02 Wagon Build/ JDM EJ207 V5 STi Swap

[GregZ]

Fellow NASIOC members... I'm relatively new to the forum and to Subaru as a whole so I should introduce myself right? My name is Greg and I'm just some 18 year old kid with a set of tools and a love for cars. I decided to post a build thread for those of you that are interested. Hope everyone enjoys it!

Intro: 10 months ago i decided i would trade my built 94 BPT Mazda Miata for a 02 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon from Missouri. After driving 7 hours from Chicago to Iowa City I picked her up and could not have been happier. She had 136,XXX miles on the chassis and motor on her when i picked her up. (Don't worry i was sure to do a compression check on her in the parking lot of the truck-stop where we met lol). The car at one point was RWD converted but was converted back a few days before the trade. 03 WRX axle's diff's and a trans with 80k was used. After 6 months of problem-free driving the problems started... First a misfire, then all 4 wheel bearings, then 2 axles, then the front 02 sensor, then... you get the idea. I was simply sick of replacing parts that didn't constitute a jump in performance. Then, of course, my dad took my car out one morning after Chicago had the biggest snow storm in 50 years... He bottomed out on a chunk of ice and dented the oil pan right where the sump lay's constricting the oil supply... I bet you can guess what happened next. Yep, lol, the #3 rod spun a bearing. I was then forced to either rebuild, or replace. I did a significant amount of research and decided that i would do a swap... To be specific a JDM EJ207 V5 STi Complete drive-line swap out of a 98 STi. I decided on this swap because of the price really, but i decided on it for a couple other reasons as well. First, since I was doing a swap i figured i might as well squeeze some extra power out of the grocery getter while I was at it. The Vf28 that came with the motor was exactly what i was looking for; Not too much power but just enough as this is my daily. I also decided on the V5 STi swap because it came with both the trans and the rear diff. My 320 AWHP goal would have definitely been spoiled by the weak 03 USDM WRX trans. I ordered the motor/ trans from a company called V-TEC Motors in Canada. The driveline came out of a car with a VIN certified 33,XXX miles on it. I paid 3800 for everything including shipping. I have made almost 1200 back thus far and still have 1500 in parts I have yet to sell. Not bad right?

The First day I got the car.


Under the hood. (Nothing Special lol)


-Mod List from when I got the car:

Exterior-
- 2-tone paint job (TOP- Toyota satin black, BOTTOM- World rally blue).
- 17” Koing Split 10 Spokes.
- 4” Carbon Fiber STI Hood Scoop.
- 3” Front Lip.
- APS Carbon Fiber Mirrors.

Interior-
- 06 center console (2 cup-holders instead of 1)
- 8" touch screen headunit (aux, cd, DVD etc..)
- Factory boost gauge.
- Innovative digital wideband mounted on dash.
- Factory short shifter.
- HKS turbo timer.

Suspension-
- Kyb struts with matched springs. ( lowered 2 in.)
- Whiteline front sway bar.
- Sedan rear sway bar.
- Energy polyurethane suspension bushings.

Engine-
- Stock TD04 turbo. (80k miles)
- 80k miles on 03 WRX drive-line
- Full 3" turbo back exhaust. (hks power series)
- Turbo xs recirculating valve.
- Turbo xs 4" core top mount intercooler.
- Greddy silicone couplers.
- 7 heat range NGK plugs.
- APS shorty intake.
- HKS circle earth grounding kit.

AND SO THE BUILD BEGINS...

JDM 1998 V5 STi Engine/ Trans.


Starting Tear down of JDM STi EJ207.


Stock TD04 Turbo.


JDM STi Vf28 Ball-Bearing Turbo.


Vf28 next to a Evo3 Big 16G.


I was really surprised at the size of the Vj28. The is a very noticeable size difference between the TDO4 and the Vj28. The Compressor side of the Vj28 was smaller than the 16G but the exhaust housing was noticeably bigger. (Vj28 turbine was smaller)

Stock EJ205 is out of the car!


The pull went very smooth. It took me and my buddy about 3 hours. The trans dropped easy as well. The recent swap helped us out a lot! Not a single bolt seized or stripped! I was really impressed! lol. The rear diff on the other hand was and still is being a b#!&*!

Oh how I wish I had a lift lol.


New trans installed!


Again, the trans install went surprisingly smooth once again. 2 guys, 2 hours. A 3 ton floor jack and a 2x4 worked perfect!

The Plan:

• Walbro 255 LPH.
• Modded Stock Injectors.
• TGV Deletes.
• Stock WRX heads/ cams. (new valve seals)
• Vf28 Turbo.
• Port matched/ heat wrapped Exhaust manifold.
• Tune from Jorge and P&L Motorsports.

