Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all. I'm considering replacing my Subaru engine for a newer version and would be interested in people's thoughts and opinions.

I bought my van 10ish years ago. It had a Subaru conversion done before I bought it and details are sketchy. On the whole the engine has done us well but I'm considering a refurb/replacement in the near future.

There is no engine code on the engine and I can't be certain who did the conversion. To the best of my knowledge (and a couple of Subaru local experts) the engine is an EJ22, probably from a 94-96 Legacy. Parts are becoming increasinly difficult to get. I needed to replace the cambelt and housing last year after grit got into the cambelt and buggered it right up. Whilst I could get hold of most of what I needed, the housing is not longer available and lots of tape is now ensuring the same thing doesn't happen again. 

My knowldge is limited so I'm keen to get an idea of what might be involved in replacing the engine with a newer EJ201 or EJ204. I'm also open to a refurb option but think that going forwards, maintaining this engine and getting parts could be just too difficult.

My van already has the shortened sump. I'm hoping the current exhaust could also stay. Any ideas where I might stand with the flywheel? I'm assuming a new wiring loom would be needed? Where am I at in terms of clutch and gearbox? Anything else I'm obviously missing?

I'm considering both a drive in drive out option or potentially doing it myself with my father-in-law (who has some knowledge/experience in rebuilds). I'm in Bristol, so if anyone knows people in the area who could help that would be great - already had a good chat with Arthur at MAD.

Please feel free to expose my naivity/offer up thoughts and opinions! Cheers.

EJ engines are already a modern classic unit, Subaru haven't made them for a while now. Yes some parts are expensive and the whole aftermarket is geared towards the turbo modders chasing big hp which makes it tricky for the normally aspirated engine owner.
Post 2005 (?) Subaru went CANBUS which makes taking a donor engine/ecu/harness away from its parent car a lot more difficult but its probably all been worked out by now.
Mechanically speaking all the EJ engine cases are basically the same and will bolt up to your existing conversion parts, putting aside the SOHC/DOHC differences.
If it were mine and still with good emissions I'd track down a good set of cam belt covers and leave it alone.

Cheers, lots of useful info there.

Certainly appreciate the better the devil you know argument. Arthur at MAD in Bristol said the same and the engine's done me well over the time I've had the van. As well as the cambelt housing (which isn't a biggie I know), one of the mounts for the alternator has sheared off and had to be 'glued' back on using high temp epoxy. No welder would go near it in situ. The engine also smells pretty fumey. Always has done and there's nothing ever been identified as the culprit. Noticable little dips in power are also occuring more frequently. 

Seems to be plenty of choice with sohc (EJ201, EJ2O, EJ25), Fellows also use the EJ204 which is dohc - would this require lots of change of auxillary parts?

Am I right in think that any new engine would need a new wiring loom?

Thanks again.

SOHC vs DOHC...some have siamesed exhaust ports, might be a later detail thing though.
Otherwise, like for like swap but...you'll need the matching ecu and harness (reworked of course) because manual and auto are not the same iirc, but can be fooled to work and behave, its to do with telling the ecu that when at idle that it is also in neutral and so it reduces the fuelling that is needed to overcome in-gear load/drag afaik. Could this be part of your exhaust smell?
Its about as much as I know tbh, I was probably the first person to remove a troublesome EJ22 from a T3, there wasnt the knowledge available to diagnose them back then.