Best donor for EJ swap in Brat?

[Rally_Blue]

I have been lurking on the forum for the last several years, so I've read a lot of threads but I have a few questions regarding the best possible donor car to obtain for an EJ swap I plan to do this winter on my 82 Brat.

 

After looking around on local craigslist I found what seems to be a cheap and solid enough donor car.

It is a 97 OB with an AT and EJ25D. I know the DOHC 25D will not fit between the frame rails of my EA81 chassis. If I pick this car up I was planning to swap to the 22 heads and make a frenkenmotor out of it for fitment and power reasons.

 

The main concerns I have are: (Whats the best 22 head to use?)

Will I be able to utilize everything (manifold, sensors, etc.) form the donor car to use with the 22 heads?

I would want to use dual port 22 heads, what years did those come from?

Is it better to use OBDI or OBDII heads?

Phase I or Phase II?

 

Thanks for the answers I plan on documenting the swap as best as possible and will be sure to post a build thread on it.

[Gloyale]

You'll need a intake for a EJ18 or EJ22 to work with the 2.2 heads.

 

Stay away from phase II 2.2's, they have larger heads and are wider, basically the same as a phase II 2.5 (SOHC)

[Numbchux]

I'm not a big fan of the frankenmotor....personally I'd start with a 2.2 donor, and if more power was desired, I'd throw a 2.5 shortblock in there.

 

That said, if you want to jump right into the frankenmotor, that's not a terrible way to do it. Having the OBDII 2.5 ECU is absolutely a good idea.

 

 

Dual-port 2.2s are '90-'95. You'll need the matching intake manifold for the heads, and IIRC the fuel rails are unique to the manifold. But you can use all the 2.5 sensors and wiring on the 2.2.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Numbchux

[Rally_Blue]

Thank you for those insights.

It looks like if all I'm using off this donor car is the SB and wiring harness for the swap, I don't think it is the right car to get.

 

Still after reading several threads on the subject the OBDII ECU and harness is desirable for a swap of this nature.

 

I will keep looking

Thanks again.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Rally_Blue

[tallwelder81]

ej18 is lighter, better efficiency <gas sipper>, and

makes a good amount of power, without killing the rest of the drivetrain.

 

also, it never ever ever overheats. the block is twenty feet thick.

plenty strong, takes a ton of abuse.

 

but yea....

 

as far as the wiring and ECU go, i got all my info from suberdave.

 

he knows a TON about EJ swaps. suberdave is like an encylopedia

of subaru knowledge.

 

im not saying that nobody else here knows anything.

just saying that dave was who i dealt with, and he really knows his...

....stuff.....

 

 

gotta watch my NC17 vocabulary on this pg13 forum, lol....

ive got myself a serious potty mouth. better work on that, huh?