Is this swap worth doing?

[dssenne]

I have a 1992 Legacy (EJ22) that threw a timing belt about a year ago, and I had a "new" engine put in. Runs fine now, but it does have some other issues (no speedometer, lots of rust, generally getting old).

A friend has just aquired a '99 Outback limited with 140K and a blown engine (EJ25). Everything else on the car is very nice.

I can get this from him for little to no cost. Would it be practical to have the EJ22 from my '92 put in this '99?

They are both automatics. My '92 is fwd. If it was practical to do this, I'd end up with a much nicer car.

Any guess as to what a swap like this might cost me?

[wavekayaker]

Some guys with more experience will prob. Chime in. This swap has been discussed many, many, many times. The short answer is yes. The 92 does not have an EGR. The 99 does. You will have a check engine light. Some people have defeated the light by just having the EGR solenoid plugged in, but not attached to the engine. Search a little for more details.

 

BTW, the 92 is a non interference engine. Why was it replaced when the timing belt broke? There should have been no damage from that.

 

Good luck with the swap! I have a 99 Outback with a swapped EJ22 and love it!

[lmdew]

Yes, but I'd just source a 95 2.2 with EGR.  Do it right the first time.

[dssenne]

Some guys with more experience will prob. Chime in. This swap has been discussed many, many, many times. The short answer is yes. The 92 does not have an EGR. The 99 does. You will have a check engine light. Some people have defeated the light by just having the EGR solenoid plugged in, but not attached to the engine. Search a little for more details.

 

BTW, the 92 is a non interference engine. Why was it replaced when the timing belt broke? There should have been no damage from that.

 

Good luck with the swap! I have a 99 Outback with a swapped EJ22 and love it!

I should have researched this more before I posted. I did so last night. The check engine light could be a problem, I'd have to look into that. I did bypass the EGR on a Nissan once with a resistor taped into the plug.

I thought the 92 was an interference engine. I'd seen that online, and that's what the mechanic who replaced the engine told me.  Other than the problem with the EJ25 and head gaskets, are late 90's Outbacks reliable?

[wavekayaker]

I think they are all pretty bomb proof with the exception of the head gaskets of the ej25d and possible torque bind issues if the tires were mismatched. If the price was right I would jump on it. Even if you didn't use the 92 engine, sourcing a 95 from an automatic isn't that hard. (The 95 ej22 from an auto car is a direct drop in. It has the EGR and duel port heads).

 

So far as the interferance, the ej22 is a non interferance engine up till 96. 97 went to an interferance. My grandad had a mechanic tell him that about an old escort he has that poped a timing belt. Mechanic told him that because the belt broke the heads were toast, but that he could replace the engine for him for $1400. 2 hours and $90 later, I had his trusty 93 escort going again for him. Morale of the story, Google is your friend. It took 5 minutes to determine that the Escort was a non interferance engine. F-ing mechanic trying to take advantage of a 90 year old man.

[chaz345]

I think they are all pretty bomb proof with the exception of the head gaskets of the ej25d and possible torque bind issues if the tires were mismatched. If the price was right I would jump on it. Even if you didn't use the 92 engine, sourcing a 95 from an automatic isn't that hard. (The 95 ej22 from an auto car is a direct drop in. It has the EGR and duel port heads).

 

So far as the interferance, the ej22 is a non interferance engine up till 96. 97 went to an interferance. My grandad had a mechanic tell him that about an old escort he has that poped a timing belt. Mechanic told him that because the belt broke the heads were toast, but that he could replace the engine for him for $1400. 2 hours and $90 later, I had his trusty 93 escort going again for him. Morale of the story, Google is your friend. It took 5 minutes to determine that the Escort was a non interferance engine. F-ing mechanic trying to take advantage of a 90 year old man.

Actually the EJ22 is non interference until 99. The change made in 97 was that they went to solid lifters so those motors require periodic valve adjustments.

[chaz345]

I should have researched this more before I posted. I did so last night. The check engine light could be a problem, I'd have to look into that. I did bypass the EGR on a Nissan once with a resistor taped into the plug.

I thought the 92 was an interference engine. I'd seen that online, and that's what the mechanic who replaced the engine told me.  Other than the problem with the EJ25 and head gaskets, are late 90's Outbacks reliable?

The 92 EJ22 is most definitely not an interference motor.

 

In terms of wether or not to do the swap, EGR issues aside yes, do it assuming the motor you have is solid. If your location doesn't have emissions testing then just ignoring the EGR shouldn't be too much of a problem although the constant on check engine light would cause you to mist anything else it was trying to tell you.  If you've not got emissions testing you could always just swap over the ECU too.  In terms of cost, if you've got the motor already, should be about $700 in labor, at least in my area. As long as the motor is out, you might as well spend a few $$ on parts and have every possible seal replaced as well as timing belt too.

 

The only thing you may notice in terms of performance is that with the taller gears and larger wheels, acceleration with the 2.2 may be a little but sluggish. On the upside though, it would slightly improve MPG.

[mikaleda]

Actually the EJ22 is non interference until 99. The change made in 97 was that they went to solid lifters so those motors require periodic valve adjustments.

97 is when they started making interferance motors including the 2.2 do a search it will show you that immediately Edited February 10, 2013 by mikaleda

[Suzam]

Actually the EJ22 is non interference until 99. The change made in 97 was that they went to solid lifters so those motors require periodic valve adjustments.

97 through 99 the 2.2 are interference motors, 99 was the LAST year for the 2.2's after that all Subies had 2.5.

[chaz345]

I was mistaken on the 97-99 EJ22's being non-interference.

[dssenne]

The 92 EJ22 is most definitely not an interference motor.

 

In terms of wether or not to do the swap, EGR issues aside yes, do it assuming the motor you have is solid. If your location doesn't have emissions testing then just ignoring the EGR shouldn't be too much of a problem although the constant on check engine light would cause you to mist anything else it was trying to tell you.  If you've not got emissions testing you could always just swap over the ECU too.  In terms of cost, if you've got the motor already, should be about $700 in labor, at least in my area. As long as the motor is out, you might as well spend a few $$ on parts and have every possible seal replaced as well as timing belt too.

 

The only thing you may notice in terms of performance is that with the taller gears and larger wheels, acceleration with the 2.2 may be a little but sluggish. On the upside though, it would slightly improve MPG.

Thanks for the info. Although we don't have emissions testing where I live, I might be giving the car to my daughter who lives where they do, so the EGR issue would be a deal breaker. I think I'll see if I can source a later year EJ22.