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2.2 swap in a brat


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to all out there that have done this, please tell what it all takes!!

My brat is an 85 dual range , can you keep the tranny or do you swap everything? How about wiring ? is it traumatizing or just alot of wires. I think I've located a legacy with mpfi but tranny is out. Saw that Leg-a-brat when I first checked out the board, looked like it slipped right in. How about the suspension, will it swap over? 5 lug would be nice , wider variety of wheels ya know. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I really am enjoying the USMB.:headbang: subarus rock

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well - no, you can't use the 5 spd D/R, at least not without an adapter plate, and I don't know if anyone makes one. The bellhousings are different. The frame rails can be cut without terrible things happening to the front end - the unibody will hold it together. I know that D/R tranny's for the EJ motors were built for european models, but were never sold here in the states, so it might be hard to get one. Also - if you swapped out tranny's, you probably will have to change the length of the axles, to compensate. Also - the engine is too deep, and the radiator will have to be relocated - some have done this with a swing away mount above the engine, and a hood scoop to get air to it - kind of like a hummer.

 

GD

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Actually...

I was working on just such a swap last year. I didn't get to finish it, but here's what I learned:

 

(The following notes assume the use of an EJ22 transmission.)

 

-If you use an EJ22 transmission, you'll need to use custom modified front axles. You'll also need to make a custom transmission crossmember to mount it in the car. I ran into tranny tunnel clearance issues, but I think that's just because I was using a 2wd chassis.

 

-The engine will drop right in. You may want to slot-out the engine mount holes in the crossmember for a better fit for the EJ22 engine mounts.

 

-There is acceptable clearance with the frame rails. The only spot it even gets close is the #4 cylinder area, but it's still not a problem. I've seen 2 people's cars with EA82 engines in them and no frame mods, and the EA82 is even wider than the EJ22.

 

-There is clearance for the stock radiator. You might need to use a slim-line fan, or a push-type fan mounted on the other side.

 

Check out the pics I took at:

http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/subaru/1/ChemX/V1/

 

Someone on the board says they can make an adapter to mount an EJ22 onto an EA81/EA82 transmission. This involves a modified flywheel as well. I believe that the use of this adapter pushes the engine forward, so this application may require moving the radiator.

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Having installed an EJ20G (from a JDM Legacy RS Turbo) into a RX, I can tell you there is plenty of room between the rails for the engine, and since the EJ22 isn't any wider, it should fit just as well. The problem that I had was with the radiator cooling. Solved that by eliminating the A/C and putting two pusher type fans infront of the radiator (it was a twin row), behind the grille.

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Noah, is that a 2wd 5spd behind that thang?

what about a cut out of iron sheet, about 3/16" or 1/4" thich and cut it out with an acetylene torch to match the shape of the bellhousing and starter, have it stick out about 1/2 inch from the contour of the bellhousing, wngine, and shape a flat srip of steel around it (like a half "i" beam) to give the whole rig rigidity.

 

would it be a CIS project? what did the motor come out of?

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Noah, is that a 2wd 5spd behind that thang?

what about a cut out of iron sheet, about 3/16" or 1/4" thich and cut it out with an acetylene torch to match the shape of the bellhousing and starter, have it stick out about 1/2 inch from the contour of the bellhousing, wngine, and shape a flat srip of steel around it (like a half "i" beam) to give the whole rig rigidity.

 

would it be a CIS project? what did the motor come out of?

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The reason that project got stalled is that I bit off too much. I was trying to use an AWD 5-spd in a 2wd car. The tranny tunnel is not big enough. No, that is not going to have CIS. The EJ engines have distributorless ignition, and CIS only manages the fuel injection. That engine is the original motor out of this '97 Impreza:

http://www.demeis.com/motorsport/hardware/wrxstory.html

I got the computer and all sensors with it.

