JDM EJ205 or EJ208

Breticus · 10-25-2019, 11:48 PM

The engine in my 02 WRX recently blew. Timing belt snapped and bent valves. I want to replace the engine with either a JDM EJ205 non AVCS or EJ208 I'm not sure if its AVCS or not. I am only considering because the 208 supposedly has hotter cams and a higher rev limit which is kind of appealing. I would be running a single 20g turbo.

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snow_bound26 · 10-26-2019, 12:20 AM

From what I've read I don't believe the 208 has avcs either. Couldn't find anything about cam profiles. From the little bit I have found they sound very similar to the USDM 205 but with sodium filled valves. I'd check the Aussie forums for more info since that's the only region the 208 was sold.

sig · 11-01-2019, 06:13 PM

I replaced my ej205 with a jdm ej208 non avcs, and it runs much better than before. I'm fairly sure its from the twin turbo legacy which you can see by the plugged oil feed line holes that the dealer will generally fill with a bolt and jbweld. I havent had any issues or leaks with the filled holes. The dealer I bought it from actually listed the longblock as an ej205 but from reasearch it turned out to be a 208. You definetly wont go wrong picking one up just make sure to swap the sensors that you need around: crank/cam sensors and pulleys.

Breticus · 11-02-2019, 05:04 PM

I ended up just purchasing a JDM ej205. If i end up with a 208 like you did then that would be sweet but either way itll get me running again haha.

sig · 11-02-2019, 08:59 PM

its the same engine pretty much anyway, the 208 I think just has the ports for the extra turbo, I could be wrong. But it says online that the 208 was made to handle about 255hp for the legacy b4 so it might have better components like sodium valves as mentioned before and forged pistons. But you will notice that the jdm engine seems much more smooth than the usdm, at least mine was. Enjoy the new block my friend.

Breticus · 11-07-2019, 04:33 PM

So I recieved my engine yesterday and so far I am very pleased. It looks clean and was shipped well. No damage to speak of. I think I may have got an EJ206 or 208 though. The driver side head has those oil and coolant ports blocked off with bolts which on my original engine they arent even there. Any way i could figure out if this is a 206 or a 208?

Breticus · 11-07-2019, 06:44 PM

A little more digging shows that the 206 came in automatic only and the 208 was usually manual
My engine shipped with a flex plate attached so im thinking its a 206.

sig · 11-07-2019, 07:23 PM

yeah youre right about the auto vs manual. Ive been doing more digging myself. They are the same engine just the 206 was detuned down to about 260hp from 280hp for the autos gearing, which might be a good thing since it probably wasnt ragged out as much as a manual would have been.

Definitely sounds like a twin turbo though if its got those ports. Also to mention that when they clean those engines, it sometimes leaves a watery substance in the oil pan so dont freak if you see that like I did lol. Let me know if you run into any issues with the swap. I did mine about a year ago so its still a little fresh in my mind

Breticus · 11-07-2019, 07:50 PM

Just went and pulled the plugs and looked in the bores. One cylinder looks like it has some scabby looking rust. I squirted some gear lube (what i had around) into the cylinders and turned the motor over by hand and it spins pretty smooth, but i heard a clunk every now and then and im not sure what it was or if its anything to worry about. I did not add oil to the crankcase but i figured turning by hand wouldnt hurt much.

sig · 11-07-2019, 07:59 PM

Yeah I wouldnt stress too much about it as long as it spins freely it should be good. Did they have pictures of a compression test when you bought it? I picked mine up in person and made damn sure they did a compression test in front of me

Breticus · 11-07-2019, 08:10 PM

No compression test photos, but the company has good reviews. Anyway i cant exactly start the swap yet. Busy until December so I am not going to make the 30 day startup warranty. Maybe i should fill it with some oil and just hook my flywheel and starter up to it and see.

sig · 11-08-2019, 11:25 AM

Yeah I would try and do a make shift compression test before your 30 days are up

Breticus · 11-09-2019, 09:39 PM

Today i compression tested the engine and it looks great!

Cylinder 1: 180psi
Cylinder 2: 175psi
Cylinder 3: 180ps
Cylinder 4: 175psi

Now that some oil pressure has gone through the engine it feels wonderful to turn over. I am very excited.

10-25-2019, 11:48 PM	#1
Breticus Scooby Newbie Member#: 414056 Join Date: Feb 2015	JDM EJ205 or EJ208 The engine in my 02 WRX recently blew. Timing belt snapped and bent valves. I want to replace the engine with either a JDM EJ205 non AVCS or EJ208 I'm not sure if its AVCS or not. I am only considering because the 208 supposedly has hotter cams and a higher rev limit which is kind of appealing. I would be running a single 20g turbo. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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10-26-2019, 12:20 AM	#2
snow_bound26 Scooby Specialist Member#: 395793 Join Date: Jul 2014 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Split time between SLC and Lak Vehicle: 2005 92x Aero Beige	From what I've read I don't believe the 208 has avcs either. Couldn't find anything about cam profiles. From the little bit I have found they sound very similar to the USDM 205 but with sodium filled valves. I'd check the Aussie forums for more info since that's the only region the 208 was sold.

