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I thought you all might like to see progress of my seemingly-controversial EJ18 build.

 

Just so everyone knows, I plan on rebuilding the EJ18 shortblock (I'm told this engine does have 230k miles on it) and putting some EJ205 (USDM WRX) heads on it, then putting it into a GF Impreza wagon. Other than that, I'm not sure what I'm going to do, as far as which turbo I'm gonna use, etc. etc.

 

My goal is to get 300 chp out of it. That's all I need, that's all I want. Plus, I figure a Phase I open-deck 1.8-liter engine isn't good for much more no matter what I do to it. :rolleyes:

 

Anyway, I'll update this thread as I move along.

 

I did take it down basically to a longblock today:

000_1002.JPG

 

Here's what it looked like the day I got it:

000_0940.JPG

 

Expect to see most of this stuff on eBay in the next couple days:

000_1004.JPG

 

I can't do much more than that, as it's stuck on the tire. Once I get an engine stand (which won't be for a couple months :(), the heads will come off, and I'll probably tear the shortblock down.

 

:)

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  • 10 months later...

It's been a while since I touched this engine, but some n00b on RS25.com was swearing the EJ18 was semi-closed deck, so I pulled my heads tonight to prove him wrong :rolleyes:

 

So, I'm down to a short-block now. Yeah, I'm just moving right along with this project :rolleyes:.

 

But, I might be moving along faster soon, because also today, I scored a set of EJ205 heads... FREE! :D A WRX in the shop broke a timing belt I think and bent its valves, so the heads were pulled and replaced. All I did was ask my service manager, and he said take em! So, once I get some money, I'll get new valves for it and send them off to a machine shop. I'll probably P&P them and do some other stuff too.

 

But first, I need to verify that those heads will work on this block. If time permits, I should be able to do that in the next month or so.

 

Then I'll start looking into Eagle rods, custom pistons, etc.

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Is that from using the EJ22 headgasket?

 

I'm gonna hafta use the EJ205 headgasket, the EJ18 headgasket would block coolant passages on the head.

 

Is that what you're talking about?

 

Besides, using the EJ18 headgasket would get me around a 7.8:1 CR, which is too low anyway. The EJ205 headgasket would get me 8.3:1 CR, which is perfect.

 

As far as not working, the issue is valve clearance. Putting the EJ18 headgasket on the EJ205 heads, the inner exhaust valves look REALLY close to hitting the cylinder walls. I'm gonna hafta bolt the EJ205 heads onto the block temporarily and turn the cams just to be sure nothing hits. There's also the issue of the valves hitting the pistons because the EJ18 pistons have smaller valve indentations than the EJ205, but I can solve that with custom pistons.

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A GF wagon, whenever I both find the right one AND have the money to buy it :rolleyes:

 

Am I considering having a 4-car stable? Absolutely. Am I considering selling one or two cars to help fund this project? Yes, but I don't want to. We'll see.

 

The pic that got me hooked on the GF wagon:

Impreza_GF_Wagon.JPG

 

 

I just shuddered. That car looks so hot.

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http://www.jepistons.com/pdf/2005-srp1.pdf

 

Page 4.

 

You want 4032 pistons, no matter what anyone else tells you.

 

Why?

 

I have personal experience with both alloys; 4032 and 2618.

 

2618 is for RACE ONLY engines that you place on tearing down, inspecting and rebuilding/replacing pieces as needed...like, ideally after each weekend. At most, after a few races. The pistons do not come into their full capability until you are at WOT for long periods of time...aka road course, rally, endurance racing...etc etc.

 

These are the pistons that people have problems with in street cars...since they never fully reach operating temp on the street...the have excessive blow by, improper wall to piston clearance since they never reach operational temps...and they bang against the cyl wall...since they never get to temp. So you burn oil, and destroy the pistons and cyl walls. Usually these engines on the street never see more than 10k to 15k miles before they degrade to the point that you cant drive it anymore.

 

2618 is low silicon and high expansion.

 

4032 is used in a lot of OEM applications due to its lower expansion attributes. 4032 has a much higher silicon content.

 

I have installed the Mahle Power pack pistons (4032 alloy) in many STi engines. They have several different pistons avalible...all of them that I installed are the drop ins for the 99.5mm size. There is zero noise, zero oil consumption and in most cases better than OE performance.

 

The 4032 is for people who want a lot of power RELIABLY and SAFE and do not want to tear into the engine very often. The 4032's as long as you have all the other supporting mods and PROPER tuning should be as if you have an OE spec engine...the engine should last for 100k miles or more.

 

JE can make 4032 pistons...as long as you give them all the information that they need. Otherwise, contact mahle directly....as they can do it as well. I did have some trouble getting JE to even admit that they could make custom 1 off 4032 pistons...they only want to deal with 2618 and the did bash the 4032 alloy a good bit. However, anyone who knows anything knows that the 4032 is the alloy to have for a high performance street engine that is not going to be used for 'race only' and only used every once in a while on a road course/drag strip.

 

of course...everyone thinks that the hypereutectic pistons in the STi are junk and dont last and are weak and la la la la la....well, they are not. They can handle 400hp/400tq at the wheels on a road course...all day long. The SOG One lap car did over 8,000 straight up road course miles (logged) and had zero problems...until the meth pump got stuck on and someone forgot to change the oil after a few track days so the oil turned to solvent and ate the bearings. But the pistons were fine.

 

But heres a rather accurate wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypereutectic_piston

 

have fun!

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Impreza_GF_Wagon.JPG

 

 

I just shuddered. That car looks so hot.

 

 

I ralfed when I saw those 2 spoilers lmao, it's either one or the bother but definatly not both. the lower one looks like it came off a vw. I'd stick with the upper one.

Good luckw ithe the build, I'm doing the same ting as you pretty much but for my legacy wagon.

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I ralfed when I saw those 2 spoilers lmao, it's either one or the bother but definatly not both. the lower one looks like it came off a vw. I'd stick with the upper one.

Good luckw ithe the build, I'm doing the same ting as you pretty much but for my legacy wagon.

 

That lower one is a factory option...

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You are indeed the master Will.

 

I was thinking about just pulling one of my pistons, and getting a 205 piston somehow, and just telling them I want a piston with the 18E bore and the 205 crown.

 

Is there any particular reason why you suggest JE, or is Wiseco just as good?

 

+1 on both spoilers being factory and looking good :cool:

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