Allouez Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 Sorry if this is a stupid question to many of you, but which models had the ej-22 and why is this considered a good engine transplant for, say, an older hatch w/an EA-81? I have an 81' hatch and have finally decided to give her the works. Just wondering... Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 EJ-22's were early model Legacy motors - about bulletproof and lots of horsepower. As far as transplants, you need to talk with others about that. It's been done , but not by me. But maybe someday (when IM testing doesn't exist). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 About 135 HP, and they run forever. But unless you make an adaptor, you need the transmission too - which unfortunately didn't come as a D/R here in the states. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibs Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 Is an adapter hard to fabricate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wb 86 Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 What about head problems on the EJ22? Until recently I was a fan of them but a friend of mine just swapped motors because the 1 of the heads on his 91 Legacy cracked. The garage that did the work (we were pressed for time and couldn't do it ourselves) is run by a guy who loves Subarus and was recomended by a lot of Subaru owners. He said he does 2-3 head/motor swaps a month on early EJ22s because of regular internal cracks in the heads, something with a flaw in the casting on early EJ22 motors. Are there any years that are better then others? I am under the impression that this is a common problem on the early ones, so is it something that was corrected later? Overall I think it is a great motor but the head problem has me steering clear of them until I learn more about them. Thanks Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 Go ask in the new gen - we have no idea here..... GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. RX Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 They still make the EJ22, but not exactly the same as the early Legacys, but just as reliable. In 1994 I believe the EJ22 was an optional engine for the Impreza also. This is not a simple conversion, mechanically it is fairly straight forward, and some parts bolt up like they belong there. If you keep the tranny that came with the EJ22 (which I consider the best bet, since the EA series trannies weren't built for the power of an EJ22), you'll need to be able to fabricate a new tranny mount out of the one that came with the tranny. The driveline will probably have to be shortened (on an EA82 it is 55mm, not sure on an EA81). Now the fun begins, wiring the car so that the engine will run. Depending on if you just want the engine to run or you want full functionality of all the guages too, will determine how difficult of a task this will be. Let me know if you want to go this route, I might be able to help you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 i made an adapter out of 30 dollars of plate aluminum, a drill, and a tap. 40 bucks total. i aborted the project, but i learned something. by now it has been attemterd enough that there is a "standard" procedure for building one. its a close match for the bellhousing, the bottom studs will line, input shaft will line. top bolts need holes made. you will use an ea81 or ea82 flywheel depending on your tranny. the adapter will be 12mm thick to make up the difference in the engiones bellhousign depth. use clutch pak/flywheel and starter from the tranny you may use this is what i can tell you from attempthing one, and reading other's attempts/successes. mated and installed, never ran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerFahrer Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 He said he does 2-3 head/motor swaps a month on early EJ22s because of regular internal cracks in the heads, something with a flaw in the casting on early EJ22 motors. I am about as big a fan of the 1st-gen Legacy/EJ22 engine as there is, and I've never heard this. EA82's are notorious for cracking heads, EJ22's aren't. I personally believe the EJ22 is the toughest engine Subaru ever built. The bottom ends are indestructible, the heads (while behind-the-times) are well-built, they have the least headgasket problems of any Subaru. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wb 86 Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 I am about as big a fan of the 1st-gen Legacy/EJ22 engine as there is, and I've never heard this. EA82's are notorious for cracking heads, EJ22's aren't. I personally believe the EJ22 is the toughest engine Subaru ever built. The bottom ends are indestructible, the heads (while behind-the-times) are well-built, they have the least headgasket problems of any Subaru. Thanks, thats what I thought as well until I talked to his mechanic. I am all to familiar with the head problems on the EA82 and the cooling issues. I believe my friends car was not well taken care of before he bought it. Thanks Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 I tend to believe your mechanic is talking out of his backside. I have spoken to two different subaru techs today from 2 different dealerships (called them about something else) and neither of them had any idea what I was talking about. One pulling my leg.. maybe, but 2? not likely since the second one is a friend of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted July 7, 2004 Share Posted July 7, 2004 EJ22....latest generation SUBARU engine series...2.2 liters of displacement. SOHC ONLY in the USA....offered as a 1st gen, 135 hp or so, 2nd gen, 145 hp or so...and the Legacy turbo in 93-94....about 160 hp. Engine is INDESTRUCTABLE as long as you put oil in it and cool it good. The EJ22G, turbo version, is even more indestructable. The block is so tuff....i imagine 600 turbo ponys are the upper limit of the block. Medium cast and closed deck. the 22B STi got an EJ22G...a DOHC turbo version...380 HP!!!!! STOCK!