11-01-2019, 06:13 PM	#3
sig Scooby Newbie Member#: 318247 Join Date: Apr 2012	I replaced my ej205 with a jdm ej208 non avcs, and it runs much better than before. I'm fairly sure its from the twin turbo legacy which you can see by the plugged oil feed line holes that the dealer will generally fill with a bolt and jbweld. I havent had any issues or leaks with the filled holes. The dealer I bought it from actually listed the longblock as an ej205 but from reasearch it turned out to be a 208. You definetly wont go wrong picking one up just make sure to swap the sensors that you need around: crank/cam sensors and pulleys.

11-02-2019, 05:04 PM	#4
Breticus Scooby Newbie Member#: 414056 Join Date: Feb 2015	I ended up just purchasing a JDM ej205. If i end up with a 208 like you did then that would be sweet but either way itll get me running again haha.

11-02-2019, 08:59 PM	#5
sig Scooby Newbie Member#: 318247 Join Date: Apr 2012	its the same engine pretty much anyway, the 208 I think just has the ports for the extra turbo, I could be wrong. But it says online that the 208 was made to handle about 255hp for the legacy b4 so it might have better components like sodium valves as mentioned before and forged pistons. But you will notice that the jdm engine seems much more smooth than the usdm, at least mine was. Enjoy the new block my friend.

11-07-2019, 04:33 PM	#6
Breticus Scooby Newbie Member#: 414056 Join Date: Feb 2015	So I recieved my engine yesterday and so far I am very pleased. It looks clean and was shipped well. No damage to speak of. I think I may have got an EJ206 or 208 though. The driver side head has those oil and coolant ports blocked off with bolts which on my original engine they arent even there. Any way i could figure out if this is a 206 or a 208?

11-07-2019, 06:44 PM	#7
Breticus Scooby Newbie Member#: 414056 Join Date: Feb 2015	A little more digging shows that the 206 came in automatic only and the 208 was usually manual My engine shipped with a flex plate attached so im thinking its a 206.

11-07-2019, 07:23 PM	#8
sig Scooby Newbie Member#: 318247 Join Date: Apr 2012	yeah youre right about the auto vs manual. Ive been doing more digging myself. They are the same engine just the 206 was detuned down to about 260hp from 280hp for the autos gearing, which might be a good thing since it probably wasnt ragged out as much as a manual would have been. Definitely sounds like a twin turbo though if its got those ports. Also to mention that when they clean those engines, it sometimes leaves a watery substance in the oil pan so dont freak if you see that like I did lol. Let me know if you run into any issues with the swap. I did mine about a year ago so its still a little fresh in my mind

11-07-2019, 07:50 PM	#9
Breticus Scooby Newbie Member#: 414056 Join Date: Feb 2015	Just went and pulled the plugs and looked in the bores. One cylinder looks like it has some scabby looking rust. I squirted some gear lube (what i had around) into the cylinders and turned the motor over by hand and it spins pretty smooth, but i heard a clunk every now and then and im not sure what it was or if its anything to worry about. I did not add oil to the crankcase but i figured turning by hand wouldnt hurt much.

11-07-2019, 07:59 PM	#10
sig Scooby Newbie Member#: 318247 Join Date: Apr 2012	Yeah I wouldnt stress too much about it as long as it spins freely it should be good. Did they have pictures of a compression test when you bought it? I picked mine up in person and made damn sure they did a compression test in front of me

11-07-2019, 08:10 PM	#11
Breticus Scooby Newbie Member#: 414056 Join Date: Feb 2015	No compression test photos, but the company has good reviews. Anyway i cant exactly start the swap yet. Busy until December so I am not going to make the 30 day startup warranty. Maybe i should fill it with some oil and just hook my flywheel and starter up to it and see.

11-08-2019, 11:25 AM	#12
sig Scooby Newbie Member#: 318247 Join Date: Apr 2012	Yeah I would try and do a make shift compression test before your 30 days are up

11-09-2019, 09:39 PM	#13
Breticus Scooby Newbie Member#: 414056 Join Date: Feb 2015	Today i compression tested the engine and it looks great! Cylinder 1: 180psi Cylinder 2: 175psi Cylinder 3: 180ps Cylinder 4: 175psi Now that some oil pressure has gone through the engine it feels wonderful to turn over. I am very excited.