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Brat Motor Swap


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I suppose it was both due to emissions laws as well as because I don't think Subaru thought they had a market for them here. There are a lot of factors - the last EJ turbo for the US market prior to the WRX was the EJ22T in the '94 Turbo Legacy.

 

Pretty much I think Subaru figured they couldn't sell them. It may/may not have been a mistake but consider that fuel was cheap and we have a lot of powerful sports cars here already. Rally racing wasn't as popular back then, etc. The market didn't exist basically.

 

Subaru eventually created the market with the success of the WRX and then eventually offered the STi to complement it. They still sell a lot more WRX's than STi's.

 

GD

 

Makes sense, I suppose while we were luck to get the early STIs, the EJ22Ts were never imported, which sucks big time :(

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Yeah - I do love the closed deck 22T in my '91 SS. It's a whole different car to what most people know of gen 1 Legacy's. I just wish they hadn't neutered it with the US market heads. :mad:

 

GD

 

I know. Imagine an EJ22T with DOHC STi heads and intake/fuel system. Now that would be an indestructible powerhouse.

 

Say, do you know if the standard EFI EJ22s came out closed deck?

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I know. Imagine an EJ22T with DOHC STi heads and intake/fuel system. Now that would be an indestructible powerhouse.

 

Basically - you describe the 22B. Which we didn't get :rolleyes:. But we have the ability to make something similar since we have the block's.

 

Say, do you know if the standard EFI EJ22s came out closed deck?

 

They are not - they are open deck. EA's are closed but those were the last non-turbo Subaru engine to use a closed deck design. Die-casting is cheaper and the EJ non-turbo was designed from the outset to be die-cast. The only exception to that rule was the (pre 96?) turbo's and the newer "semi-closed deck" stuff in like the EJ257, etc.

 

From what I understand of those folks that build 22's and 22T's - the plain open deck block is just fine up to like 500 HP anyway. It was just overkill on Subaru's part - like the piston skirt oil sprayers - even the 22B did not have those but Subaru was so paranoid about putting the EJ22T into the US market they added them anyway.

 

GD

Edited by GeneralDisorder
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Basically - you describe the 22B. Which we didn't get :rolleyes:. But we have the ability to make something similar since we have the block's.

 

 

 

They are not - they are open deck. EA's are closed but those were the last non-turbo Subaru engine to use a closed deck design. Die-casting is cheaper and the EJ non-turbo was designed from the outset to be die-cast. The only exception to that rule was the (pre 96?) turbo's and the newer "semi-closed deck" stuff in like the EJ257, etc.

 

From what I understand of those folks that build 22's and 22T's - the plain open deck block is just fine up to like 500 HP anyway. It was just overkill on Subaru's part - like the piston skirt oil sprayers - even the 22B did not have those but Subaru was so paranoid about putting the EJ22T into the US market they added them anyway.

 

GD

 

Wow, that's impressive. Might have to start brainstorming for a NA EJ22 Engine.

 

What is often done in NZ is we take the 2.2l block and heads, and slap a carbed EJ18 intake and carb on top - easy carbed 2.2l. They run quite well from what I've seen - I've seen one at a gas station in a Brat.

 

You ever heard of/tried that?

Edited by rxleone
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Folks here in the states have done carbed 22's, yes. Modified manifold with a Weber and then use a Ford Escort distributor. It works - but I would rather transplant the EJ22's MPFI system as it's more robust and handles obscene angles off-road without a hitch where carbs have a nasty habit of dying on strange slopes when the float bowl won't function anymore.

 

GD

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Folks here in the states have done carbed 22's, yes. Modified manifold with a Weber and then use a Ford Escort distributor. It works - but I would rather transplant the EJ22's MPFI system as it's more robust and handles obscene angles off-road without a hitch where carbs have a nasty habit of dying on strange slopes when the float bowl won't function anymore.

 

GD

 

Wow I never would have guess that. Where did you learn all this info? You sure know your shit GD :)

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As for putting V8's into an EA81 body..... LOL.

 

Could it be done? Sure it could. Wouldn't be a Subaru anymore and probably would only slightly resemble one. It would be a Brat shaped drag machine. Might as well build a tube frame and put Brat looking fiberglass on it. That would actually be easier.

 

Oh - and this aint the kid that's going to do it either. Anyone want to take bets on that statement?

 

GD

 

Actually, a fully dressed ford 302 fits between the framerails of a gen2 brat with the stock exhaust manifolds. I know a guy that's putting a brat body on an early bronco frame, one of the 66-78 broncos. He's mounted the body down tight to the frame, so the engine is sitting up in the engine bay. Fits fine. He has piles of Early Broncos in his yard and piles of brats too so it's a natural combo.

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Actually, a fully dressed ford 302 fits between the framerails of a gen2 brat with the stock exhaust manifolds. I know a guy that's putting a brat body on an early bronco frame, one of the 66-78 broncos. He's mounted the body down tight to the frame, so the engine is sitting up in the engine bay. Fits fine. He has piles of Early Broncos in his yard and piles of brats too so it's a natural combo.

 

Now that would be something to see. Reckon you can get us photos?

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Actually, a fully dressed ford 302 fits between the framerails of a gen2 brat with the stock exhaust manifolds.

 

Cool - though it gets the depth from the benefit of the Bronco frame and the Brat's frame rails plus the bronco's cross-member and solid axles. I'm sure it's a neat build but it's not "putting a V8 in a Brat" - it's skinning a bronco with the crapped out shell of a Brat...... there's definitely a difference. :)

 

GD

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Wow I never would have guess that. Where did you learn all this info? You sure know your shit GD :)

 

Been here for years - there's lots of folks that know this stuff - just most of them don't post - probably don't type fast enough or don't care to share.

 

That and I've lost count of how many Subaru's I've had. Oldest would be a '78 - newest - '00. I currently have a "fleet" of 8 as well as one lonely VW and a '69 GMC 3/4 ton (tow/haul rig).

 

GD

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