arcticracer

I am beginning to wonder if sticking to a EJ25 might be best! I will take my dead one apart and inspect the damage first, at least one bad head, and 148,000 miles on it.

Looks like the 90-94 engines biggest problems for my application is that they are OBD1, and my rig is OBD2, I don't know if I am up for the dreaded ECU harness swap. Think I should be looking for the 95 Legacy engine. I will keep up my research!

In my area of Alaska we have emission testing, so I will need to have the EGR, cat, etc. Don't want it throwing codes either. The flunkies at Jiffy Lube aren't going to know it has the wrong mota probably, they just plug in the sniffer and test. They may look for equipment though.

More on my Forester, it has 148,000 miles, DOHC. A cam seized on the passengers side, shattered the pulley, threw the belt, likely damaged valves. I do not want to screw around rebuilding my DOHC $$$$$$$$$$$$$, or buy another one that may have other problems. I have decided to install an EJ22 for reliability, they are much cheaper also. I don't mind losing a little power, the gas mileage might even be better with the 2.2. After getting it running I am going to take apart the 2.5 and evaluate it, rebuild, part it out, or whatever. Thanks a million all!

OK so I have done more research and I am closing in on a solution. My 98 Forester has an early build date, in 97 so no adapter plate should be needed for my transmission to fit with an EJ22. I called Foreign Engines in Seattle, they stock the 90-95 EJ22 engines, which have no EGR. They told me they can drill the head for EGR. Is that the only issue in using the pre-95 EJ22 for this swap?

I am in Central Alaska, everything costs more here. You would never find a decent donor car for $450. Wrecking yards are limited, I found one 2.2 with 105K 1995 they wanted $800. I will probably check to see what is available in a JDM engine, might get a rebuilt too. For now I will watch for a donor car, thanks for the tips, this forum is a good one.

I am in Central Alaska, everything costs more here. You would never find a decent donor car for $450. Wrecking yards are limited, I found one 2.2 with 105K 1995 they wanted $800. I will probably check to see what is available in a JDM engine, might get a rebuilt too. For now I will watch for a donor car, thanks for the tips, this forum is a good one.

By refining my search I found more information, it seems that an EJ22 from a 95 Legacy auto will swap right over. We do have emission testing here, every 2 years but I don't think Jiffy Lube is going to know or care as long as it passes the sniff test. Now to decide on used, JDM or a rebuilt. Going to get some quotes tomorrow. OF course a new clutch will be in order, etc. Anybody have a good used EJ22 1995? Earlier perhaps? Seattle area would be best, easier to get to barge line to Alaska.

Thanks for the reply, the problem with rebuilding my EJ25D is cost and complexity, I don't think I can handle it with the special tools, tricky heads and belt, and valve adjustment. The local Subaru experts want $5000 to rebuild mine. Blue book for my Forester is around $5K, I paid $2700 for it as is. I am inclined to find a used EJ22 to swap (if feasible) since I see how much less they can be acquired for. Or, I could handle putting on SOHC heads. Cost is a factor here as you see. I have done extensive reading and searching, this site and others, but have come across all the info I am looking for. Best regards-Arcticracer

This is my first post, my name is Dale, from Fairbanks, Alaska. I just bought a 98 Forester S with 148K. It has a seized cam passenger side. Head has not been pulled yet to look for more damage. I don't have much invested in this rig, but I want to do a good job to last many more miles hopefully. It is really clean, has new struts, axles, tires, etc. I have found the EJ25D prices are sky high, and the engine is not the most reliable. Can I swap an EJ22 into the Forester? I understand it will fit but how extensive would the ECU/Wiring work be? ANother option would be keeping my block (rebuild) and putting different heads on it, but isn't the EJ25 block less desirable? What would you do, I am willing to expend labor on the project. Many thanks in advance!