'97 && '96 EJ22 "Interchangeability" in OBS

[the_bard]

I've been looking all over the NE for a '96 Impreza Outback (Sport), for two reasons:

1. The '96 EJ22 is non-interference, so if the T-belt decides to go south, I don't have to worry about hunting down another engine or start looking into a serious overhaul.
   
2. It's got the disc brakes all the way 'round.
   

Problem is, I've been able to find only one '96 IOS around me... which is overly expensive. 94k miles on it, and they're asking $7,000. I could probably haggle them down, but I'm debating whether it's worth it.

 

There's a '97 out in NH that I could pick up... not that bad of a drive, considering the route there happens to coincide with the route we have to go to pick up my wife's new car ('00 OBW w/ 95k, $8500 for reference). With 89k miles on her, they're asking $5400, which is a lot more reasonable. Considering that they haven't swapped the T-belt on it yet, I could probably talk them down even farther, which is an advantage of the lower starting price.

 

So it comes down to two questions:

1. If the '97 EJ22 throws a T-belt and eats itself, will I have any problems swapping a '96 EJ22 in there, without swapping the ECU (don't want to deal with wiring issues)? If so, I might just spend some time hunting one down, and take my time with some minor rebuilding while I've got it out, then slap it in at my leisure.
   
2. Can I swap the rear drum brakes out for the disc brakes (if I can find a donor '96 IOS, I may as well)? I'm concerned about the bias & the ABS, if I do swap 'em out... no sense in creating more problems.
   

Thanks guys ;o)

[Dr. RX]

I really don't know of any reason why you couldn't install any 2.2 into a car that already has a 2.2 in it. On the rear brakes, the e-brake cables are different between a drum and a disc setup, you need them too, but otherwise it is a simple bolt on conversion.