Install a 2.2 into a 99 leg outback. Need advise from the best

[raptorman6600]

I currently have a 99 legacy outback with a 2.5 and believe it or not the head gasket it great, however, there is a nasty bottom end knock and loosing oil out from around the harmonic balancer. After a little research, this is what I have come up with.

- Engine builders around here don’t want to touch since its not a conventional style engine

-since this thing is a 99 apparently only the 99 engine will work,

-its difficult to find a good engine that was produced for only 1 year, that are noted for problems, and that is reasonable.

Since there are so many known issues with the 2.5 engine and much fewer with the 2.2 I would like to swap it in since they are cheaper and easier to get a hold of. This is what I understand thus far about swapping Subaru parts.

- 1995+ with a 2.2 engine will allow for obdII , and for exhaust to swap

-The engine mounts and bell housing bolts are universal and no problem to swap any Subaru engine

*Some have had issues with starter blots, or rather the lack of starter bolt holes?? Information was sorta vague on this topic....

Option #1

*Discrepancy with the 99 in particular seem to fall with a vastly different sensor setup, however I am not sure if those are related to the block, the head or the intake. The being said,

**if the sensors in the blocks are the same, but the heads and/or intake are different, would it be possible to swap the 2.5 heads/intake onto the 2.2 block ?

if so that would allow for the same sensors to remain

 

Option #2

If the information above is correct and head swapping is not possible, then is it more feasible to acquire the engine wiring harness and computer from the 95 car that is donating the engine?

*Not sure if that would directly plug into the rest of the 99’s wiring, or if the 1999 car was just wired and setup totally different from the mid 90’s 2.5.

Basically what I’m asking is, what would the easiest route be to swap a 2.2 into a 99 outback and what am I looking at?

Otherwise, is there another engine besides the 99 2.5 engine that would swap in with little difficulty that is 1.) more reliable, 2.) easier to find 3.) reasonable to find with low miles?

[Gloyale]

The only thing different about the 99 engine as compared with the 96-98 is the extra holes in the bellhousing. You could use any DOHC 2.5 if you like.

 

Let me ask, is you're car a manual or an Automatic. if it's an automatic, you won't have any issue with missing starter bolts (the bottom bolt is a stud in the trans bell)

 

But if you really want a 2.2 you are gonna want to get an early one....95 or older. Later ones will have a single port exhaust....(so you'd need the exhaust y-pipe from donor car....which most yards don't sell)

 

Swap over you're wirng harness from the 2.5 onto the 2.2 and you're done.

 

You will have a code for EGR though because the 2.2 doesn't have an EGR circuit.

 

other option as mentioned is swap you're heads and intake onto a 2.2 block.....which will work.....but will yield power loss.

 

 

Where are you located that a rebuilder won't touch it? That would really be the best bet for the long run.

[raptorman6600]

The only thing different about the 99 engine as compared with the 96-98 is the extra holes in the bellhousing. You could use any DOHC 2.5 if you like.

 

Let me ask, is you're car a manual or an Automatic. if it's an automatic, you won't have any issue with missing starter bolts (the bottom bolt is a stud in the trans bell)

 

But if you really want a 2.2 you are gonna want to get an early one....95 or older. Later ones will have a single port exhaust....(so you'd need the exhaust y-pipe from donor car....which most yards don't sell)

 

Swap over you're wirng harness from the 2.5 onto the 2.2 and you're done.

 

You will have a code for EGR though because the 2.2 doesn't have an EGR circuit.

 

other option as mentioned is swap you're heads and intake onto a 2.2 block.....which will work.....but will yield power loss.

 

 

Where are you located that a rebuilder won't touch it? That would really be the best bet for the long run.

 

Its an automatic. So when you say wiring harness you just mean the engine harness? What about the computer? To do that would it just be simple plug and play or would it just be easier to switch off my current heads onto a different block to retain the same sensors? My biggest question is, are the blocks themselves drilled differently for different sensors in 99 versus previous year 2.5's or is it just the heads? I live in western PA.

[Gloyale]

My biggest question is, are the blocks themselves drilled differently for different sensors in 99 versus previous year 2.5's or is it just the heads? I live in western PA.

 

No, there is no physical difference in the blocks other than the 4 extra bellhousing holes on your 99 2.5.

 

you will not need to swap any wiring on the car

 

You don't need to swap computers.

 

Basically, all you need is to take the intake off both engines, and swap over your original wiring onto the new 2.2 intake.

 

Might need to swap the vent solenoid from you're car if the wiring won't plug into the 2.2 solenoid.

 

Also, possibly the coolant crossover pipe(which you should pull and put new o-rings under anyhow). 99 2.5 may have the 3 pin, combined gauge and ECU temp sensor which you'll need to retain.

 

Basically you need to match the wiring to the car onto the new engine.

 

(tip: use a 1+9/16 x 1/8th inch O-ring for the crossover. you can get the subaru ones from the dealer for 5 bucks each............or get a pack from the auto parts store for less than 50 cents a piece)

Edited August 4, 2010 by Gloyale