EJ swap question (I know there are many, but this is my first!)

[l75eya]

I know there is very very extensive ea-ej swap info on here, and I've read a lot of it, but the majority of which is people going ea82 to ej2.2 and using an adapter plate to also use their old ea transmission.

That's not what I want to do and thus, I can't find the answer to my specific question.

Background info:

I picked up an early Impreza EJ18 motor AND it's FRONT wheel drive 5 speed transmission for $100. I'm not complaining. I'm prepping:
From the ride to my garage


To my place of work:



And last but not least with it sitting under that black stripe on my loyale



SO! That being said here's what I have:

CAR: 1993 Subaru Loyale EA82 engine  front wheel drive 5 speed trans
PARTS: 1993 Subaru Impreza EJ18
1993 Subaru Impreza front wheel drive trans

My big question is once I mount up the EJ motor to the slightly modified ea82 cradle and have the EJ trans bolted to the engine, are the axle stubs going to be lining up with my steering knuckles?

I also understand that the early EJ fwd transmissions have 23 spline stubs, just like the non-turbo ea cars, does that mean I am going to be able to use my EA axles? Or do I have to get FWD impreza axles?
Anybody know the differences in length on 23 spline EA axles and 23 spline fwd EJ axles?

Those are my main questions. I am going to tear the motor down and build it up before I stuff it in the car. I'm open to suggestions on modifications while it is apart (pistons,cams, etc)

Now I have to find a donor car for the wiring harness
do I *need* a fwd impreza ECU and harness? can I use later model car harnesses? Convert it to obd II? etc etc

Feed me knowledge! It's going to a good cause; yet ANOTHER EJ SWAP! (my first tho!)
 

[l75eya]

Thought of a couple more things:

I'm pretty sure this EJ trans is set up for a cable. I'll have to look. Can I use my existing EA clutch cable?
Is the shift linkage going to line up in the interior properly?

Getting my ducks in a row, so to speak.Trying to anyway.

[Scott in Bellingham]

the axles in the EA car should slip right onto the EJ FWD transaxle same spline count, EJ axles wont slip into the outer knuckles of a EA, on the harness you will need one that works with your engine plugs fwd or awd will be fine , on the clutch cable the EA cable will work but you need to swap the EA clutch bracket onto the EJ trans as the cable mt end is different , it will all make sence as you work with the parts, its Legos

[Numbchux]

EJ front diff is in the exact same place, and is the exact same width as an EA82. Yes, a '93 FWD EJ18 should have 23 spline stubs. FWD impreza axles would be correct if, and only if, you're going 5-lug.

 

I see no reason it couldn't be run off a '96-'99 EJ18 or EJ22 ECU.

Edited October 10, 2016 by Numbchux

[idosubaru]

Get a 1995-1998 EJ22 intake mainfold and it bolts right onto the EJ18 and then all 1995-1998 EJ22 and EJ25 (and 1999 Outback/Legacy EJ25) ECU's will work.  

EJ18's don't have a knock sensor but the threads are there - just screw a cheap ebay knock sensor in and plug it into the EJ22 wiring harness. 

And it's a much cleaner intake manifold than the EJ18 which is a beastly ugly thing. 

 

I've ran an EJ18 with EJ22 and EJ25 ECU - there was no noticeable difference at all switching ECU's - i think they're all making the same general computations, looknig at the same data, and come up with the same basic parameters to run it.

 

If you want to keep EGR - get an EJ22 manifold with EGR.
I just blocked the EGR off in the EJ18 and used a non-EGR EJ22 manifold for a cleaner engine bay. 

[l75eya]

I would like to go for as clean an engine bay as possible. I've even thought about going with carburetion, but the parts are hard to find. I'll look into the 2.2 intakes.

 

I have no reason to keep the egr.

 

Is there any point in throwing on different heads? 2.2, 2.0? Any compression gains, losses.?

 

I'm going to be resealing the motor while I have it on the stand so any potential swaps/modifications I'm trying to figure out now. I might get a regrind in the cams if it's not too costly.

[Scott in Bellingham]

I would like to go for as clean an engine bay as possible. I've even thought about going with carburetion, but the parts are hard to find. I'll look into the 2.2 intakes.

 

I have no reason to keep the egr.

 

Is there any point in throwing on different heads? 2.2, 2.0? Any compression gains, losses.?

 

I'm going to be resealing the motor while I have it on the stand so any potential swaps/modifications I'm trying to figure out now. I might get a regrind in the cams if it's not too costly.

carbed I can convert a stock intake to a weber, and also convert a ford Escort disty to work

[l75eya]

Scott there isn't much you CAN'T do hahahaha, I'm trying to keep costs down and work with what I've got though. You got new interested on the escort disty though, do you have anything i can read about that?

[el_freddo]

Performance wise EJ18? Nah I don't think there's much you can do unless you're going a small capacity turbo setup.

If NA the old adage "there's no replacement for displacement" rings true.

 

I've also heard the ej18 can use more fuel as you "ring it's neck" to get better performance. It will be more reliable than an EA82 hands down and certainly won't leak oil like the Eaa82 sieve!

 

Otherwise all the work and money you're putting in to make this reliable would be exactly the same as an EJ20 or EJ22...

 

Cheers

 

Bennie

[l75eya]

Thanks Bennie. I know the ej18s are bullet proof. I feel the ea82s are just as reliable though. Just pretty gutless. I'm sure I'll be happy with the ej.

[idosubaru]

i'd just go simple if low cost is the goal.

 

i'd put the cam money towards an EJ22 instead, they're not hard to find cheap.