92 Loyale 1.8 vs 2.2, 3AT vs 94 5spd.

[Suba9792]

So I just bought a 92 loyale, really good shape, however its weak as hell, and the tranny shifts real funny(it says it does in the manual)3at, I am buying a 94 legacy soon and might just pull the guts from it and do a swap, the 2.2 in the legacy runs like crap so probably a complete engine rebuild, and it has a 5spd, I dont need a DR because its not a wheeling car. How hard is it to do the swap, Obviously the radiator and alot of emission crap as well, but what else is involved, I want it to be a perfect job, not a crappy swap that wil fall apart in a month.

[Gloyale]

If you're not gonna wheel it, just keep the legacy.

 

they are better cars.

 

Sell the loyale.

[GeneralDisorder]

Agreed - the Legacy is a much better car. The Loyale is great if you like working on your car.... and sometimes swearing under your breath about how you *just* fixed ____ and now ____ is needing to be fixed again. Such is the way of the EA82 - worst of all Subaru engines.

 

The Legacy is great if you like driving cars and not really having to do much to them.

 

As for how much work the swap is - it's considerable. To do it right - well for example I'm working with a fellow board member that wanted his Brat converted to a 5 speed D/R and EJ22. He's probably about at a similar level to you as far as knowledge. He figures he's about $2,000 into the conversion (not including buying the Brat) - that's buying the engine, tranny, wiring harness, adaptor plate, drilled flywheel, new clutch kit, paying to have the harness stripped, timing belt kit, gaskets, exhuast bits..... the list goes on. Then there's all the time I've donated to the project just because I wanted to learn about the EJ22 swap process. We finished it last weekend and it drove to a rally event and ran through a single race - then complications arose and it wasn't able to finish - nothing we did *wrong* per-se - but parts failed and that's what happens with unknown condition used parts. Had to trailer it back and pull the tranny out for repair work. It's fixed now, but it's a long, expensive process to do things *right*.

 

GD

Edited April 5, 2010 by GeneralDisorder

[rxleone]

Agreed - the Legacy is a much better car. The Loyale is great if you like working on your car.... and sometimes swearing under your breath about how you *just* fixed ____ and now ____ is needing to be fixed again. Such is the way of the EA82 - worst of all Subaru engines.

 

The Legacy is great if you like driving cars and not really having to do much to them.

 

GD

 

This is true - I love my GL, but before I got into wheeling my 89' Legacy was miles better. That car was awesome

[Suba9792]

Well...then maybe I'll just sell it, I really dont want to deal with the EA82, and its billion problems or the 3at. any one interested let me know $1,200, 148k, white, no rust, brand new tires, less than 2k. newer CVs(receipts), HGs have been done. still has a good clear coat,Not a single dent on the car, nice little rally bar with lights on the front,Cobra CB mounted on the ceiling,Whip antenna mounted in the front, interior is absolutely flawless(for a 92) just needs new wheel bearings and a tranny flush, wash and wax(if you care) other than that its really a nice looking car just needs some TLC, I really dont want to hassle with it every other month. You pick up cash only.......maybe buy my wife a new 09' OB or somethin.:-\, I'd do a EJ swap but I dont have to cash or the time to do it, plus I have a 4 year old to put through school.

[asis]

You have to treat the EA82 like a typical grocery getter, and then it can be a very reliable and dependable engine, it is after all, still a subie

 

If you want something to get from point A to B at the speed limit, in "normal" driving conditions, including some inclement weather, the EA82 can certainly deliver. While it may be the "worse" engine Subaru ever made, that still makes it comparable if not superior to other engines.

 

Bottom line, it give back what you give, abuse it and it will you, treat it nice and it will return the favor. This engine, and the cars they were installed in, were never marketed as being offroad terrors. Grocery getters is all they were, and they do a FINE job of it....IHMO