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Old 11-21-2007, 08:48 PM   #1
d1giPhux
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Member#: 99491
Join Date: Oct 2005
Default 04 usdm wrx engine vs v4 sti engine?

Looking into either getting a 2004 wrx engine (43k miles approx) or a V4 Sti Engine Swapped into my 99 LGT. Here are the details:

2004 Wrx Engine w/ Stage 2 clutch / LGT Tranny

or

V4 Sti Engine w/ b4 tranny .. etc

Now my questions:

1. Would the V4 Engine be able to pass emissions / inspection in NH? I dont know how they do the emissions here, if they actually hook it up to a machine, or just check for CEL light.

2. How reliable is the V4 engine over the 2004 wrx engine? Would it be able to be ran on 91 octane, or would I HAVE to get 93 octane fuel? Can the WRX engine run on 91 Octane?

3. If you have a v4 engine, what octane fuel have you ran it with? Same for the Wrx engine?

4. Which block is less likely to break in the long run? I know that the v4 engine is a closed deck, and the USDM wrx engine is an open deck..

5. How hard is it to get parts for the v4 engine? Would it be suitable for daily driving? Are things like timing belt, oil filter, fluids.. etc the same as the WRX engine? What the differences in USDM to JDM parts on these engines?

Lots of questions.. but I'm trying to make a big decision here. Either get the USDM wrx engine with 43k, or the v4 engine with 37k. I was told from the guy who will be swapping the engine that the v4 is a better engine, faster, and more solid. However.. my main concerns are the fuel, parts, and emissions.

Any info / links would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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Old 11-22-2007, 08:29 AM   #2
d1giPhux
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Default

Anyone?
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Old 11-22-2007, 09:38 AM   #3
Jaxx
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Member#: 177
Join Date: Aug 1999
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Vehicle:
The 93 W/EJ20K-sold
Subaru-less :(

Default

1- the 04 engine will pass if wired in correctly and is legal .. even in California
if they plug in area the k won't pass .period. if its a sniffer (highly unlikely) it will pass with a stock WRX dp. i passed sniffer yesterday with 8pp at 2500 rpm (had to be under 250)

2
ej20k is less reliable there were a rash of spun bearing last spring ...ej20k sedan .. is fine with 91, a sti 93-94, RA will need help

3 i am runnign e10 93 in my sedan 97 wrx (very similar) the 04 engine is very smart it will adapt even to less than 91 octane by turning of the boost

4 v4 is not closed deck.. if some one tells you that they have never opened one and be cautious of them... the v.4 will have better pistons better heads (sti has a 8k red line)
untill you start pushing REALLY big #s its not really an issue

5 the part you listed easy, some other parts VERY hard there is a lot of interchange parts but it gets ugly with gaskets/valves/injectors/electronics

physcally swapping is easy a days worth of work if you have everything.. the harness merge is another story when done right it is a seamless affair there a a few shops that do the merge as a service its worth EVERY $$

visit the conversions forum

get the 04 and have ECS do he harness merge
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Old 11-22-2007, 11:17 AM   #4
d1giPhux
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Default

Well, its all going to be done for me.. because unfortunately.. i have no garage, and nowhere to do it.. so im forking out the money for it (since my EJ25 died anyways). =/

its a lot of money.. but should be well worth it.

Maybe I mis-understood what he meant about the v4 being closed deck, but he said that it was a much more solid deck, and would be LESS prone to spun bearings?

How often do he USDM wrx's get spun bearings? How does that usually happen.. beating on them really hard?

Also, Andre from Montreal (JDMSPECC4U) will be putting this engine in for me.. As far as I've talked to him and such, he's been very helpful. I keep looking into things myself too.. thats why I'm here trying to find out more info and such anyways..

If anyone can give me anymore info about the engines themselves, availability of parts, fuel octane that will be needed.. and maybe even some pictures of the block itself.. that would be greatly appreciated.

I think I will go with the USDM WRX swap.. just because of emissions and such.. but its tempting to want to make an extra 53HP for the same cost.

Thanks!
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Old 11-22-2007, 04:04 PM   #5
Jaxx
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Member#: 177
Join Date: Aug 1999
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Vehicle:
The 93 W/EJ20K-sold
Subaru-less :(

Default

ej20k are still phase 1 motors and are very very prone to spun bearings search ej20k in the pre2002 forum for the last year

the great thing about a usdm wrxs is there are tones of parts for cheap
you can gain that extra 53 hp with a reflash or add modded injectors +vf-39 for ~$600 for an easy 325chp
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Old 11-23-2007, 01:30 AM   #6
Tiki72
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Member#: 164240
Join Date: Nov 2007
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Vehicle:
2005 Subaru
CGM STI

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.....
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Old 11-23-2007, 01:47 PM   #7
kheff46
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Member#: 66739
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Medina, Ohio
Vehicle:
2002 WRX wagon
silver

Default

i had a K in my 95 sedan. sick power and is interchangeable with lots of RS(2.5) stuff and some EJ207 stuff. turbo radiator stuff is from a 91-94 legacy turbo. it's old technology now. but was great. a rash of bearing failures were here, but it must have been from the transporters. i had low KM on mine but had zero issues with mine(and mine looked beat!)

go newer and have less trouble scavenging parts in the future. i spent months findingjust a C clip for a japanese rear diff that never made it to the USA. so showing the subaru tech the diff was the only was to show what part i was referring to. even after getting a blow up of EVERY diff america ever got! so in short theres always little crap that'll make it tough. WRX stuff is everywhere now, buy it cheap and build it right!

--keith

Last edited by kheff46; 11-24-2007 at 09:17 AM.
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Old 11-23-2007, 03:17 PM   #8
d1giPhux
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Default

Nice, looks like I will just be going with the 2004 WRX engine then.. since this WILL be a daily driver, and i think the 04 WRX engine will make enough power for me right now.

Are there any common problems with the WRX engines? Spun bearings too? Any info I should know about this specific year model engine? What is the best / lowest octane you can run with these engines?

Funny enough, my friend who has an 02 wrx runs his on 87 octane.. which i didn't think was possible.. but he never has any problems with it. Maybe the octane is just higher in OK or something! =P

Since I have a choice of 2.5" exhaust, or 3" from the start of this engine.. do you think i should just go with the 3"? I was told the 2.5" made better torque, and that the 3" made better top end? How true is this? Will i lose torque by going with the 3"? Its going to be all custom-bent piping, with a magnaflow muffler.

Also, does anyone know if magnaflow makes a 3" piped muffler that DOES NOT look like a damn rice can?

I cant wait to get this done.. now i just need to find someone to help me tow the car from NH up to Montreal. haha.. everyone seems to keep backing out! =[
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