Potential new buy, 92 legacy turbo autotragic

[zagarus]

So I came across a grey 1992 legacy turbo automatic today with 323,000km on the clock. I still have to make plans to take a closer look at it and my question to the forum is what are some of the key things to look at on a EJ22T. I will be buying the car as a winter/rally car so chances are I will be rebuilding most if not all the engine down the road. Not to mention swapping in a 5spd.

 

That brings me to another question, is an auto to 5 spd swap difficult? I'm curious what will need to be done to the wiring and if the ECU will need to be swapped out. Any info would be great as this is the car i've been looking for for awhile (of course in 5spd but this will do for now).

 

Current car for schlits and giggles

 

 

[ericem]

Should be a good buy, as long as it has coolant and oil, and the engine seems pretty smooth its good. Maybe cold you might hear ticking from the HLA's but don't misinterpret it as rod knock.

 

5spd swap is pretty easy just need to ground a pin to tell the ecu to work for a 5spd and you can then remove the tcu. Just need to wire up a few switchs, reverse, clutch etc otherwise the rest of the parts will just bolt in.

 

EJ22T is closed deck and fares up as the strongest subaru motor built. Has a little vf11 but it responds nicely for how small it is.

 

If you buy it maybe do a tune up, plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter, oil change, and replace the knock sensor if it appears to be cracked as it will detune the performance.

[bheinen74]

lots of win in a ej22t.

Must use premium gas, i am sure you know this though thru searching.

good luck. post some pics and have fun.

I have had 2 autotragics, and 2 5mts, on my 4th legacy turbo these days.

The autotragic are fun if they shift well and no slipping.

[zagarus]

great to hear! I'll probably go pick it up this weekend, can't go wrong for 1500obo (we'll see how low I can go). I'm stoked!

[WoodsWagon]

Do the "power" shift mod when you get it. You move one wire from one position to another on one of the TCU connectors so that the clicky button on the side of the shifer puts the TCU into power mode and changes the shift points. I've done it to both of my friends turbo legacys, and it works well. Makes the auto livable.

 

We got partway through a 5spd swap with his wagon, so he has the extra pedal, but we never swapped the transmissions out because he had to go to florida. So, he's driving around with a spare pedal. When people ask, he just says it's semi-automatic.

[zagarus]

That's awesome. Ya I'm thinking i'll drive the leggy as is for this coming winter, and during this summer i'll fix up whatever needs to be done maintenance wise. But come next year I'm sure i'll have some work done to it. I can't build it right now cause i'm in the midst of finishing up a 1992 Jetta coupe with a Passat 1.9TD engine fully done out.

 

On a side note I have someone coming to buy the loyale tomorrow , then hopefully on saturday i'll go pick up the legacy.

[zagarus]

Got it!

 

 

Sounds like it may have spun a bearing, there's a loud scrapping/knocking noise coming from the center of the engine (well within the block). Still drove with no problems over 90km. Will be rebuilding the engine this year and swapping a 5spd before winter.

 

My friend has a tranny from a 99 impreza, would I need the rest of the driveshaft to the rear diff for it? I heard the 5spd is shorter then the automatic.

 

Secondly is there any cost effective head swap that can be done? A DOHC head of some sort say from a 2.5l?

[bheinen74]

the sounds possibly could be a borked flexplate.

before you tear into internals, check the flexplate by inspection, have to separate engine from trans to do so. might be a easy fix if this is it.

 

as for your head swap, dont you want to maintain the non-interference reassurance?

if you put in something else, you then create an intereference motor right?

 

ej22t heads can support 300hp the way they are, even more with porting. Its the engine management, injectors, maf, turbo etc that cannot support this in stock form.

Edited May 3, 2010 by bheinen74

[zagarus]

I will most likely keep the original heads, just do some work on them, and as for the flexplate I will certainly look into that when I pull the engine. I was going crazy last night over how much performance support there is for these legacys! I'm so happy

[WoodsWagon]

If it was a rod bearing making that much noise, you wouldn't have made it 90km home. The flexplates do crack right around the center hub, and will make all sorts of racket that sounds terminal.

 

Also check the bolt on the front of the crank. If it's loose, the crank pully will hog out the keyway and the pounding of the key cutting a slot into the pully makes a noise a lot like rod knock.

 

EJ25d heads can be tapped for the normal EJ20 turbo hookups for coolant and oil.

 

The SOHC heads can support horspower, but it's so much better to go the the DOHC's. Less boost, heat, and more power.

 

You know about the Legacycentral BBS right?

[zagarus]

By BBS are you referring to wheels? IF not then no I am not aware.

 

And the sound did seem like it was coming from the transmission area, just behind the engine. Maybe i'll swap it to 5 spd sooner (means no flexplate correct?)

[zagarus]

nevermind figured it out lol. Thanks for the mention!