EJ20 w/VF48 into 1998 Forester

DSM Goat · 09-07-2012, 04:41 PM

I bought a 98 Forester last fall and drove it for a couple weeks and discovered it had bad headgaskets (big surprise, I know). I was going to just get the heads resurfaced and replace the headgaskets until I happened across an 02 WRX on my local craigslist. It came with the motor and transmission and it was pretty cheap, so I decided to go get it,

Instead of just replacing the headgaskets on the Foz (where's the fun in that?

) I thought I might as well just get rid of the pos Forester 2.5L,

And put in the WRX EJ20,

So, I pulled the 2.5L,

And got to work...

DSM Goat · 09-07-2012, 04:44 PM

Jeez, look at that dirty engine bay, gross!

Really nasty. So I decided to strip the engine bay,

Clean up some problem (rusty) areas

And repaint the engine bay,

On to the interior...

DSM Goat · 09-07-2012, 04:54 PM

Got the dash off,

Locating dash harness,

Removed the dash bar,

Time to get the dash harness out of there...

DSM Goat · 09-07-2012, 05:02 PM

Unplugging,

Getting closer,

Got it out! Whew! PITA.

Now what? Get ahold of Brian at iWire.

DSM Goat · 09-18-2012, 08:12 PM

Since the Foz is going to be motivated by forced induction the old crossmember had to go.

Out of there!

Sourced a crossmember from an early-90s turbo Legacy.

Better get that bolted up...

DSM Goat · 10-04-2012, 10:05 PM

Whew, been busy! Got the crossmember bolted up...

Decided I'm going to run e85 (got an e85 station just a few blocks from my house), so a fuel pump swap was in order (along with injectors and a tune).

Out with the old fuel pump..

And...

omz · 10-04-2012, 11:18 PM

Dude, as awesome as this is, your pictures are all out of wack.

Dr. octagon · 10-05-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omz

Dude, as awesome as this is, your pictures are all out of wack.

As you were,

Keep going

DSM Goat · 03-18-2013, 09:15 AM

Long time, no post. Busy, busy, busy!

Time for updates...

Now that the Walbro fuel pump is installed, it's time to focus on the engine...

Got the EJ20 up on the engine stand:

DSM Goat · 03-18-2013, 09:19 AM

The stock TD04.

Say by-bye!

DSM Goat · 03-18-2013, 09:21 AM

Here today, gone tomorrow.

subieguy87 · 10-05-2012, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omz

Dude, as awesome as this is, your pictures are all out of wack.

How do you say?

civichx97 · 03-19-2013, 07:50 PM

nice thread, I'm doing a wrx into my sf foz soon too

DSM Goat · 03-20-2013, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by civichx97

nice thread, I'm doing a wrx into my sf foz soon too

It's fun. But it can get a bit more expensive than you were expecting.

DSM Goat · 03-20-2013, 08:08 AM

Installed TGV deletes:

Replaced the stock inlet with a Samco piece:

Larger intercooler:

monkeyposeur · 03-19-2013, 11:39 PM

Sweet swap! I'm building a 22T to swap in my 95 L wagon. It's going slowly and expensively, lol.

amiexploited · 03-20-2013, 01:52 PM

SWEET, subscribing.

veightkiller · 03-20-2013, 02:22 PM

Nice project!

DSM Goat · 03-21-2013, 10:06 AM

Thanks!

Meanwhile...I had sent the Forester dash harness and the WRX engine harness off to Brian K. at iWire to be merged. Brian did an amazing job and was a great help when it came time to reinstall the harnesses:

Whew! Glad THAT's done!

SilverBullet745Li · 03-21-2013, 11:50 PM

looking great. my forester is also on its way to being as badass as yours.

DSM Goat · 03-24-2013, 09:36 AM

Thanks. Feel free to hit me up if you need any advice on your swap.

Time to install a boost gauge. Pulled the upper cover off the steering column and marked where the gauge is going to go:

Installed the gauge cup:

Gauge installed:

DSM Goat · 03-24-2013, 09:44 AM

Reassembled the engine bay after cleaning and painting:

Installing a Mishi radiator. Test fit:

wrx614 · 04-24-2013, 10:23 PM

Getting ready to start the same project soon. My wife's boss has a Forester shell and my WRX has some body damage. Does anyone know how much of the interior is swappable? I would like to keep my WRX dash, pedals, and steering wheel.

