Camio_Fox500

Subaru was hit or miss with what cars got the phase II EJ22 in 97, transition year cars odd for that reason. For the every day person, the 25D is a bad motor, but for the performance guys we really can look past the HG fault as the motor does take to performance parts a little better. You would get better millage than I would as your down close to sea level, I on the other hand live at 5,776 ft (1,761 M). In the city I average about 15MPG, and on the freeway I get about 22MPG. The 25D might be a troublesome motor, but I would do better from the MPG bump and the power bump up here at elevation.

Nothing wrong with the EJ25D, I could get one from a guy who did a swap, do a full gasket reseal, new belts, and new idlers and tensioners and I would have a reliable motor that would give me more power, and it would be dual port. Personally the 2.2 sucks at my elevation and I get bad gas mileage for the motor size. I average about 15MPG with the 2.2 and a buddy with a 2.5 gets about 21MPG. I will more than likely do a 2.5 swap as it would allow me to learn how to work on the motors and a power bump like I want. On the note of the 1997 Impreza's, they are an odd year as the face lift was happening, the phase I and phase II motor change over, and some JDM STi parts came stock on some cars. While other 97s got parts from the 96 and the late 97's had 98 parts. The motors were hit or miss as to the one that you got as I have a phase I motor, non interference, while the lady across the street has a phase II and her car has a build date of Dec 1996.

Heh, I'm the guy he is talking about. I guess I should state whats going on with the car. At the moment I a working to make her a V3 STi Type RA clone, roof vent is on the way, as that's what I would have if I was in Japan. I have most of the exterior done and I have been working on the interior slowly with a beige to gray interior swap. The motor plans are that I will keep the 2.2 till I swap and I wont do a swap till I get the interior and the exterior done as those are the harder parts to get. The swaps that I am looking at are either a EJ207, EJ255, or a EJ257. I would get the motor, rebuild it, and then keep it around 280-290 awdhp. I would then get a JDM STi 5 speed with DCCD and 4.44 and call it good for a while. This is how she currently sits, pardon the fender and trunk, got hit and its now upgrade time: The current mod list: JDM Light Weight Beam, V4 STi Front Bumper, V4 STi Fog Light Covers, V4 STi Fog Lights, De-badged Trunk, RS Coupe Spoiler, JDM 'I' Badge, RS hood, RS Wiper Arms, USDM Flat Fuel Door, 2004 Forester XT front brakes, 2002 WRX Rear Hubs, 2003 WRX Rear Brakes, Legacy SS Master Cylinder, Noltec Polyurethane Trailing Arm Bushings, GD STi Pitch stop, Whiteline front strut tower brace, ebay Rear strut tower brace, WRX 20mm rear sway bar, KYB AGX Struts, Eibach Pro Springs, 2002 WRX front and rear seats, 2006 WRX black carpet, 02-07 WRX Pedal set, JDM STi shift knob, Legacy GT Intermittent Wiper Switch, Gray Interior Trim Conversion.