Need help quick - 2.2 n/a into bugeye RS w/bad 2.5?

[Fuzz541]

I have a line on a nice 2002 2.5RS with a bad motor and a 2000 Impreza 2.2 longblock. I'd like to combine the two to keep the car rolling as a DD in preparation for a strong n/a rebuild on the 2.5 or a later turbo swap.

How easy is this swap for a driveway mechanic who can change brakes and suspension? Is all the wiring plug/play? What about fuel lines, A/C, etc?

This would be my first major engine/trans related work of any kind. I'd buy or rent an engine lift and torque wrenches. I have a 100 pc Craftsman took kit. I could probably recruit a few gorillas to help too.

I'd like to pull the trigger on this in a day or two, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I searched but couldn't find anything right off.

Edit: how easy would it be to simply drop and rebuild the shortblock with stock parts? Should I worry about the metal in the oil screwing up the heads? Could I do this with basic tools and a torque wrench?

2nd Edit update: I guess the 2.2 is out of the question.

I found a nice 2003 Baja engine with 57k for around a grand. The long-time Subaru tech selling it says it's a direct manifold swap (i.e keep the 2002 RS manifold, use the 2003 Baja longblock) if I plug the 2003's EGR tube.

Any thoughts on that? I think I'll be doing this in my driveway next week. Doh!

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[Fuzz541]

Or would it be even easier to drop the 2.5 shortblock and put in the 2.2 shortblock?

The 2.5 has bad knock and some metal in the oil. Are the heads a concern or should I assume they're OK, use a magnetic oil plug and change the oil every 1,000 a few times?

Thanks!

[LetItSnow]

My guess is that the first thing you'd encounter, if nothing else, is a MAF/MAP conflict.

[Fuzz541]

OK. What about the short block swap? I'll dig around since I know that's been done, but any quick help would help, helpfully.

[btlegacy]

It will probably easier getting the same exact motor, you should be able to find one for $500-600

[BAN SUVS]

Yeah, getting a junkyard motor won't cost more than the rebuild kit really, and the 2 motors aren't plug-and-play. But most late EJ22s are MAP based. That said, the wiring is not directly compatible so it would take a lot of effort. Really, I would just find another phase II EJ25. I am pretty sure a 2000-2005 would be directly compatible with a manifold swap.

[Fuzz541]

Bump for edit question re: just rebuild it, dummy.

[BAN SUVS]

If it's head gaskets, that's not that hard. If it's a bearing or bearings, that's probably more expensive than a used longblock, plus a lot more work.

[Fuzz541]

2nd Edit update: I guess the 2.2 is out of the question.

I found a nice 2003 Baja engine with 57k for around a grand. The long-time Subaru tech selling it says it's a direct manifold swap (i.e keep the 2002 RS manifold, use the 2003 Baja longblock) if I plug the 2003's EGR tube.

Any thoughts on that? I think I'll be doing this in my driveway next week. Doh!

[BAN SUVS]

Sounds like a great option actually.

[Storm]

The technician is right. Pull your intake manifold off, and put it on the other motor. FWIW...you can do this with the EJ22 as well. There shouldn't be any issues, as long as you swap the entire manifold and wiring harness so you end up with essentially the same thing as you had before, just less displacement. One thing with the EJ22, would be the exhaust manifold....it's different than the EJ25, so you'd need one specific to it.

Jay

Originally Posted by Fuzz541

2nd Edit update: I guess the 2.2 is out of the question.

I found a nice 2003 Baja engine with 57k for around a grand. The long-time Subaru tech selling it says it's a direct manifold swap (i.e keep the 2002 RS manifold, use the 2003 Baja longblock) if I plug the 2003's EGR tube.

Any thoughts on that? I think I'll be doing this in my driveway next week. Doh!