Any comments/ suggestions are greatly appreciated!
More to come!

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[mneste8718]

how did you land a deal like that? $3800 for a full driveline swap? Insane. I want a deal like that right now lol

[AWDWRXLOVER]

Originally Posted by mneste8718

how did you land a deal like that? $3800 for a full driveline swap? Insane. I want a deal like that right now lol

its because its a v5. they are far cheaper than v7+. so you dont have obd smog there?

[ScoobyDoo69er]

Could you explain the trans install? Looks like a job well done so far

[godfather2112]

Vf not vj

Fun build

['02 Subaru Rex]

Impressive, I wouldnt have thought about tackling a job like that a 18…hell I am 20 and have spent a lot more time around car and I still wouldnt try something like this.

[GregZ]

Lol. Thanks fellas. And yes, we do have obd smog here. I was simply looking for a ej207 and i got one!... along with a bunch of other goodies too! The intake manifold and wrx heads are going to be reused just for that reason! lol. Gotta love emissions. Godfather- I'm still stuck on good old Vj turbos from my first to builds that flow a measly 280 cfm haha.

As for the trans install... I'm no Subaru expert but ill try to explain it the way I did it. I know their is a way to drop the trans with the motor in the car but the motor had to come out anyways so i did it this way-

(Short Version)

1. Disconnect all sensors/ water lines/ ac lines/ motor mounts and (will the motor suspended of course!).

2. Pull the front axles.

3. Pull the motor! lol (A chissle comes in handy when separating the trans.

4. Leave the top trans mount loose but still bolted together.

5. Drain the trans!

6. Unbolt the rear of the prop shaft. pull it out of the trans.

7. support the trans with a jack.

8. Unbolt the cradle supporting the jack and remove.

9. Remove top trans mount.

10. Push trans toward rear of car while lowering and set it on the floor.

11. Get out from under the car and pull that sucker out!

12. Repeat in reverse! lol

**In a nut shell**

-Greg.

[mneste8718]

oh so you wont be able to utilize the 8000RPM redline then... that kinda suxs. But that is a great deal regardless. I guess you'll be using the WRX ECU then, correct?

[GregZ]

You got it. EJ20's hardly make any power past 7k anyways. lol

[onesicksoob]

Originally Posted by mneste8718

how did you land a deal like that? $3800 for a full driveline swap? Insane. I want a deal like that right now lol

I picked up a v5 sti swap this week for $1700.

[GregZ]

What did your swap consist off?

[onesicksoob]

Originally Posted by GregZ

What did your swap consist off?

Same as yours minus the rear diff, but thats ok because I'm going to just change out the ring and pinion on the mechanical lsd diff already in my car. The place I bought it from deals mostly in hondas. I was looking at another ej20g to replace the one I broke and they happened to think a 207 was a 20g so now I have that for a sweet deal.

[GregZ]

I haven't updated my thread in a while so here is some progress pictures.

Building the new motor:





New ClutchMaster Stage 2 Clutch:



Getting ready to put the motor in:


Gotta have some fun while were working right? lol

And shes in! Those damn steel alignment pins suck!



We got this far and...


.... as soon as we pressure tested and FIXED every boost leak up to 30 psi I started the car and the passenger side head-gasket started to leak a bit of oil. F@#K! So we pulled the motor out and ordered another OEM head-gasket which should be here by Monday. It will be just my luck that the previous gasket was just fine and the block is a bit warped and everything will have to come out for a third time!

So... Here is how she sits now...

[rex2281]

nice build! i had a vf28 before and it freakin spooled quick. enjoy it

[WelDun1]

So what's up with your car now bro? I am actually looking at a my99 ver5/6 STi RA ej207 with the rare TY754VB1EA tranny w/dccd, rear diff, front & rear hubs AND crossmembers! It's a little more than $3800 but not too much, and guess where its from? Yup... V-tec Motors! So how was your experience with doing business with them? Were they honest? Cuz I've heard scrappy things about other vendors, not to mention names, but, **cough Osa cough ka cough** , I haven't really heard any feedback on V-tec. Any info would be great, along with any info on the build, like things u woulda done different, or just anything.
Thanx bro,
WelDun1

UPDATE:
I bought a Ver5 Type-R complete swap. I hope it goes smooth!

[Lurk]

Looking to do this same swap...

... just cant find a decently priced longblock

Any updates on your swap?

Keep up the good work!

[bgqkeneg]

Any info would be great, along with any info on the build, like things u woulda done different, or just anything.