Club 80-90 Forums

Can anyone help me I want to do a Subaru conversion in my t25 Syncro.
What is the best Subaru engine to get, as I'm looking to buy the whole car, but not sure on which engine to go for?

this may help a bit

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=193

2.2 under powered. 3.0 power great but economy bad and too much for gearbox. 2.5 perfect. Try and get a SOHC version (later >2000)

From someone who owns subarus and has being playing with them for many many years (and still is) ,, the 2.2 is the best all rounder ,, the 2.0 will Rev nice and easy but you will have a to rev it to get the most out of it ,, the 2.5 is good for torque so doesn't need to rev as much but the pistons are weak aswell as the head gaskets and they are known as the chocolate engine in the Subaru world ,, the 2.2 is considered the best engine for a good all rounder as it will Rev fairly easy and still have the torque to get you going ,,, the holy grail for any Subaru turbo owner is the a closed deck (stronger block) 2.2 stroked out to 2.35 using a 2.5 crank and custom rods with the 2.2 Pistons ,, I haven't been in the VW world very long and don't have a great deal of experience with the NA engine but can't see why it wouldn't be the same even without the turbo

You forgot to mention the early block/late crank thrust problem
I regularly convert early closed deck blocks to rear main bearing thust races for my local engine shop.
No pressure there!

silverbullet wrote:You forgot to mention the early block/late crank thrust problem
I regularly convert early closed deck blocks to rear main bearing thust races for my local engine shop.
No pressure there!

Yeah they also do a duel thrust crank now (can't remember the make) but never used one to say if there any good , I tend to use the later semi closed deck unless it's for a big power build as there far cheaper to get hold of ,, I also forgot the 2.1 Stroker (and I own one lol) ,, I'll talk subarus all day long but I'll try to remember this is a VW forum and some things might not be relevant on here ,, but be happy to talk your ear off if we are ever given the chance

Thanks for all your help .. So I should try get the ej22 engine do I need the wiring loom or can some one make one for me if I just get the engine on its own ??

Best to buy a complete runner, unless going for an aftermarket EMS such as MS3.
You will still need the engine loom though.
Rworking the full Subaru loom requires that you will also need keys for the immobilizer etc.
Buy a manual one, the auto versions have pins reversed/swapped in plugs and it gan give aggro when putting onto a manual transmission IME.
Or maybe thats just a TSR thing...

Assuming you want n/a not turbo, consider a 2l or 2.5l from a B12 Legacy (up to 2003), or a 2.2 from a B11 (up to '98), auto's are OK if wired correctly (some TSR wiring jobs aren't). 2.5's are lovely except for their propensity to eat head gaskets, mine need doing (again) and this time I'll try STi MLS gaskets which will I hope be more robust.

I have a H6 complete set up on the shelf awaiting consideration for the Westy. Might be a while tho so no change there

He's too modest... it's already on a pallet.

Domino wrote:From someone who owns subarus and has being playing with them for many many years (and still is) ,, the 2.2 is the best all rounder ,, the 2.0 will Rev nice and easy but you will have a to rev it to get the most out of it ,, the 2.5 is good for torque so doesn't need to rev as much but the pistons are weak aswell as the head gaskets and they are known as the chocolate engine in the Subaru world ,, the 2.2 is considered the best engine for a good all rounder as it will Rev fairly easy and still have the torque to get you going ,,, the holy grail for any Subaru turbo owner is the a closed deck (stronger block) 2.2 stroked out to 2.35 using a 2.5 crank and custom rods with the 2.2 Pistons ,, I haven't been in the VW world very long and don't have a great deal of experience with the NA engine but can't see why it wouldn't be the same even without the turbo

i have 4 closed deck turbo engines and 2 2.5 quad cam n/a,ive just swapped my 2.2 single cab for a syncro doka that one of the 2.5s is going in but the 2.2 i used in a single cab for 14yrs and pretty bullet proof non interference engine.

the darkside wrote:

Domino wrote:From someone who owns subarus and has being playing with them for many many years (and still is) ,, the 2.2 is the best all rounder ,, the 2.0 will Rev nice and easy but you will have a to rev it to get the most out of it ,, the 2.5 is good for torque so doesn't need to rev as much but the pistons are weak aswell as the head gaskets and they are known as the chocolate engine in the Subaru world ,, the 2.2 is considered the best engine for a good all rounder as it will Rev fairly easy and still have the torque to get you going ,,, the holy grail for any Subaru turbo owner is the a closed deck (stronger block) 2.2 stroked out to 2.35 using a 2.5 crank and custom rods with the 2.2 Pistons ,, I haven't been in the VW world very long and don't have a great deal of experience with the NA engine but can't see why it wouldn't be the same even without the turbo

i have 4 closed deck turbo engines and 2 2.5 quad cam n/a,ive just swapped my 2.2 single cab for a syncro doka that one of the 2.5s is going in but the 2.2 i used in a single cab for 14yrs and pretty bullet proof non interference engine.

Are any of the closed decks for sale as I'm always Looking for them as there needed for our big builds (600bhp+)

sonny198 wrote:Can anyone help me I want to do a Subaru conversion in my t25 Syncro.
What is the best Subaru engine to get, as I'm looking to buy the whole car, but not sure on which engine to go for?

well I am running a 2.0ej in my caravelle cant fault it loads of power

steve

have the sohc 2.5's got the same issue with the head gasket?

also what sort of mileage would you look for in a donor engine?