Conceiveable to shoehorn an EJ25 into a '98 Outback Sport to build a 2.5RS Wagon?

Our friend/roommate has decided she wants to put her good condition white '98 Outback Sport Impreza Wagon up for sale. I offered to drive the car from her previous residence to our house for her. On the drive home, I was compelled to start the mental exercise... hmmm, would it be feasible to shoehorn an EJ25 into this car? Convert the body panels and front bumper to 2.5RS, upgrade the brakes, suspension, wheels and tires, install a hatch wing, paint it all black (or Black Granite Pearl to match the wife's '98 LGT ), etc. I'm sure this has been done to death, but Googling "2.5RS Wagon" mostly brings up late-model factory 2.5 Impreza Wagons. I'll have a look over at http://www.rs25.com but wondered if anyone here would have any links to send me to or any "been there done that's" to express.

 

Not interested in turbo/WRX conversions. I've already successfully changed the headgaskets in the wife's LGT EJ25 via engine removal, so I know I could fix that issue. My biggest question is whether the EJ25 would be a straight swap with the 2.2 OBS ECU. Input/derision welcome.

You don't have to "shoehorn" it drops right in

It's more fun to say "shoehorn" LOL.

 

But good to know!

I just did the opposite of this lol. Put a 2.2L in my Legacy Outback Wagon. It's quite simple to accomplish.

check out my friend's car

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147702

 

but finish it! lol

 

but you can definitely swap the front bumper and what not

 

check out the JDM GF8 STi wagons

Found a couple of threads so far:

http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65143

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f145/124954-li_scoobys-97-outack-sport-2.html (post 16)

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1151674

 

Still digging. With the right combination of years/EJ25 versions, sounds very straightforward.

It's more fun to say "shoehorn" LOL.

 

But good to know!

 

I would think the easiest way would be to find a wrecked 2.5RS as a donor and swap everything you can, including the engine harness.

I would think the easiest way would be to find a wrecked 2.5RS as a donor and swap everything you can, including the engine harness.

 

Roger that. That would be the way to do it in one fell swoop. Not a lot of RS's in the area right now according to craigslist.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=66118

 

1965 beetle with STI engine.

I did almost exactly this with my '00 Impreza LS wagon, it's a really nice drive. A '98 should be quite easy as it's MAF and the 2.2 ECU will run the motor fine.

You don't have to "shoehorn" it drops right in

 

It also plugs right in! I believe you can use the EJ22 ECU and wiring to run the EJ25 with no ill effects.

 

People replace EJ18's with EJ25's and use the 1.8L ECU without problem. I know someone who has been doing just that for 40,000 miles.

Just be sure and skip the DOHC EJ25D... unless your idea of fun is swapping head gaskets.

Just be sure and skip the DOHC EJ25D... unless your idea of fun is swapping head gaskets.

 

I'm pretty new to Subaru's, but honestly, since I've done just that on just that engine, the DOHC EJ25D (1998+) is the one I'm most comfortable with. I'd do that right off the bat before putting it in. Doubt it is actually going to happen, but is a fun "what-if" scenario. Wife and I are already a 2-person 3-car family.

 

So why have I spent the past three days looking into this conversion??

also, the headgasket issue is overblown. yes many of the Phase I EJ25' have HG issues, but generally speaking once the HG's have been replaced with the better designed new ones it is no longer an issue. and plenty of Phase I's never have HG issues.

If there's an upgrade part available I'd probably swap to the new gaskets before tossing the motor in, simply because it's such a pain to pull it again.

 

The upside is that the EJ25D does just plug and play, since it has the same crank and cam triggers as the EJ22E. Couldn't be more simple really.

So the EJ25D would run fine on the EJ22 ECU. Seems like I've been reading that the EJ25 ECU would run it just a bit better. I'll have to look up ECU swaps to see what that would entail.

I'll have to look up ECU swaps to see what that would entail.

 

one the one hand it is a simple 6 bolt and large connector swap for the ECU. BUT, depending on the year of the ecu you install you may have a never ending CEL. at least that's what happens when you put a 96 lego ECU in a 98 outback. you may be ok or at least closer to ok, if you stick to your year ej25 ECU.

 

but i doubt you will see any difference.

I've read that there is a 6000RPM rev limit on the 2.5 when paired with the 1.8 ECU. Not sure if that is the case for the 2.2 ECU as well.

there should be a rev limiter in each ECU, ej22 and ej25. the ej25 limit is higher than the ej22. i assume there is something similar in the ej18 ecu. but the rev limit will not affect the way the car runs.

 

however, the ECUs are not engine specific. swap 96, 97, 98, ej18, ej22, ej25, it does not matter. but the ECU is ''wiring harness specific''. more so in the later years. 95 - 96 may swap just fine, but swap a 96 or 97 into a 98 and you will get a CEL because the wiring harness is slightly different. some of the pins have been relocated, or the harness does not have all the needed wires.

 

but it is your car, you can try it if you have the ecu. just don't expect much.

but it is your car, you can try it if you have the ecu. just don't expect much.

 

LOL The OBS is not my car at all, but I was thinking IF it WERE my car how far would I take the upgrades towards a JDM-Spec 2.5RS Wagon?

 

Great info as always, Johnegg, thanks!