PAJ

I went to Harbor Freight and the guy said that they got rid of chain wrenches a few years back, so it was mother of invention time. I finally mickeyd a flat tire iron through the 2.2 driveplate to brace the crank and got both the pulleys off. Turns out that both center covers are for identical down to the part #. They're also both labeled EJ22. Too bad for my EJ25. That old belt looks as good as new while the 2.2 belt looks like trash. Whoever did the last job on the 2.2 didn't replace the center cover properly, letting all kinds of schmutz into the space. Ahhhh more work... I wish I could post the pics. They're pretty entertaining.

Great ideas! I'll saunter down to harbor Freight for my Chinese chain wrench and a 6 point socket. Sure the 2.5 center cover won't fit? I didn't scrutinize it but it seemed to be similar. If it doesn't fit then it'll be another one of my ugly pig putty projects...

So I'm half way through the Ej25 to EJ22 conversion on my 98 Legacy OB SW. So far so good and everything is going smooth even though I had to steal some small pieces off the EJ25. One of the engine-tranny guide pins was missing as well as one of the bottom studs and other small crap like exhaust manifold studs that were missing. Found a single port exhaust manifold just sitting on the ground at the U-pull it yard so Karma is with me and life is good so far. I intended to renege on the timing belt replacement until summer cauz it's still bloody freezing up here in PA, but someone up stairs had other plans. When I lifted the 2.2 off of the pallet that it was sitting on I discovered a nasty gash right through the center timing belt cover. No way I can let that fly so now it's off with the flywheel pulley, change the belt (at least) and a swap with the 2.5 cover. The question I have is how can I remove the bolt on the 2.2 without a buying a chain wrench or special tool? I might be able to insert a flat piece of stock through the drive plate, but the thought of messing with it makes me nervous. Any ideas? It's only 80Ft lbs so it can't be that bad.... I'll practice on the 2.5 and will likely have to tie something down and beat the snot out of it before I break that bolt loose. Also, I just saw in the manual to ALWAYS turn the crank in the clockwise direction. uh oh.... A few revolutions in the wrong direction won't open a worm hole and send me back in a time warp. Will it? BTW, I pulled the Autolite plugs from the 2.5 that have been going for at least 130k. I remember cauz that's when I got divorced and the ex left me the car. Anyway, I discovered that they had at most only a few pounds of torque keeping em in there! The electrodes are worn almost to zilch and the gap has got to be over .06, but somehow they kept going. New NGK's for the 2.2 should keep it humming. New valve cover gaskets as well. The rear baffle plate is crap plastic but no leaks. I'll have to keep it since I don't want to risk resealing it in freezing temps. Keep smilin.

Egg-cellent ideas folks! I won't do everything recommended until it gets above freezing around here but I have a plan. (Didn't Homer Simpson state "I said that I had a plan. I didn't say that it was a good one...") Gotta say that the comment about the evap and VC plumbing scares the bejesus me but I'm sure there are loads of posts to get me through it. When I swapped the tranny those flex plate bolts were a devil for me to manage until I finally got smart and paid my daughter a buck a bolt to use her tiny fingers to simply reach in there and make childs play of it! I think it took all of a few minutes to put em all back in. It was a heck of alot easier than trying to fumble my filthy fat sausage fingers in there. Don't ask me about gettin em torqued back up. I used the "estimate" method since I couldn't find a way through the intake manifold maze.... hey, it was cold! What's the worst that can happen, right?

Well, after wasting time playing around with various miracle elixirs that did nothing for my 2.5 head gasket that finally breached like the Johnstown Dam, I'm going to plug in a 97 EJ22 in my 98' Legacy OB wagon. So much for that new DOHC timing belt I've been keeping for a rainy day. Anyway, I have a line on an EJ22 that has only ~130k and the price is right. It also comes with the coveted exhaust manifold that I'll need. It'll be a joy to replace that cinch of a SOHC timing belt and can see that youse all recommend that the idlers and maybe even the tensioner be changed out as well. Anything else you can think of while I have it out up the stand? Also, in your opinion are the aftermarket belt kits worth their weight or should I stick with OEM parts as has been repeated over and over and over.... Thanx all.

Many thanks, oh sages of Subies. Lotza good sad info. I figured as much after browsing some of the threads but was clinging to the slim hope that I could work on the engine at my leisure and eventually have a spare, all be it a worn one. I had the Stop Leak crap lying around on a shelf for a decade or so and didn't think it could make things any worse. Of course that was before I read what it can do to the water pump etc, and now if it's getting into the crankcase...holy Shamokin! I'll shoot for an EJ20 and do the timing belt assembly n plugz before I slap er back in. FINALLY I can change the plugs without cursing out the Japanese! At least I don't have to do the DOHC replacement now. I'll miss the :Flame:power but ride easier knowing now that my rear will likely go before anything up front. : )

Yep. I was blessed but now I'm cursed. Right after swapping my tranny out for another junkyard special, a headgasket pooped out after only a week of happiness with my 98 Legacy OB that has 263k. When I did a routine check on my radiator it was like I was in a Reeces peanut butter cup commercial: "Hey, there oil in my radiator and where did most of my antifreeze go? WTF? There's quarts of antifreeze in my oil" I tried "Bars" and other products with some success, but not enough to keep her from still blowing bubbles. Forget Thermaseal. I'd rather put the money towards another engine. I'd do the HGs but dontcha think that after all those miles I'll be pulling every seal and replacing every component in sight, costing me mucho bucks that I don't have? I'm also worried that those quarts of antifreeze in my crankcase wore every bearing down while I was blissfully ignorant. Besides that, it's too bloody COLD to be working out there in January! So, enough jocularity and on to my question; Should I see a 97-98 boneyard EJ22 in my future or chance just doing a head gasket, front seals and timing belt? Also, do I REALLY need to send my heads out to a shop??? Thanx.

Yeah, but what about the expensive special tools used to hold the cam sprockets, pull seals etc...? I can see that I have more bucks to spend and homework to do on the site.... Maybe it can wait till spring. I just don't want to go back out in the snow to freeze my bejesus off. At least this time I won't be on my back lying on a piece of cardboard. If it gets all blowed up before I get a chance to exchange the belt and associated dreck, I saw an EJ25 at the bone yard for cheap...... Thanks again 4 da help! : )

Ok. So the tranny in my 98' 2.5L auto with 263k on it finally pooped out while I was 100 miles from home. I took it that black fluid on the stick obviously mean bad juju. That and no 4th gear and no reverse... At least it got me back to my hooch. I'm pissed only cauz I paid mucho bucks just a few months back to cure the wheel binding issue. Being of unsound mind and no money I decided to tackle a swap on my own. My kid and I found a match to my TZ102Z2 at the local "U pull it" yard for 75 bucks that had only 130k on it, so we took a few weekends and muscled it out of the junk and back in mine. gotta say that I certainly couldn't have accomplished anything without hours spent reviewing the sage advice offered by ya'll. So it's in, it runs, and everything is putting away merrily again. Or is it??? The manual stated that I should mark the positions of the torque converter as well as the drive shaft so that everything goes back together as it was, but since I used a different TC and drive shaft, have I caused an imbalance in the Force that will ultimately screw me somewhere down the road? Now on to the dreaded timing belt that's something like 100k overdue and the oil leaks from the front seals...