ok so here it is.........

here are some questions....(i'm too tried to search........just type up the answers if you will.)

1. is it possible to swap the 2.5L into the L engine bay? i guess so....

2. are the suspension and stablizers swapable between both L and the RS?

3. Are the gearings the same as the RS? (as in 5 speed)

4. is there much difference between the RS and L besides the engine and some options that go along with it?


well i would like you guys/gals to give me some input on this. I would appreciate it very much!!;)

any questions concerning my topic?

FuJi K

1. is it possible to swap the 2.5L into the L engine bay? i guess so....

yep...


2. are the suspension and stablizers swapable between both L and the RS?

should be.. as long as you have a AWD L and not a FWD L
w/the FWD L things tend to be a tad more complicated.

3. Are the gearings the same as the RS? (as in 5 speed)

here i am not positive... the clutch feels yukky in my L compared to my RS... i think the gearing, linkage, all of it must be a tad different... regardless, it needs to be changed it feels like poo :D

some of the older L guys will know this for sure.

4. is there much difference between the RS and L besides the engine and some options that go along with it?

nope. not really... it's mainly the cosmetic differences... the rest is pretty much the same... again, that's if you got the AWD L... not the FWD...

j.
www.subiegal.com

thanx Jamie!!

well i'm asking this because i think i would be cheaper if i get an Impreza L and with it, swap a closed deck 2.5L w/ harden internals and all the goodies into a L's engine bay. Then turbo it up to maybe 400hp.

Takes alot of work and time, yes.

Thanx!

any more comments? if not, have fun surfing the boards!

FuJi K

sounds like a fun project...

and i am sure it can be done.. just be certain that you research every step of the project... makes it go that much smoother...

you can find a nice, used L for 3k - 5k.... and that's a lot less than a used RS... for sure!!

seems a bright idea to me!!!

spend a bit at a time rather than a CHUNK and then some :lol:

let me know if you have any other questions...

j.
www.subiegal.com

how about a 2.2 legacy turbo engine. Boost baby.:D

If I remember correctly ... pre 98 L's had a different linkage so that's why yours feels sloppy Jamie.

The brakes are different between the L and the RS as well though. The L has rear drums and the RS has rear discs.

And yeah ... most of the rest of differences between the AWD L and the RS are cosmetic (power windows, sunroof, etc.)

The pre-98 L's had cable operated clutches, instead of hydrolic. The shift linkage in the 98 RS was different than the 99< too. Gearing in the RS is close-ratio versus the L which isn't. That just means the RS gears are set to keep the engine in the meat of the power band. If you decide to turbo something else, the wider ratios might benefit you for accelleration, as you'll have higher top speed in each gear, meaning possibly fewer shifts in the 1/4, and you'll be able to leave it in 2nd longer for rally/auto-X.

Almost everyting that can be fitted onto an RS can be put on an L. I have thought about the 2.2 legacy turbo swap, and will probably preform it after I can get the funds that I need together.

i plan on swaping my L wagon with the 2.2 lagacy turbo motor also, it seems like a straight forward swap,since i have a small salvage yard i can get stuff pretty cheap :D

the only problem i could see with a 2.5 swap would be the wireing, the plugs on the computer side might be different since a 2.5 motor is an OBD2 motor and the reast of the wiring in the L is OBD1

koool...............

i'm planning on getting either a 2000-2001 Impreza L to do the engine swap thing. Full dog box and all when i do get the money.

so 2000-2001 L's are ok then for the swap thing?

FuJi K

Why 2000 or 2001?

As I understand it, 97 was the last year they made any signifigant changes in chassis, and body. You're replacing quite a bit, buy a shell. High miles, dogged interior, everything. Do a search over in private classifieds for seats, brakes, front bumpers, etc. People who are going to bigger and better are selling that stuff all the time.

I'm seriously condsidering going this route. If only the L had the 2.5. Hey, anyone got an l with a blown engine?

Originally posted by Streetman
Why 2000 or 2001?


well............i'm 15 yrs..........gonna be 16 next month..........still in 10th grade...................at least two more years before i can get the car.....................

um.......it'll be cheaper then and plus, newer:D i need something at least close to new... i'm gonna build an 2.5L closed deck engine and when the time is right, swap it in:devil:

i gotta learn more about engine tech;)

FuJi K

also there is no rear sway bar or mounts on the earlier imprezas... but it is fairly easy to add one on :)

Theres a J-Spec 280hp 2.0l engine at the local recycler here. Even has a turbo upgrade to 320hp. That would be a good choice :D

Originally posted by Kostamojen
Theres a J-Spec 280hp 2.0l engine at the local recycler here. Even has a turbo upgrade to 320hp. That would be a good choice :D

that would be great, but, i wanna 2.5L...........:D

the J-Spec 2.0L would be better because there's less stress on the gears at the start but i rather have power right from the start.

