So in my browsing of classifieds, I found the following:
93 Impreza wagon with a blown motor
92 SVX motor

Can the SVX motor bolt right up by any chance? Or are we talking about new mounts, a weak tranny, no space in the engine bay etc?

Its not a bolt-up job, no.

Physically, it's an easy swap. Took my friend Jack all of 2 days (after work) to pysically drop the SVX engine and a manual transmission into his 2000 2.5 RS. The front radiator support and bumper support were trimmed away to allow for radiator fitment, but all the mounts were a direct fit.

The big issue is engine management. The SVX uses two 4-cylinder ECU's, and only uses half of the second ECU to work all 6 cylinders. In my friend's case, the factory stuff got tossed, and an Autronic unit replaced it.

So taking all things into consideration, the engine fitment, radiator support mods, ECU fitment, rewiring, and custom exhaust system fabrication.....it took up about 4 days worth of actual work done over the timeframe of a single week before the car was up and running.

Bob

Physically, it's an easy swap. Took my friend Jack all of 2 days (after work) to pysically drop the SVX engine and a manual transmission into his 2000 2.5 RS. The front radiator support and bumper support were trimmed away to allow for radiator fitment, but all the mounts were a direct fit.

The big issue is engine management. The SVX uses two 4-cylinder ECU's, and only uses half of the second ECU to work all 6 cylinders. In my friend's case, the factory stuff got tossed, and an Autronic unit replaced it.

So taking all things into consideration, the engine fitment, radiator support mods, ECU fitment, rewiring, and custom exhaust system fabrication.....it took up about 4 days worth of actual work done over the timeframe of a single week before the car was up and running.

Bob

What is the ballpark cost for this kind of swap
Is driving a 2000 RS with Autronic street legal ?

What is the ballpark cost for this kind of swap
Is driving a 2000 RS with Autronic street legal ?
i think that it would not be legal, since 2000 is well after the OBDII changeover. a 1993 L would not have that restriction, however.

So taking all things into consideration, the engine fitment, radiator support mods, ECU fitment, rewiring, and custom exhaust system fabrication.....it took up about 4 days worth of actual work done over the timeframe of a single week before the car was up and running.

Bob

That doesn't sound too bad. So the SVX ECU just wasn't a viable approach I take it?

I mean if I can get the car for a couple hundred and the motor for $400 or so, it might be a nice project. Toss on some updated suspension (maybe find a used rally setup), strip the interior, get some better brakes and the thing could be quite the rallycross/ice racer/winter beater!

Just wish I had more experience with such things (but you gotta learn sometime!)

What is the ballpark cost for this kind of swap
Is driving a 2000 RS with Autronic street legal ?

The most cost-intensive component was the ECU, I think it was $1600 or so. He got a complete SVX for $800, so that took care of the engine. I built a cold-air box for the car....about $10 worth of aluminum and 4 hours of labor. I also built a set of headers from stainless...maybe another $300 in materials, and a solid 10 hours of fabrication work including making the merge collectors.
He put a lightweight flywheel in from a WRX (which he already owned), and a new clutch ($280). The car was dyno-tuned after hours at his place of work, so that was basically a 'freebie'. He used 6 individual MSD coilpacks and wires rather than the typical coil-on-plug ignition, that was another $280 in parts.
The exhaust was made from 'leftover' 3" tubing hanging around the shop. After the cagework and gutting the RS weighs 2748 lbs. This combo puts out 205 whp and 216 lb. ft at the wheels

Put a price on our labor and it's probably $3000-$4000...so if you can do it yourself I highly recommend that route.

As far as legality goes, the car is for track use, so it's not an issue. But in terms of bang-for-the-buck, the car is insanely fast for a stock engine with bolt-ons, has been dead-reliable so far, and can easily outrun near-stock STI's with suspension mods on the road courses. Oh, and the sounds it makes....almost melodical!

Bob

[QUOTE=Bob the fabricator;15270332]The most cost-intensive component was the ECU, I think it was $1600 or so. He got a complete SVX for $800, so that took care of the engine.


Why not use an SVX ECU ?

Why not use an SVX ECU ?

Lack of tuneability primarily. This initial phase is with an essentially standard engine, but this winter there will more development work happening. Most likely pistons, headwork, and certainly custom welded and reground cams. I think 280 whp is do-able while retaining the torque characteristics of the engine and durability. Peak power is at 5600 rpms but the car feels like it just wants to keep revving. We had another set of stock EG33 cams plotted out, and the specs are pathetic! I will have all winter to play with the spare heads on my flowbench as well.

Bob

whats with the sudden interest with the EG33.

Lack of tuneability primarily. This initial phase is with an essentially standard engine, but this winter there will more development work happening. Most likely pistons, headwork, and certainly custom welded and reground cams. I think 280 whp is do-able while retaining the torque characteristics of the engine and durability. Peak power is at 5600 rpms but the car feels like it just wants to keep revving. We had another set of stock EG33 cams plotted out, and the specs are pathetic! I will have all winter to play with the spare heads on my flowbench as well.

Bob

ECUtune uses the stock ecu and has a stage 1 ecu piggyback and a stage 3 super charger kit

Who in the north east does SVX swaps

I know XXtuning does, anyone else ?

whats with the sudden interest with the EG33.

more daily driving potential than an NA 2.5 build ( standalone ) or an RS-T with turbo kit or supercharger kit

ECUtune uses the stock ecu and has a stage 1 ecu piggyback and a stage 3 super charger kit

Who in the north east does SVX swaps

I know XXtuning does, anyone else ?

We were originally planning an M90 supercharger install, but it would have bumped the car a few too many classes in NASA (engine swap + forced induction). It is really a pet-project for the car owner (Jack), and I jump in on occasion just to build one-off stuff that you can't buy anywhere (I like to be different I guess). Jack is an XXTuning employee, but I am technically not...I just occasionally do fab work on the car, such as the rollcage, the headers, the airbox, the rear swaybar, etc. I want to make an aluminum roof and an aluminum deck lid to lighten the car some more, but for that I have to complete my english wheel and drag it down to their shop.

To me at least, the best part about the swap is the sound the engine makes.:)

Bob

whats with the sudden interest with the EG33.

Great engine, virtually unlimited potential. Unfortunately it's also pretty much untapped potential, with a limited market. I've been contemplating buying a pre-OBD2 Impreza myself, just to swap an EG33 into. I think six ITB's with a cross-over style intake runner design would look and sound the part...:D

Bob

EZ30R is smaller, lighter, newer, etc. and the EZ30 is still newer, lighter, smaller, and cheaper to boot! SVX's are getting cheap, so that may be the only reason to go that route lately. but legacies and tribeca are getting more plentiful as we speak. im going EZ30 personally(still a six, and fits better!). but cheap is always the other way to go. if you gotta fab anything, why go for something with tons more hassle and less availability? find a wrecked H6 sedan and gut the thing, use all electronics needed, and use all the parts you can from it. that'd be the easiest way to swap an H6.

--keith