Hi, I have anh 02 WRX engine with 11K on it. I am looking to install it mid June but was wondering if anyone had any tips for this installation. For example where to relocate the cruise control, or can I just connect my old AC lines up to the WRX unit? any tips are appreciated. I need the mechanical tips or ideas. I'm paying Ralli Spec to do the wiring.
Thanks, Micah

Is this a direct bolt up? and does the tranny match, and what about the fuel pump, radiator and all that shtuff! And is that the 227 US spec or the 280 Jap spec. cause instead of turboing my EJ25 i think i might be getting a EJ20 Jap spec that comes out of the crate with 280.

You have to swap your RS lines onto the WRX Compressor...Get rid of the Cruise Control all together...Get rid of your Airbag wiring...You have a complete clip right? Remove the whole chassis from the drivetrain, Remove your whole suspension, steering rack, crossmember, brakes, all that...And, drop your car right on top of the WRX drivetrain...Tighten up the strut towers, Control Arm Brackets, all that bolts onto your chassis...Thats the easiest way to get your drivetrain in...In other words, You are better off keeping the WRX swap together as one piece and dropping your car onto it...
How much did Rallispec charge for the wiring? Are you swapping just the motor or the full drivetrain?


Zee

Like I said in the Mid-A, use on the EJ20 you can use the Ej25s A/C support bracket to mount the orignal A/C compressor to the EJ20 so there is no need to remove the stock stuff. Just leave it connected to the A/C lines and set the A/C compressor where the battery would normally be during the swap. I would have to assume the Ej18 bracket would be the same way. If the orignal motor had the cruise control then it will be as simple as just attaching your cruise control cable to the EJ20 throttle body. If you want to make it quick and easy I still say at least make an offer to TaiChih to see if he will cut you a deal on the install so that he helps/walks you through the install in his garage. That way you don't have the hassles. Just pull the motor from your car, put some support under the trans while you change the crossmember. Especially since your going to be using the 2.5RS stock transmission with the EJ20.

first thing first is all I have is a 94 L not an RS. All I have to seap is the motor not the complete drivetrain. I have my stock tranny which I would love to swap out but will have to wait for money. I don't have a front clip.
I've been told that Ralli Spec does electrical for $750. That's just wiring the harnesses.
For now I'm using the L tranny (until it falls apart or I can buy an RS).
I wasn't wondering to much about how to hook up the cruise control but where to locate it?
For the plumbing of the Radiator and all...how many lines have to come off of the radiator for the WRX as apposed to the L?
I would go to Taichih but I don't have the money plus I have friends who are experienced in swapping motors so we are going to be doing it.
I'm just trying to gather to make an easier (lol) smoother swap.
Thanks, Micah

If all they've ever done is a Honda motor swap then they won't be much help to you. Also your L front cross member won't work with the EJ20 and its manifold. You said you only have the motor is why I mention it. All of the Subaru motors have the same mounting location for the A/C so you might only need to use your stock bracket on the EJ20 with the stock L A/C compressor.

micah .. you keep scaring me

your headded down a scary path
my origional budget for my swap was 5k .. which ..now i know is way too low ..i am at $10k and still having substantial issues

here is my current break down


car 1800
shopmanual 127
air ticket 100

clutch 253
brakes 790

plug+wires 32
front axles 200
tax&reg 140
ac evac 37
rims+mount 345
head light bulbs 20
air filter 10

suspension 595
gages 500
crossmember 140
engine 640
enigne shipping 298
camber bolts 32
strut tops 289
misc parts from dealer 11
alignment 69
mounts & front bushings 314
tranny fluid+install 68
boost controller 28
seat bolt 90
maf adapter 80
power steering pump 150
intercooler 118
bumper 181
scoop 215
wing 125
bumper lights 45
tec2 1000
fly wheel 325
clutch 246
timing belt 75
oil pan 80
air intake 75
seats 385
fog lights 80
knock sensor 4 tec 2 65
crade/subfram brace 105
legacy turbo calipers 140


10418

I have the
motor
down and up pipes
exhaust manifold turbo
choice of two intercoolers
GFB BOV
WRX crossmember
choice of two turbos
ECU
harnesses
clutch
flywheel

all of this was roughly 2600 shipped.

my 94L w/ 4 wheel discs(identical to my frineds 01 RS)
1.8L (slow)
basic 5spd
has all options for 3100

total thus far $5700

wiring harness to be done for me = 1050 from ralli spec
still looking around to see if anyone can beat that price!!

new estimated total $6750 giving bumper of 1000 for unforseen costs.

One of the friends doing the swap is a trained mechanic as is one of my dad's friends(who works for what the parts cost him and a 6 pack of good beer)

replumbing and custom machined parts are no problem. I have access to those machines.

excess money is left for radiator and replacement tranny for when the L's goes.

sorry forgot to mention I already have
gauges
grill for RS hood
headlights for RS hood
RS hood for only 160(shipped)

need RS radiator top mount
WRX radiator
some hosing
time :lol:
I know I'm forgetting something

the wiring part is probblay the hardest .. since mine is a project not transportation . i wil be doing it myself

1050 for wiring is a great deal... go for it

if i had to do it again i woud buy a newer car and do a usdm wrx swap

Micah - I thought you were selling the EJ20. Keeping it now???

-mykr.

I don't think your 94L cruise will work with your WRX ECU. You will need the WRX cruise unit likely.

