95 Subaru Impreza L 1.8 Liter. More power?

[nicholi2789]

Hey guys, so I've posted on here a lot about my old 95 Subaru Legacy L which recently broke down. Couldn't figure out what was wrong with it and had to get it towed 38 miles. It ended up being jumped timing. I reset the timing belt and she ran great again. I sold it for 1200$ (it had 270,000 miles on it) and bought this 95 Impreza L 1.8 liter. It only has 130,000 miles and has a clean body/interior and runs pretty good. I was tired of being worried about my legacy breaking down all the time.

Anyways, so I'm wondering what I can do to squeeze a little more power out of this 1.8 liter. I know it's a smaller motor and makes less torque. But it's what I got now. 

Anyways, it's got a bit of a rough idle, not too bad, just bobs around at 5-600 RPMs or so, not perfect smooth like my 2.2 liter Legacy. I've been told it can be the IACV? and to clean it? Tried googling that to no avail. 

I've already done the normal stuff, new NGK spark plugs, fuel filter, wires, injector cleaner, cleaned MAF and throttle body, What else?

I also transferred my custom catback exhaust and wheels, and just ordered a UEL header for it. Anyone got any good ideas to gain just a few HP and throttle response?

What about a 2.2 swap or some kind of frankenbuild? My 95 Legacy was OBD2, but this 95 Impreza is OBD1 so I'm assuming I can't swap that. Can I swap a 2.2 from a first gen Leggy? What are my options?

Thanks in advance. 

[AdventureSubaru]

EJ18 and EJ22 intake manifolds are interchangeable. Any 1990-1994 Ej22 is direct bolt in. 1995 Ej22 - swap your intake manifold onto the motor. 1996-1998 EJ22 swap your intake manifold and swap the exhaust y-pipe from the donor car as this will be single port exhaust.

 

Really simple stuff.

[nicholi2789]

EJ18 and EJ22 intake manifolds are interchangeable. Any 1990-1994 Ej22 is direct bolt in. 1995 Ej22 - swap your intake manifold onto the motor. 1996-1998 EJ22 swap your intake manifold and swap the exhaust y-pipe from the donor car as this will be single port exhaust.

 

Really simple stuff.

Well its not simple to me. I've never done an engine swap on a subaru before.

Anyways, that's awesome. I didn't realize there were so many options for swaps on this. I can get a used EJ22 from the junk yard w/less than 100k miles for 400$. So all the motor mounts and everything are direct bolt on for 90-94 ej22? Y buddy Todd has a 97 Impreza couple with the single port 2.2 and that has some balls. I really want that. Lol.

I don't understand how swapping a 95 ej22 will work. Aren't they obd2? This impreza is obd1 so won't all the main engine harnesses not connect up?

[idosubaru]

It's very easy - remove EJ18 - install EJ22 - they are essentially the exact same engine.  I don't even think you're necessarily limited to 1990-1994, I think you can use 1995 - 1998 EJ22's as well, but 1996-1998 have single port exhaust so you'd have to also swap the exhaust manifold (easy since it's got to be unbolted from the engine anyway).

 

OBD refers to the intake manifold - not the long block itself.  the entire engine itself is just a big block of pistons and valves and timing gear - NO ELECTRONICS at all.

 

So bolt your OBDI EJ18 intake manifold onto an EJ22 and you're good to go and your EJ22 is now "OBD I"

 

To say it another way - the EJ22 isn't really "OBDII" because you're ONLY using the long block in this case - it's just a big block, no intake manifold, no wiring, no sensors, nothing.

It works because the EJ18 and EJ22 intake manifold bolt pattern is identical - same thing, so just swap away.

 

The EJ18 is weak - but man it's a great motor - you might still considering running it for what it is - a high mileage inexpensive reliability monster.  save your money and buy an already equipped EJ22 vehicle later.

 

If you can swap an engine - buy a blown engine Subaru for cheap and then install an EJ22 - you'll make money that way probably after selling what you currently have.

[comatosellama]

Well its not simple to me. I've never done an engine swap on a subaru before.

Anyways, that's awesome. I didn't realize there were so many options for swaps on this. I can get a used EJ22 from the junk yard w/less than 100k miles for 400$. So all the motor mounts and everything are direct bolt on for 90-94 ej22? Y buddy Todd has a 97 Impreza couple with the single port 2.2 and that has some balls. I really want that. Lol.

I don't understand how swapping a 95 ej22 will work. Aren't they obd2? This impreza is obd1 so won't all the main engine harnesses not connect up?

All the connectors are on your intake manifold. Just swap that onto your new engine. If you have egr on this engine make sure to get an engine with one. If you want some serious balls get a 2.5 block and put the heads and intake on there. Cometic makes a special gasket for it. It'll scoot along just fine. You'll need high octane gas though

[AdventureSubaru]

Always been curious about that. I've heard the write ups on the 2.2 heads on 2.5 block frankenmotor. Wonder what the 2.5 block with 1.8 heads would act like.

[comatosellama]

Always been curious about that. I've heard the write ups on the 2.2 heads on 2.5 block frankenmotor. Wonder what the 2.5 block with 1.8 heads would act like.

Should be very similar, I don;t think the compression is too different. May do it on big blue, the 1.8 is on par with a prius