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I have a 1999 Legacy GT Limited (2.5 DOHC) and would like to know if a 2001-2005 EJ25D 2.5(DOHC) engine/tranny will work.  The guy told me I would need to use my intake/EGR otherwise it would be fine.

 

Thoughts or comments?

 

Thanks!

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Sorry, newbie here. So my intake won't bolt on to the newer heads so I need to put my heads on the newer motor as well?  What other timing components would need to be pulled from my motor and placed on the newer one?  Will the newer tranny be fine?  I'm also concerned that the hardware all drops in but then I get engine codes due to something not being compatible.

 

Thanks! 

Edited by xyzb
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I have a 1999 Legacy GT Limited (2.5 DOHC) and would like to know if a 2001-2005 EJ25D 2.5(DOHC) engine/tranny will work.  The guy told me I would need to use my intake/EGR otherwise it would be fine.

 

Thoughts or comments?

 

Thanks!

 

2001-2005 US engines are not EJ25D 2.5 (DOHC) as you have listed. i assume that's a typo?  if we're going to get technical we need good info.

 

if you're talking about 2001-2005 EJ25's - then no those are not easily interchanged into a 1999 Legacy GT.   the intake manifolds do not interchange, they have a different bolt pattern.

 

You can use the short block only from 2001-2005.  bolt heads, intake manifold, exhaust to the 2001-2005 short block. 

 

the transmission i'm unsure of - those are wonky in 99+ vehicles regarding interchanging - i'd start by google searchign it.

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As Matt167 stated.

Heads, intake, and everything related to ignition timing from your DOHC to the SOHC EJ 251-253 from 01-05.

Need to swap the dipstick tube also. May have to change the flexplate.

 

Should be no codes, for the ecu will only see what your 98 harness tells it.

Any codes you may get will not be related to the swap.

 

If your new block does not have egr, there is a workaround. Do a search for how.

 

O.

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Yeah. the 2000+ EJ25 was SOHC and as mentioned, only the short block can interchange. DOHC EJ25 ended in 99 at least in the states. Compatible motors for the 99 DOHC EJ25 is 96-99DOHC EJ25 and 1995-1998 (Some 99s too) EJ22. 1990-94 work as well with an EJ22 intake manifold from a 95-98. There's a few threads that cover the little ins and outs of it. Conventional subaru wisdom is to replace a bad EJ25 DOHC with a good EJ22 SOHC. You lose a bit of horsepower but gain far more reliability with the EJ22.

 

Do a couple searches on here to determine if the transmission you have is Phase 1 or Phase 2 - spin on filter, 8 bolts vs 4 etc. they cannot cross phases for automatics. Manuals may have a workaround.

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Yeah. the 2000+ EJ25 was SOHC and as mentioned, only the short block can interchange. DOHC EJ25 ended in 99 at least in the states. Compatible motors for the 99 DOHC EJ25 is 96-99DOHC EJ25 and 1995-1998 (Some 99s too) EJ22. 1990-94 work as well with an EJ22 intake manifold from a 95-98. There's a few threads that cover the little ins and outs of it. Conventional subaru wisdom is to replace a bad EJ25 DOHC with a good EJ22 SOHC. You lose a bit of horsepower but gain far more reliability with the EJ22.

 

Do a couple searches on here to determine if the transmission you have is Phase 1 or Phase 2 - spin on filter, 8 bolts vs 4 etc. they cannot cross phases for automatics. Manuals may have a workaround.

 

IIRC, he can use his Phase 1 trans with the Phase 2 block as long as he keeps the flexplate from the Phase 1 block. The Phase 2 stuff had more bolt holes, but still had the same/original bolt pattern for the phase 1 stuff.

 

Also, beware the MY96 EJ25D. Had higher compression and requires premium fuel and the ECU to match (some of them).

 

And there's something about using 25D heads on a 251/153 block.... either you need a hybrid gasket, or the cooling passages don't line up well... something. It's been a while since I don't like using Phase 2 stuff (Phase 1 was just built better), but for the easiest swap, grab an EJ22, 97-99.

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Thanks for all the replies!   Sorry, it is not a GT.

 

The car is a 1999 Legacy Limited SUS  30th Anniversary

Here is my engine number: EJ25DAXEYL 2.5 DOHC

 

Newer Motor(JDM): EJ25 D - 2.5 DOHC   both from a Legacy Outback

Trans: EJ25-B82438

 

So would it be better to look for an EJ22 : 97- 99?  Will a tanny with that motor work as well?

 

I'm hoping to find a lower mileage motor/trans if possible.  My current trans seems to be fine althought there is a slight delay for it to engage when shifting form P to D or D to R.  Other than that it shifts fine and smooth.

Edited by xyzb
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Stick with your current transmission and add a bottle of Tran-x to the fluid. Fixes the delayed forward engagement. There's a thread here somewhere where it is discussed at length. 99-00 transmissions all had this issue eventually but it is no sign of their failure.

 

Best match for your car would be an EJ22 from a 1995 Impreza or legacy automatic. It would be a match in every way - dual port exhaust and OBDII wiring with EGR to match your car. That motor is also non interference. Non EGR motors will work but you'll get a check engine light unless you do some hefty work around stuff. Or get an intake manifold off of an EGRed EJ22.

 

1990-94 will also be non interference and dual port, but you will need an intake manifold/wiring from a 95-98.

 

96-98 will be matching intake manifold and wiring but has single port exhaust so you would need the Y pipe to match those EJ22s. And 97-98 are interference motors. Still just as reliable if you keep up on the timing belt intervals.

 

My advice - stop looking at phase II motors all together. Harder to come by, you can only use the block so you aren't getting much upgrade in reliability. The faster, cheaper, easier and far more reliable solution is a 1990-1998 EJ22.

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+1 on swapping in a 1995 2.2 motor. That is what I did to replace the 2.5 motor in my OBW. The 95 model is a direct swap without having to change the Y pipe. Also the 95 motor is non-interference. The 96-99, 2.2 motors became interference motors, so be aware of that too.

 

My auto 99 has the delayed forward tranny engagement problem. Trans-X is the solution. Much written on this forum about the Trans-X tranny fix. Here is the link to the post, that I originated back in 08................

FIXED!! Trany delayed forward engagement Edited by Rooster2
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You all rock!  I will look for EJ2.2 as mentioned. It sounds like it will bolt right up to my tranny. Is the 6th digit of the VIN that the motor comes from a big priority since we are going to a different motor? I'm looking at a 96 Imprezza/Outback EJ2.2 that has a 4 in the 6th digit.

 

Hopefully I can find a good used one with lower miles. Did the 2.2s have the head gasket issue as well?  Since it will be out, should I replace anything other than the usual timing belt/pulleys/tensioner/water pump?

 

Thanks again.

Edited by xyzb
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"Since it will be out" . . . Yes!  Replace the oil separator plate on the back right (passenger) side of the block.  Also remove the diamond shaped access plate on the left side and replace the O-ring inside it. 

 

Inspect the rear main seal but don't mess with it unless it's really bad--trying to replace it usually leads to more problems than you started with!  Good luck.

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Sounds good.  Any comment on this -

 

Is the 6th digit of the VIN that the motor comes from a big priority since we are going to a different motor? I'm looking at a 96
Imprezza/Outback EJ2.2 that has a 4 in the 6th digit.

 

Thanks

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