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narenji Posted July 7, 2004 Share Posted July 7, 2004 i have an 87 gl w/ a jdm ej20 swapped in- it's a mid 90s sti motor, very strong, and it's mated to a 90s legacy transmission and a legacy rear diff that's been welded for max durability (it's rwd). i've heard too that legacy stuff is well engineered. the mechanic who installed the motor always talked highly of legacy parts. he told me that if i ever wanted to replace the transmission, to choose another legacy tranny. the ej22 is a semi-closed or closed deck, i'm not sure, but it's stronger than the new usdm wrx motors... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaru_styles Posted July 7, 2004 Share Posted July 7, 2004 ahhhh so your the one who bought it! was looking into to buying that a while back. was 90% going to do it then decided not to. hey when im in cali i would love to take it for a spin. do you plan on coming to wcss6? im pretty sure that it's an ej22 in there....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narenji Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 whats wcss6? yeah, i just got it a few weeks ago, but it's got an oil leak someplace, i cant drive w/ the windows down, the smell is sickening. i'm going to get it tuned on a dyno tomorrow. the oil leak looks like it could be the oil filler neck, or (hopefully not) the valve gasket. the oil must be dripping onto some exhaust part and burning off. let me know when you're here, we can go for a spin no problem. nice gl wagon btw. i'm tempted to make mine look nice, but the sleeper factor is too much fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subaru_styles Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 pm sent to narenji as not to jack the thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 Moving to new gen now that the basics are answered and its getting into some detailed questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applegump Posted July 8, 2004 Share Posted July 8, 2004 What about head problems on the EJ22? Until recently I was a fan of them but a friend of mine just swapped motors because the 1 of the heads on his 91 Legacy cracked. The garage that did the work (we were pressed for time and couldn't do it ourselves) is run by a guy who loves Subarus and was recomended by a lot of Subaru owners. He said he does 2-3 head/motor swaps a month on early EJ22s because of regular internal cracks in the heads, something with a flaw in the casting on early EJ22 motors. Are there any years that are better then others? I am under the impression that this is a common problem on the early ones, so is it something that was corrected later? Overall I think it is a great motor but the head problem has me steering clear of them until I learn more about them. Thanks Craig How do you recognise a head problem? What are the symptoms? I have an early ej22 and am begining to worry. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 As long as you replace coolant and oil at reasonable intervals, the EJ22 will take a hammering and just come keep coming back for more. I drove one from 120k to 190k miles and revved it to 6500rpm daily, and cruised at 100mph daily, during the two and half years I owned it. It easily pulled 120mph, and I once managed 130mph! (GPS certified) Oil was Mobil 1 5W-50 replaced at 6k intervals along with Sube filter. Coolant at 30k. All that engine ever did was growl and hum and shrug off the stress of WOT driving, and writing about it makes me miss it :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rweddy Posted July 9, 2004 Share Posted July 9, 2004 How do you recognise a head problem? What are the symptoms? I have an early ej22 and am begining to worry. Thanks No need to worry, These engines are so reliable that one of the local Subaru shops here in Denver had to start working on other makes models to keep buys during the early days of the legacies. But now with the 2.5 issues they are back to work again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THAWA Posted July 10, 2004 Share Posted July 10, 2004 EJ22....latest generation SUBARU engine series...2.2 liters of displacement. SOHC ONLY in the USA....offered as a 1st gen, 135 hp or so, 2nd gen, 145 hp or so...and the Legacy turbo in 93-94....about 160 hp. Engine is INDESTRUCTABLE as long as you put oil in it and cool it good. The EJ22G, turbo version, is even more indestructable. The block is so tuff....i imagine 600 turbo ponys are the upper limit of the block. Medium cast and closed deck. the 22B STi got an EJ22G...a DOHC turbo version...380 HP!!!!! STOCK!!! You mean the legacy turb in 91-94, and the 22b is like 280-290 hp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted July 10, 2004 Share Posted July 10, 2004 You mean the legacy turb in 91-94, and the 22b is like 280-290 hp I dont know the EXACT years of the turob Legacy...i know its somewhere around 92-93....and was not here for long, like the Turbo Brats. No...the 22B is REALLY 380 HP....FACTORY spec SAYS 276 or 280.....but so does the STi Version 6, 7 and 8....but is really about 320. Even motortrend says the 22B puts out "about" 350 HP....they tested the car in person too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattocs Posted July 10, 2004 Share Posted July 10, 2004 Yeah...you can beat them, and they still keep on going. I drove my Legacy with a leaking cam seal for like 1,000 miles (paid more for oil that leaked out in that time than it costed to get fixed) According to Edmunds.com they range in HP between 130 (1990) and 138 (1998) I would go by what some actual owners say, and that small change and HP could be due to new intake changes, mufflers, etc. They are decently quick. I've had my Legacy to a bit over 115MPH and my Outback to about 110MPH. Not bad for a 4 cyl. with AWD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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