I test drove a 96 Impreza with the 1.8 EJ engine today.It was a complete dog!I think my stock Turbo Brat could've stayed right next to it in a drag race.I am new to new gen Subes and am wondering if the 1.8s were under powered and how hard woould it be to put an EJ22 as I am picking one up next month.Thanks,Dave.

i think the EJ18's are rare in the states, someone back me up on this please. They may be rare for good reason, i.e. they sucked, or it may be a save this kind of rare. Talk to other, more knowlegable people to get solid info. My brain is kinda fried, it being midnight and all. just my 1 cent.

comparing it to previous Subaru dogs, I think that it is the best N/A 1.8 that has been made.

 

The 1.8 ea81 4spd 4WD is a dog.

 

The 1.8 ea82 Auto 4WD is definately a dog.

 

I drove a customer's 93 Impreza Automatic wagon yesterday, and if I didn't already know it was a 1.8, I would have guess it was a 2.2, just because it was peppy off the line. Of course it was a 2WD, so maybe that has something to do with it, the Impreza you drove was probably hauling around a AWD system that your BRAT isn't.

 

You are comparing a 1.8T to a N/A 1.8, of course it is not going to be a big improvement.

 

Also you did not mentioned the maintance on this vehicle, does it have new spark plugs, wires, fuel filter, etc? Maybe it was in need of maintance.

 

I would have to say that the EJ1.8 Auto AWD is probably a slug, compared to a Turbo 1.8, but I have driven 2.2 Auto Imprezas that do not have the get up and go of my 84 Turbo Coupe.

It was at a used car lot and the salesman said it was well taken care of "just look how clean the engine is".He knew it was taken care of well but didn't have any service records on the car.I decided to pass on it and was just wondering if the EJ18 was an underpowered engine or if this Impreza was just beaten down.

110hp, 110 torque.

 

Its definatly slow. 1rst and 2nd gear are ok, but after that nothing. 4th and 5th gear no power at all. The one time I took it to the wednesday night drags (just to get some numbers) I had a 17.782 @ 76mph, never got out of 3rd gear. And thats with a couple mods (underdrive pulley, modified intake box w/out snorkel, borla headers, 2" midpipe with wrx muffler)

 

The EJ22 install wouldnt be that hard, at least compaired to other EJ engine swaps into imprezas.