January 24, 201313 yr i just realized my EJ25 block for my frank build has the 8 mounting holes. The vin on the block is:4S3BG6856W7655075 - the VIN indicates it is a 1998 block, but doesn't the 8 bolt holes indicate this is one of the factory hybrids with the phase 2 block (larger rod bearings and thrust bearing moved to #3) with ph1 square dished pistons and ph1 dohc heads?
January 24, 201313 yr I guess it's possible that late model year 98s have a phase2 block. Do you know the manufacture date of the car the 2.5 came out of?
January 24, 201313 yr Author Maybe. Phase-II is larger rods and #5 thrust. Pull the pan and look. GD Pan is off, engine is on my bench, what exactly am I looking for?
January 24, 201313 yr Hmmmm. Interesting. So I was just out in the garage. The original 2.5 from my 98 legacy is an 8 bolt bellhousing. Unfortunately I don't know the manufacture date of that car since I've sold it, but iirc it was early 98. I know for sure it had a 4 bolt bell housing, though. I can't figure out how to see where the thrust bearing is... All I can see from the bottom are crank and rods.
January 24, 201313 yr Author Maybe. Phase-II is larger rods and #5 thrust. Pull the pan and look. GD Pan is off, engine is on my bench, what exactly am I looking for?
January 24, 201313 yr No reason for alarm, you have exactly what you thought you had - a 1998 Phase I EJ25. doesn't the 8 bolt holes indicate this is one of the factory hybrids with the phase 2 block No. Re: Are all 8 bolt EJ25 blocks Phase 2?No. Either way it doesn't matter and will work...but I guess you want performance and want to know what kind of compression/power you're making and want it to be more of those.
January 24, 201313 yr Author Pull off a rod cap and measure the rod journal diameter. GD 54 ph 2, 48 ph 1?
January 24, 201313 yr Author No reason for alarm, you have exactly what you thought you had - a 1998 Phase I EJ25. No. No. Either way it doesn't matter and will work...but I guess you want performance and want to know what kind of compression/power you're making and want it to be more of those. I just found this on the Forester forum posted by Ferret: "The phase has to do with the crankshaft thrust bearing placement ( moved from center to rear ), changes to the internal oil passages, coolant passage shapes changed and 8 bolts between the transmission and the engine. It has been loosely thrown around that phase II was SOHC only. Not true. I have a Subaru Tech Reference manual that describes this in detail." As you state, it doesn't really matter to me, except for my own knowledge and the fact of it being a Ph1 or Ph2 block. I like the idea of the stronger internals too!
January 29, 201313 yr Author FYI - I also found this out: Phase 1 ej25 blocks had two ridges next to the "japan" by the #1 Cylinder, Phase 2 blocks have a single ridge at that location. Phase 2 - Single Ridge: Phase 1 - Double Ridge: These two blocks both are stamped W in the Vin on the side of the block. Good information for anyone else trying to ID whether they have an early Phase 2 or Phase 1 block. I assume since these were both out of 1998 Legacy outback wagons - the Phase 1 block has the early crank and the Phase 2 uses the updated crank. But they both have the the phase 1 pistons and heads. Paul
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