MRT dog box will do the job! i gotta start driving sooner or later


FuJi K

Originally posted by Kostamojen
Theres a J-Spec 280hp 2.0l engine at the local recycler here. Even has a turbo upgrade to 320hp. That would be a good choice :D

How much do they want for it?....I am looking for a motor right now.

My friend has an Impreza L with an engine swap. He used the EJ22 from a turbo Legacy. I like the feel of the motor...almost a n/a feel (ie. torque down low). Right now my stock REX is faster than him, but when he gets his AFC working right, he's gonna turn up the boost as high as it safely could go...my guess is he will be as fast/faster/a little slower than my car (mine is stock BTW). It was VERY inexpensiv, but very effective.;)

He's on the I-club...PM him; he doesn't mind answering questions. His name is Scoobyslack1.

:alien:

i'm interested to know this too...especially any transmission matters. do all pre-02 imprezas share the same tranny? i'm looking at leaving the car FWD (weight) and then gutting it...

it'll probably be a 2.2L swap. will the tranny and driveshafts stand up to the added power?

SubieGal--how's the rally-mobile coming? :D

-adam-

one more thing

what about the differences in the engine management? does it have to be a RS engine mangagement? the wiring hardware stuff.

FuJi

a friend of mine just swapped a 2.2 into his 5-speed 1.8L...he's using the 1.8 ECU + wiring with no problems, except that the 2.2 uses knock sensors, so you have to let it warm up before driving it so it doesn't clatter all over the place...

FuJi K: cool. When I was your age I always used to dream about all kinds of crazy projects. You may do it, you may not, but keep going for it! And don't let anyone dissuade you, provided of course the project doesn't eat up too much time or too much money. Use your good judgment of course.

As for what car to buy and what engine to put into it, I recommend picking up a high mileage L. They can be had very, very cheaply. (I paid 1500 US for mine.) Get one that has a good, solid no rust body and no accidents if possible. If I were you I would avoid a sunroof since it adds weight and decreases chassis stiffness. Power windows and door locks, IIRC only add a teeny bit of weight so you might as well get those if possible.

As for what to put in it, a built 2.5 is a fine choice. Lot of work though; you'd need an after market ECU like a Motec or Link to run it. If I were in your shoes, I'd try to get a JDM engine and tranny though. Arguably more reliable. Get the most complete set-up you can afford, since leetle tiny missing pieces end up costing an arm and a leg. WRT performance, well it's hard to say. The fastest 2.5 I've ever heard of was Adam Bloom's which ran a 12.6 and then blew a piston. The fastest streetable 2.0 JDM I'm aware of in the US is...hmmm...also Adam Bloom's which ran a sub-12 time. However, there are some WRXs running similar if not faster times that are also quite streetable. (Although IIRC, all the aforementioned times were achieved using race gas!) Remember though that all these guys have or are in the process of destroying their transmissions and clutches. I'd be happy with a streetable car that runs high 12s, unless you're into big time drag racing and if you are the Impreza isn't the car for you anyway. A Honda would work out much better for that kind of thing.

So in the end it may be a question of the $$$ you've got to spend and what you want out of the car. I'm personally in the 2.0 JDM camp; a friend once gave me a ride in his STi V3 swap and it was scary fast. I got slammed into the back of his STi seat, and I could feel myself sinking into the foam, like I was in a rocketship. And he was driving uphill too...now that's scary!

hey i have a 2000L and will be selling it in about 2-3 years. i've already got ver5 struts and whiteline springs for the suspension. i'm also looking into some n/a stuff but if you want to buy it around that time i'll sell it to you.
rosco
roskolee@hotmail.com
oh and yes practically every part will fit.

i paid $3K for my '94, with power everything, and the sunroof...yeah, it decreases chassis stiffness, but i couldn't imagine living in FL and owning a car without one now...

but with a only a snorkusectomy, exhaust, and lightened pulley set, i'm neck and neck with the 2.2 (intake/exhaust)...still not FAST, but it's plenty quick around town. plus i don't have to put up with any unforseen engine swap weirdness...

TEC II engine management would work great, right? if i had this TEC II, i wouldn't need any others?

:confused:

i just hope BK employs me!:rolleyes:

FuJi

Originally posted by FuJi K
TEC II engine management would work great, right? if i had this TEC II, i wouldn't need any others?

:confused:

i just hope BK employs me!:rolleyes:

FuJi

TECII should be more than sufficient, unless you want a full stand alone ecu