Can you put a 2003obw engine in a 1999obw?

[gspoulos]

We've got a 99obw with 95 k miles and a blown head gasket. We're thinking of putting a 2003 engine with 20k miles in it. How will a 2003 engine work with the 1999's components and computer - are there some major gotchas and future problems - things to watch out for? I put some details in an earlier thread last night (1am) about the head gasket but we're thinking this might be a more reliable route than the head gasket repair.

[nipper]

whats the earlier thread?

 

nipper

[Suzam]

Here:

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49366

[gspoulos]

Here it is. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49366

 

whats the earlier thread?

 

nipper

[nipper]

i would just fix the head gasket, Its a fix once item. for the 2003 engine i believe there may have been a tightening of emissions and a differnt air flow senser, ECU, and god knows what else. Mechnically its easy to do, electronically i dont know.

 

 

 

nipper

[Commuter]

I've posted before on this, since I was looking at doing the same thing a few years ago with my 97 OB.

 

There use to be a guy on the board who did exactly this with a 97 GT. He ran into a number of issues. He used the original wiring and ECU. Off the top...

 

Can't swap manifolds. They are different.

TPS and/or IAC were different.

Sensor wheels for crank and/or cam were different.

Power steering lines had to be re-routed slightly.

Constant EGR CEL (the SOHC engines don't have one).

On the plus side...

The exhaust bolted right up, no problem.

 

A few other things too I think. I have his full run down somewhere (but not at home just now). It turned into more work than he anticipated. He was actually able to steal some of the needed / different parts off an old 1.8L engine (IIRC).

 

It CAN be done, but it has some headaches. I ended up just fixing my gaskets... (but then a conrod went...).

 

Commuter

[ballitch]

i say fix your HG. and while your at it, get the "thin" HG form a dealership, they will know which one is the thin one, it will raise your compression a bit. only by about .3 or so, not enough to notice a difference, or change in fuel economy, but it will have a tiny bit more power, like 1-2 hp. but the gaskets cost pretty much the same amount, and you might as well get an extra pony or two out of the deal.

 

 

~Josh~

[cookie]

I agree that the swap is somewhat of a can of worms. I looked at the idea too and decided instead to buy a Forester that already had a phase 2.

On the other side the block is a drop in. I would have a great temptation to buy a brand new block as I have been told they are about $1800.

If you can find someone familiar with the swap to help you and you had all the parts from the other car it could be fine. I think you would have to change all the wiring, computers, and probaly several things you have not thought about like speedometer and sensors. I have done a number of engine swaps and some of them in the same auto family required a lot of changes.

This is one of those situations that gets complicated fast.

[gspoulos]

Hey guys, thanks alot. I went ahead with the head gasket repair and will have the upgraded gasket and new heads. The place doing it is Summit Auto in Aurora. He's done 50 engine replacements in the past year and came highly recommended for either a new engine or the HG repair.

 

The replacement would be mechanical only, but he gives a one year warranty and hasn't had folks come back with problems (today he said it is actually pretty straightforward once you've done that many). His shop is chock full o' parts and so maybe though its mechanical those other problems are relatively well handled there compared with some other shops.

 

If I recall correctly he said there is some welding involved for the exhaust, but otherwise you can use what's there.

 

Based on what all of this MB has been through it sounds like the HG should last long enough for us.

[cookie]

From your description they should know what they are doing. The odd thing about engine swaps is that after you have done it once with one model it is pretty easy. If they do nothing but Subarus they should know what fits what and will be able to inspect your engine to be sure it is a good repair.

lots of luck and it sounds like you have made the right choice for you.

[Martinjmpr]

Hey guys, thanks alot. I went ahead with the head gasket repair and will have the upgraded gasket and new heads. The place doing it is Summit Auto in Aurora. He's done 50 engine replacements in the past year and came highly recommended for either a new engine or the HG repair.

 

I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences, since I may have to have some work done soon (103k on my 99 obw) and I'm also in the Denver metro area.

 

I have to say, it's great to drive a Subaru in Colorado. Plenty of them around and lots of shops, both franchised dealers and independents. Makes it nice to have lots of choices!

[cookie]

for Subaru experts. Here in the Bay Area we have a few good independents but it seems a lot of the experts are in the Pacific Northwest, a few in New England, and then scattered haphazardly around. Any place with lots of snow is a good bet. I have no idea how Josh got into Subarus in Texas.