EJ20 series coupe

**se-rNick** · 05-02-2005, 12:32 PM

Or is it EJ22.. I can't remember.. anyways.. I'm not all familiar with Subbies, but I'm reading alot of forums about them and engine swaps.. I'm thinking about finding a '98 or '97 EJ coupe RS and then swapping in a turbo engine from a later model WRX.. since I don't know too much about it.. I wonder, how practical is it? I hear that most engine swaps are a piece of cake because EJ motors all have the same engine mount locations, tranny bolt locations.. so it just depends on what car I get and what motor I get... so that was my first question. The second one is, I've done alot of searching on autotrader.com, but I'm kind of stumped.. the Impreza has a solid hood, while the Impreza RS has the scoop and hood vents? And the Impreza is just FWD, while the RS is AWD? I wanted to rebulid a 240SX.. but being that everyone and their grandmother has one.. and I'd like to try AWD instead of RWD.. so I'm leaning more towards a WRX project..

**DJ_SpaRky** · 05-02-2005, 02:28 PM

Imprezas:
L & LS:
1.8=FWD, 2.2=AWD (but look for AWD emblems)

2.5 RS:
2.5=AWD, came in DOHC & SOHC.

IMO, if you are goning to swap, get the chaepest car you can find. You might want to turbo a SOHC 2.5 RS, it'll cost about the same & make a bit more power, but it'll top out quicker (power-wise).

Good luck with it.

**se-rNick** · 05-03-2005, 12:49 AM

how reliable would a turbo 2.5 rs engine be... or does it come turbo from subby already? I'd rather just upgrade a stock boosted engine rather than boost a na motor.. I want to make about ooo maybe 250-300ish hp

**solarsvx** · 05-03-2005, 08:39 AM

try doing a search on NASIOC, the information is endless there,

**se-rNick** · 05-03-2005, 11:37 AM

yeah i went to NASIOC and read alot of the engine swap FAQ's.. excellent site..

**DJ_SpaRky** · 05-03-2005, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by se-rNick

how reliable would a turbo 2.5 rs engine be... or does it come turbo from subby already? I'd rather just upgrade a stock boosted engine rather than boost a na motor.. I want to make about ooo maybe 250-300ish hp

Turbo 2.5:

STI/Forester XT - Very Reliable, but expensive
RS - not as reliable, but cheaper, the SOHC are better for Turbo.

IMO, you'd be better off finding a cheap L/LS AWD & Swapping in a EJ20-257 (JDM WRX STI Motor) but I would go for the Type RA Stuff, but that's me.

**se-rNick** · 05-03-2005, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by DJ_SpaRky

Turbo 2.5:

STI/Forester XT - Very Reliable, but expensive
RS - not as reliable, but cheaper, the SOHC are better for Turbo.

IMO, you'd be better off finding a cheap L/LS AWD & Swapping in a EJ20-257 (JDM WRX STI Motor) but I would go for the Type RA Stuff, but that's me.

probably would be cheaper.. and easier.. RS's are hard to find.. lots of L's around. I woudln't turbo the RS's stock engine, i'd end up swapping one from a newer WRX... any good websites for engine packages including the engine?

**Henny** · 05-03-2005, 01:47 PM

arent the older coupes alot lighter than the wrx?e either way, good luck, sounds like a fun project

**DJ_SpaRky** · 05-03-2005, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by se-rNick

probably would be cheaper.. and easier.. RS's are hard to find.. lots of L's around. I woudln't turbo the RS's stock engine, i'd end up swapping one from a newer WRX... any good websites for engine packages including the engine?

Check NASIOC or I-Club for that stuff, it's been along time since I looked for engines.

Originally Posted by hennytime5

arent the older coupes alot lighter than the wrx?e either way, good luck, sounds like a fun project

The GC8-Series are smaller & thus lighter.

If any body care, I want/wanted to do a 97-00 OBS (Outback Sport) full Type RA Swap (Drivetrain, inc 6MT & DCCD, Brakes & Suspension.) Painted Bright White w/ Gold or Bronze Wheels (probably Prodrives) & a 22B Spolier. Then some bolt-ons. would be around 350-400 AWHP. But I'd need the $$.

**Henny** · 05-03-2005, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by DJ_SpaRky

Check NASIOC or I-Club for that stuff, it's been along time since I looked for engines.

The GC8-Series are smaller & thus lighter.

If any body care, I want/wanted to do a 97-00 OBS (Outback Sport) full Type RA Swap (Drivetrain, inc 6MT & DCCD, Brakes & Suspension.) Painted Bright White w/ Gold or Bronze Wheels (probably Prodrives) & a 22B Spolier. Then some bolt-ons. would be around 350-400 AWHP. But I'd need the $$.

ya, not having money is a big problem...a reason why i dont have a phamspeed kit

**se-rNick** · 05-04-2005, 01:48 AM

the money for me isn't a problem.. it's what's going to make me happy that is. I originally wanted a Sil80... but the practicality of it isn't worth the money that would end up being put into it.. roughly 12-14,000 dollars. I figure for about 8 or 9, I can do a something different, and I want to try AWD for a chance.

**DJ_SpaRky** · 05-24-2005, 03:00 PM

L-AWD Coupe Type-RA Swap (inc. DCCD) would be the way to go for power, but it will NOT be cheap. You might want to do a L-AWD Coupe USDM WRX Swap, it'll save you some money & a couple headaches but not the same ride (no DCCD or VF30).

Let me know how this is coming, I'd love to help, if only to take pics, LOL.

**se-rNick** · 05-30-2005, 10:28 AM

I haven't started this yet.. I'm waiting until I put a few more thousand dollars on my current car before I get rid of it, so I can get rid of it and hopefully not take a loss.

As of right now, I have my mind set on a 1997-1999 RS and just swap in the EJ20 after I rebuild it with stronger internals and up the boost. The RS tranny is stronger than the L model so I want to avoid buying an Impreza L and having to worry about the tranny.. plus I want the WRX STi body kit for the RS. If I buy an RS, it's already there, and I'll just have to buy a front lip and STi rear wing.. but if I buy the L, then I gotta shell out over 1,300 for the STi bodykit and a front spoiler.