$1050...That includes removal, splicing, and installation? Thats a great deal...I replaced all the wiring in my car...All of it!!!Got rid of SRS while I was at it...I'll take pics of all that was spliced so you can use that as a how-to...

My car is a 2000 RS though...But, I'll send pics so someone can put them on this site and everyone can do the wiring themselves...

Just be aware that your entire car's interior will be removed if you do it my way...Everything but the headliner...

Zee:disco:

it's strictly matching the needed wires beteween the two harnesses and soldering. I'll be doing the removal of the L harness and then shipping the two harnesses to Ralli Spec.

Mykrr I thought I had told you. I thought that I had sent all potential buyers an email as to why I wasn't selling anymore. I send it to you.

the cruise control unit I really don't care about. I don't use it much anyway. Although... it looks identical to my friends 01 RS c.c.
I don't know I'll ask some people who have done swaps. From what I've heard they just moved the unit and still had it working.

Huh...I never got the email Micah. Good luck w/the swap.

-mykr.

thanks, sorry about the email... it's been screwy for a while now and it's making me mad.
Thanks anyway, Micah

ok guys, sorry this is a very very nubie question....:D :D :D
i was wondering wat is the crossmember of where is it? thanks

kevin

simply put... the crossmember is a big piece metal that is under the the tranny/engine that strengthens the front part of the chassis. Go under the motor swap section and look at the pictures. You can see the crossmember very well.
http://www.i-speedusa.com/home/
Hope this helps, Micah

Originally posted by Homemade WRX
simply put... the crossmember is a big piece metal that is under the the tranny/engine that strengthens the front part of the chassis. Go under the motor swap section and look at the pictures. You can see the crossmember very well.
http://www.i-speedusa.com/home/
Hope this helps, Micah

for the lazy :D

http://www.i-speedusa.com/images/wrx_conv/WRX_conv_enginebay_01.jpg

Crossmember is that black plate thing extending from side to side.

-paK +1

Sounds like you have the parts/skill to get the engine and exhaust swapped into the car. If I were in your shoes, I'd be far more concerned about a clean swap than if your cruise worked...;) Really, there's much more to that swap than you think. Have you looked at the wiring of the harness/ecu you are putting in vs. a USDM harness/ecu? They are different in several ways, that's why you can't just plug a JDM EJ20 ecu into a USDM car, the pinouts are completely different. At any rate, be more concerned about your car firing up/idling than cruise or A/C working, and be prepared to shell some more coin to make it happen. :( These things always cost more than you think.:rolleyes:

Keep us posted on the progress.

yeah I know all about the wiring. I've been studying all the info I can find on the swap and am paying Ralli Spec to do the wiring. I'm not going to get into that mess.

You might want to make sure you have front and rear O2 sensors if you plan to use the stock ECU.

nizz

There are a lot of other little things that add up like:

Getting your freon refilled - $80
May need new coolant, coolant lines/hoses - $50
May need new power steering line and reservoir - $250
May need alignment from x-member removal - $60

Just what I can recall off the top of my head...

nizz

I'm aware that some plumbing needs to be redone on this swap and have found out all kinds of info on the AC(trying to use the AC already on the 94). i have the O2 sensors from the 94 and the O2 sensors from uppipe and manifold. I have heard that you do and that you don't have to change the power steering stuff. So I don't know.
Thanks, Micah
Still looking for tips.

anyone have anytips?
Help...., micah

I swapped out my complete power steering system for the WRX system...Don't know too much about the 94L but if you are going to use the WRX ecu, you will have to remove most if not all of your L's wiring harness...The WRX ecu is from a 2002, the wire harness in your car is from a 94...Even in Hondas you have to pull the whole wire harness out of the dash and swap it for the OBD 2 setup if you plan on using OBD2 ECUs in OBD1 or OBD0 Cars...There is no Harness adapters available for your OBD1 to OBD2 conversion...

Do as I did and pull it all out and replace it with the WRX Wire harness...I pulled out the Airbag wiring, Airbags, Cruise COntrol System, You have to swap throttle cables, you have to get a different coolant reservoir...You have to splice all your components to the WRX harness, you have to buy the Fuel Pump Controller, you have to get a Downpipe with the secondary O2 Sensor, you have to deal with the door plugs, you have to extend the A/C wires in the engine bay, you have to extend the WRX wiper motor plug wires in the engine bay, you have to replace the fuse block under the hood, I replaced the fuse block in the car as well, you have to deal with the instrument cluster...I got a Complete Front End clip and a complete Rear End Clip, so I had what I needed but I still had to buy the Fuel Pump Controller and I needed to get the 2nd o2 sensor...Use www.subaruparts.com

Get the part number from the dealer and type it in on their search...They save you big money even after next day shipping...

Zee

I don't know what the power steering pump on your engine looks like but if your current pump does not have a remote reservoir, then you will need at least a new reservoir. As for O2 sensors, you will more than likely not be able to use the ones from your 94 L with the WRX. The connectors won't match up.

Also, if you pick up a stock exhaust, you may need miscellaneous gaskets and hardware for it. It all adds up.

nizz

One thing often overlooked is the Fuel Evap Canister since the newer Imprezas have them in the passenger rear corner and the older Imprezas have them in the engine bay.

Also, there are extra sensors coming from the fuel tank on newer Imprezas as well.

ok, I just found out a few things I didn't know. Is the fuel vapor or pressure thing any big deal between locations? does it have to be relocated?
Please keep the tips coming
Thanks, Micah