09-07-2012, 04:41 PM	#1
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	EJ20 w/VF48 into 1998 Forester I bought a 98 Forester last fall and drove it for a couple weeks and discovered it had bad headgaskets (big surprise, I know). I was going to just get the heads resurfaced and replace the headgaskets until I happened across an 02 WRX on my local craigslist. It came with the motor and transmission and it was pretty cheap, so I decided to go get it, Instead of just replacing the headgaskets on the Foz (where's the fun in that? ) I thought I might as well just get rid of the pos Forester 2.5L, And put in the WRX EJ20, So, I pulled the 2.5L, And got to work...

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09-07-2012, 04:44 PM	#2
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Jeez, look at that dirty engine bay, gross! Really nasty. So I decided to strip the engine bay, Clean up some problem (rusty) areas And repaint the engine bay, On to the interior...

09-07-2012, 04:54 PM	#3
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Got the dash off, Locating dash harness, Removed the dash bar, Time to get the dash harness out of there...

09-07-2012, 05:02 PM	#4
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Unplugging, Getting closer, Got it out! Whew! PITA. Now what? Get ahold of Brian at iWire.

09-18-2012, 08:12 PM	#5
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Since the Foz is going to be motivated by forced induction the old crossmember had to go. Out of there! Sourced a crossmember from an early-90s turbo Legacy. Better get that bolted up...

10-04-2012, 10:05 PM	#6
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Whew, been busy! Got the crossmember bolted up... Decided I'm going to run e85 (got an e85 station just a few blocks from my house), so a fuel pump swap was in order (along with injectors and a tune). Out with the old fuel pump.. And...

10-04-2012, 11:18 PM	#7
omz Scooby Newbie Member#: 232060 Join Date: Dec 2009	Dude, as awesome as this is, your pictures are all out of wack.

03-18-2013, 09:15 AM	#9
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Long time, no post. Busy, busy, busy! Time for updates... Now that the Walbro fuel pump is installed, it's time to focus on the engine... Got the EJ20 up on the engine stand:

03-18-2013, 09:19 AM	#10
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	The stock TD04. Say by-bye!

03-18-2013, 09:21 AM	#11
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Here today, gone tomorrow.

03-19-2013, 07:50 PM	#13
civichx97 Scooby Newbie Member#: 280149 Join Date: Apr 2011 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 2004 Impreza WRX blue	nice thread, I'm doing a wrx into my sf foz soon too

03-20-2013, 08:08 AM	#15
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Installed TGV deletes: Replaced the stock inlet with a Samco piece: Larger intercooler:

03-19-2013, 11:39 PM	#16
monkeyposeur Scooby Newbie Member#: 333468 Join Date: Sep 2012 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: SLC, UT Vehicle: 93 SS Black Pearl	Sweet swap! I'm building a 22T to swap in my 95 L wagon. It's going slowly and expensively, lol.

03-20-2013, 01:52 PM	#17
amiexploited Scooby Newbie Member#: 251061 Join Date: Jul 2010 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: riverside, CA Vehicle: 2002 wrx wrb	SWEET, subscribing.

03-20-2013, 02:22 PM	#18
veightkiller Scooby Guru Member#: 78967 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: vancouver B.C Vehicle: 2011 335i Black	Nice project!

03-21-2013, 10:06 AM	#19
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Thanks! Meanwhile...I had sent the Forester dash harness and the WRX engine harness off to Brian K. at iWire to be merged. Brian did an amazing job and was a great help when it came time to reinstall the harnesses: Whew! Glad THAT's done!

03-21-2013, 11:50 PM	#20
SilverBullet745Li Scooby Newbie Member#: 343518 Join Date: Jan 2013	looking great. my forester is also on its way to being as badass as yours.

03-24-2013, 09:36 AM	#21
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Thanks. Feel free to hit me up if you need any advice on your swap. Time to install a boost gauge. Pulled the upper cover off the steering column and marked where the gauge is going to go: Installed the gauge cup: Gauge installed:

03-24-2013, 09:44 AM	#22
DSM Goat Scooby Newbie Member#: 313071 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Is this heaven? No, it's... Vehicle: 1998 Forester L White	Reassembled the engine bay after cleaning and painting: Installing a Mishi radiator. Test fit:

04-24-2013, 10:23 PM	#23
wrx614 Scooby Specialist Member#: 71848 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Vehicle: 2003 WRX PSM	Getting ready to start the same project soon. My wife's boss has a Forester shell and my WRX has some body damage. Does anyone know how much of the interior is swappable? I would like to keep my WRX dash, pedals, and steering wheel.