Hey Everyone, I have a 1997 Legacy Outback Wagon Limited with the 2.5 DOHC and I'm thinking about putting the early 2000's 2.5 SOHC in it. The dealer told me its possible but I need some more opinions. If you have done it please let me know. I just love my old girl and wont let her go, help us lol!

Welcome aboard, mjs. You'll probably get more response to your question if you post it in the New Gen Forum.

if you look at the bottom left of this current screen you'll see simliar threads, check those out. not sure if it's one of those, but within the past couple months there was a lengthy thread where someone tried this (though ended up not actually doing that swap because they had a different motor than they thought).

 

no easy work arounds, requires fabbing/customizing/welding.

 

bell housing bolt pattern is different (but that's easy to work around), intake is the biggest debacle. the idle control and MAF to MAP change is what makes it impossible without fabricating something.

 

or you'd have to essentially to a full-on engine swap. install SOHC engine, body side wiring harness (spliced into the existing vehicles harness), and ECU...and then hope it plays nice with the newer Phase transmission, etc.