power supply ground, and is able to get relays to function. I do not have any of the gauge wires hooked up, as they should be unneeded for Fuel/Main relay to function (as demonstrated in said video I just mentioned, he bench tests his harnesses using test mode cables on ECU switched power, constant power and Ground to get Fuel pump/main/fan relays to function) Just from this small writing, am I missing anything particularly obvious? I am about to go back outside to try hooking the harness back up to the car to see if now that I have triple checked my 12V power connections, if the issue is I missed a grounding wire or something... but, I am at a loss. Ive been struggling with this portion of things for about 2 months now (off and on of course, among all the other projects) and this is where I am hung up. The rest, hopefully will be a piece of cake, once I get past this hurdle. I will also say, this ECU did come from a running car. It ran before I took it apart. That is NOT to say that, even though I do not BELIEVE that I damaged the ECU inadvertently, but it definitely is within the realm of possibility also. I can't figure out a way to test the ECU itself to see if I can apply voltage directly to it to read voltage elsewhere... I am just not sure how I might go about testing that exactly. Anyway, I hope I have been thorough enough in this, I have searched high and low for the answers I seek... I have the FSM for the car, pin outs, you name it. At this point, I just think I have exhausted all my options of this on my own, and finally reaching out for help! I'm hoping someone will be able to lend me a hand, I would really, REALLY appreciate it!!! Allan

Hey There! I'm not too far off, so depending what you have, I look forward to seeing more of what you are offering! Welcome! Any subaru's of your own that you drive? Allan

Got it, sounds like a plan. Not my first rebuild, just my first Subie and first turbo car. Otherwise Ive done a head job on my 95 Probe GT I had (miss it terribly hence getting another zippy white 2 door coupe project) and top and bottom end on an 89 Ford Festiva along with tons and tons of other work on stuff. So rebuilding I'm not concerned too much about, it was mainly whether or not I should "waste" money on it. As far as prior abuse it was an older mans car, son drove for a while, and it was his "baby" so it was well maintained while it was driving. Ran hot and parked it. Hoses, lines and all are in great shape not brittle etc at all. no oil leaks I can find thus far. So it may just be in good enough shape to get rebuilt and last another 100k!

I bought the car for $200, as a tinker with project. Granted, I'd like to get it running and not sit on it forever. When projects sit, they get the back burner and ultimately unfinished. So trying to stay engaged on this and keeping doing things to make progress! Last time it was on the road was 1997. In NC, we have yearly state inspections, so in order to have it on the road, needs to be inspected. The inspection sticker on the windshield is dated for 1997. Bought it from a guy who's dad passed away and wanted it to go to a good home and not a scrap yard. Said it ran hot and prolly needed head gaskets. Compression test of just the passenger side cylinders was 120lbs and 80lbs... which tells me it probably does need at least that side needs it. Which ya never do just one side obviously. But they never had trouble with it over a 10 year period regular maintenance was done, and it has 180k miles on it...

I'm In North Carolina, Winston-Salem area. Sent you a PM before seeing your additional post Gary.

Looked at car-part.com as suggested, found a 95 1.8 with 88k miles on it, indicates it ran good before being pulled, for $250 from a place right in town. I think that is going to be the best bet, Low mileage, Shouldnt need to put in a bunch for parts up front besides the essentials obviously before dropping in the motor. 1.8 I think will be comparable power wise to the EA82T, but without the fuss of the turbo. Always room to improve later on by upgrading to a 2.2 intake when I decide to do so (cant find any reasonable priced 2.2 and wanna get the car going without spending a ton of $$) so that may be my best route.

There is an EJ18 in the local pull-a-part seems to have decent compression turning over by hand, so I may go that rout. Its out of a 96 Impreza... Might be the best way to go, ill be doing some research for sure. And glad that the wiring harness isnt too splice heavy, im fine with trimming and taking out the unneeded bits.

Thanks for that advice folks. That was my logic in thinking. I realoze its not ourely "plug and play" not the best word choice there on my part, but it doesnt sound like its a very complex swap. I do want to keep the trans and center diff lock dual range all wheel drive systen, being a manual car should make the swap that much easier vs auto. The wiring is a bit intimidating because it would be my first big wiring project car wise. I am an electronics person though so shouldnt be that bad once I decide to tackle it. But the points made about maintaining the car being easier, the cost effectiveness of getting a new engine to freshen up instead of trying to rebuild whats in it are all valid points that I was considering. So to my understanding for this swap the basics are: Source an EJ22 from a legacy/impreza (assuming obd1 would be easiest) Entire wiring harness Make or purchase adapter plate to adapt EJ to EA trans ECU from donor for wiring Other misc adjustments for fitment (cooling, mounts etc) Any other big takeaways? Ive see. Other RX guys do swaps but ive seen most do other stuff on top of it, standalone engine management etc... Wondering if there is anyome familair with a "as close to stock" swap for this car. Again money is the main factor. Its a project not a money pit thanks again friends!

Hey folks. New to the forums and the world of subaru. I picked up a 87 subaru RX that had been sitting in the woods for 20 years. Got it cleaned up, wiring intact and even managed to get it fired up with some starting fkuid. Did a compression test on the passenger cylinders. 120 out of one and 80 out of the other. Original owner parked it after overheating thinking it needs head gaskets, which my compression test confirms. Ive read some of the EJ swap info, and looking for some advice on which route to go. I picked it up as a prohect to tinker on, for $200. Id like to keep things as budget friendly and inexpensive as possible, id rather put in the work and time over soending a ton of money. What potential options are there? I could rebuild it but it does have 185k on the odometer, I live in NC and read these are notorious for overheating. It also is a turbo, but very low output for a turbo motor... Id very much like this to be a fun Rally esque car for driving around, some overlanding roadtrips (not extreme offroading but would be cool to take cross country off the beaten path) and im not sure the turbo motor is reliable enough for sonething like that. I read through some of the Ea2EJ swap pdfs, not sure how plug and play all that really is. And the guides are more geared toward the ea82 not ea82t swap. Id imagine with the turbo the computer is different so some of the wiring may be different? Again why im asking for advice. Maybe someone with an RX that has done a swap could lend a hand. Thanks folks

Hiya! My name is Allan. I am the proud owner of a recently purchased (last week) 1987 Subaru RX! It is a woods find, acquired for a very low price, as it needs quite a bit of work. I've done quite a bit of research about my beloved RX and hope to continue to learn more from the highly knowledgable folks here on USMB! I live in Winston Salem NC (Rural hall technically) so anyone nearby especially those with any experience with the late 80s Subaru and EA series motor, would definitely like to get together and learn a few things (ill buy the drinks!) I plan to make some sort of build thread of my Subaru, from its dismal days as the home to a opossum family (mama and 3 babies) to restoring it to its full rally-esque glory! Keep it classy ladies and gents, and may the odds be ever in your favor