What is a good motor to replace the old 2.5 with.

Get a 95-98 2.2 liter (EJ22) It's a direct bolt in and does not have the head gasket issues that the 2.5s do. Bonus is the 96 engine which would be non interference and dual port exhaust. 97-99 has single port so you would want to swap the Y pipe of the exhaust to match. Otherwise identical. Done the swap before. Easy as a pie as engine swaps go.

 

You can use a 90-94 motor, but you would need the intake manifold, wiring, etc. from a 95+ to match OBDII of your 98.

 

Do some searches on here. It's a well documented swap and is considered far superior to repairing/replacing the 2.5. You'll find tons of info.

Edited September 22, 201411 yr by AdventureSubaru

1999 ej22 should be avoided, it's a phase 2 and will not be a direct replacement for your engine. Also the majority of 96 ej22s are single port, only the very early production models still had dual port.

Get a 95-99 2.2 liter (EJ22) It's a direct bolt in and does not have the head gasket issues that the 2.5s do. Bonus is the 96 engine which would be non interference and dual port exhaust. 97-99 has single port so you would want to swap the Y pipe of the exhaust to match. Otherwise identical. Done the swap before. Easy as a pie as engine swaps go.

 

You can use a 90-94 motor, but you would need the intake manifold, wiring, etc. from a 95+ to match OBDII of your 98.

 

Do some searches on here. It's a well documented swap and is considered far superior to repairing/replacing the 2.5. You'll find tons of info.

A 1995 motor is the easiest to replace, because no change needed with exhaust port. That is the motor I put in my 98 OBW. Motor runs like a champ, so smooth.

As Rooster2 confirmed, 95 is also dual port exhaust. It is also non interference.

 

The swap threads here are good.  Make sure to look at replacing the oil separator plate on the back of the new donor engine if it is an old plastic variety.  (This is usually discussed in the swap thread somewhere.)

I must have gotten lucky on the 96 motor I got to swap in the 99 Outback. It was a dual port. I was under the assumption that they were all that way.