 

I looked into making an adapter plate much as you suggested, but the plate isn't as much of a problem as the flywheel. The EA flywheels use a smaller bolt pattern at the crankshaft. It didn't seem worth it anymore to go through the trouble of modifying the flywheel and making an adapter plate just to mate an engine to a tranny that couldn't handle the power in the first place. I decided to switch back to the AWD 5spd, but none of it will happen until I get done with my CIS Turbo Hatchback project.

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how would an ea82 fit to it, are the holes in same orientation?, maybe you can drll them out, much the same as the ea81 flywheel drilled out to fit an ea82 like the one in tom's brat and myoss feece's glf hardtop

 

would an xt-6 flywheel be a good choice?

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Hey , the main reason Kenedy says EA series trannies wont handle the hp.....is most of their applications go into buggies where the driver is all about ful power or nothing....side stepping the clutch while taching the motor out at 5000rpm's......:(

 

so yes trannies have issues.....but if you are looking at this as a dailey driver, or trail ride, it is doable......

 

AS far as custom axles......if you are using an EA-81 Aged car, Turbo Coupe Axles are the right tranny sline, and correct length, and also fit the factory hubs.....:)

Found this tidbit while converting the BEAST....AKA the WEEBLE WOBBLE..:drunk:

 

Don't let anyone tell you it can't work, cause I've proved them wrong a few times already.......:moon:

 

Later, John in Oregon....

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  • 2 months later...

sorry to bring back an old post, but:

 

I want to get this straight

 

the 2.2 swap has 2 main options, ea82 tranny or ej tranny:

 

the ej tranny, make all custom mounts, use turbo coupe axles? for the front (thats it?) and shorten the driveshaft in the back, loose low range and this looks harder, lo range legacy tranny hard to find.

 

the ea82 tranny, no instalation problem with transmission, use engine adapter from kenedy or from a board member, the transmission might fail, or the adapter might move the engine too far ahead for the radiator. looks much simpler, though, and you keep low range.

 

couple of questions,

 

Who is the board member that makes the adaptor kit and some info about it ($?)

 

What subaru are the turbo coupe axles from?

 

I think that the EA82 transmission can take it, the 2.2 is 145 hp right? lots of people on the board have ea82 turbos that are pulling more than that, it's the same power as an xt6 also. as said earlier, kenedy is saying that the tranny can't take it because they are thinking in heavy racing full power stuff. what is your opinion on this?

 

AK

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There is even yet another method. If you lift the body 6" or so, you can shove in a nissan transfer case. With a little tweaking of the EJ automatic tranny, you can get it to lockup 100% power to the rear driveshaft output. You then run that into a nissan 4WD transfer case, and from there to front and rear subaru diffs. This has the added coolness that the engine goes up 6", getting it up there with the body, and out from under the car.

 

Sounds like you want you lo-range - if so, that really is the best way to go. John (Mudrat79 can do the lift for you. He's done several now.....)

 

As far as the axle thing, John is NOT talking about the EA81T axles, as they are the same as any other EA81 axle - I know that for a fact. Therefore I conclude that he is talking about the EA82 turbo coupe's (ie: 3 door) axles. Which makes sense - the EA82 turbo axles do have a weird spline count, that very well could match up to the spline count of the EJ tranny.

 

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so an ea82 flywheel has to be modified to fit an ej.

i have drilled out an ea81 flywheel to fit an ea82, so would the same modification work with the ej?

 

if the hole pattern is tha same, you could drill out the ea82 holes to be bigger for the ej flywheel bolts.

 

so who knows?

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BUMP.

 

the 6inch lift and nissan t-case is out, I wouldn't even know how to start that.

 

so, who makes the adaptor here?

 

are you guys sure that I shouldn't use the ea82 tranny, it doesn't seem like it wouldn't work well.

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i decided against using the adapter plate, and using the ea82 tranny, beause... everyone i talked to, said that it would hold up, but not if you beat on it, just like anything. but if i had that much hp, i would have to beat on it, and i dont like swappin trannies as much as i like swappin motors.

 

2.2 would be great, but i would do it with the ej tranny.

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