My brother has a 98 outback which I just did head gaskets on about a year ago and the body/suspension is rusty and just about shot.

 

What can we put this engine into other than another 98 outback? All I can find is people trashing this engine and also that it wasn't used for very long.

 

I know it's not popular, but the thing runs great.

 

Thanks!

It can go in a 98 Forester (they got the SOHC engine in MY99) also 99MY Outbacks.  May even fit some Impreza's

Any 1995-1998 Subaru - including 2.2 liter engines - are plug and play, bolt in, and run. 

96-98 2.2 has single port exhaust - but your EJ25 exhaust manifold bolts right up and since you have the entire car is zero extra effort or parts. 

 

1999 - It swaps into *only*: 2.5 equipped legacy/outback (which means OBW, GT, SUS, some years the LSi got a 2.5 liter, not sure about 99)   

in 1999 It will not swap into any foresters, impreza's, or 2.2 equipped legacys. 

 

EGR - Some have EGR, some do not, if you have emissions/don't want a check engine light then you'll have to do a little more work, but it's easy. Yours probably has EGR so it can be swapped into any with EGR or just remove EGR stuff to swap it into any without EGR.  

 

Bellhousings went from 4 to 8 bolts around 98 but it doesn't matter - the necessary bolt holes all line up. 

 

Evaporative emissions - yours is in the rear of the car, earlier stuff is in the front of the vehicle.  If it's a 2.5 liter vehicle just use the 2.5 liter intake manifold of the "new" car on your current engine.  Or just reroute the lines yourself to the front, not a big deal. 

My brother has a 98 outback which I just did head gaskets on about a year ago and the body/suspension is rusty and just about shot.

 

What can we put this engine into other than another 98 outback? All I can find is people trashing this engine and also that it wasn't used for very long.

 

I know it's not popular, but the thing runs great.

 

Thanks!

 

Did this overheat - ever? - If so, it may run for another 100K or <5K....depends on how badly the rod bearings were damaged - if @ all. 

 

As you've probably read, HG fail = Overheat = (more likely) bottom-end bearing failure. So, yeah...these engines deserve their infamous reputation.

 

 

 

p.s. It'll also run in a Legacy from '90-'94....more work, but swap the TB and IM harness, and it's pretty much the same as described above.

Edited August 28, 20178 yr by wtdash

p.s. It'll also run in a Legacy from '90-'94....more work, but swap the TB and IM harness, and it's pretty much the same as described above.

and even 1.8 impreza's if you swap those things onto an EJ22 intake manifold or onto the EJ18 intake which is a hot mess of wires and hoses in my opinion!

^yeah...I was going to mention the 1.8, but it's got its own EGR that may cause grief w/the 2.5's. And the ECU may not run the 2.2/ 2.5 injectors.

^yeah...I was going to mention the 1.8, but it's got its own EGR that may cause grief w/the 2.5's. And the ECU may not run the 2.2/ 2.5 injectors.

 

Use an EJ22 w/ EGR manifold or just plug the hole in the head.

 

EJ18 ECU will run the 2.5 no prob.  Won't get the max power out of it, but will run fine.

Can I swap it into something newer? I'm assuming that the engine harness would need to be swapped but I don't really know how involved that is. 

 

The engine runs pretty good although it MAY have been overheated before we purchased it. I did the head gasket job myself and had a very reputable local place do machine work on the heads. Engine has 200k miles on it, but it seems solid. In my mind it makes sense to try to buy a 500-700 shell and swap this out since his current car is getting so rusty and the chassis/brake lines/fuel lines etc is beginning to have more and more issues.

 

I know everything would likely FIT, however I don't know about the other aspects. 

 

Also, is the automatic trans for the legacy any different than for the forester? If I found a 98 forester with a manual, could I swap the auto that he has in? His wife can't drive stick.

It's a DOHC most after 99/2000 were SOHC and they aren't plug and play.  The third post tells you what they will swap into plug and play

^1...please believe what Mr. idosubaru posted. It's accurate....you'll cause yourself a LOT of grief  going newer....many have tried, failed, and moved on.

Can I swap it into something newer?

 

Also, is the automatic trans for the legacy any different than for the forester? If I found a 98 forester with a manual, could I swap the auto that he has in? His wife can't drive stick.

 

You can - it'll bolt right in and up to the transmission just fine - same basic dimensions and bolt patterns where it works. 

 

It won't plug in though - the electronics are all wrong.

 

1.  Swap the entire intake manifold wiring harness from the new engine onto the 1998 EJ25.  Then it won't start/idle because the IAC's are vastly different and can't easily be worked around. 

 

So you have to prop the throttle open and just plan on it not having any reasonable ability to increase/decrease idle as needed (based on temps, electrical loads - A/C, lights, wipers, defrost - etc) and you'll have a high idle sometimes.

 

2.  Fuel injector, coolant temp sensor issues also exist but can be mitigated by swapping/splicing plugs and minor rerouting. And I may be forgetting some minor differences with EGR or emissions. 

 

3.  You can swap the newer heads onto the 98 short block with a keen eye on gasket choices, but then you loose your nice machined heads and retain the craptastic worst short block Subaru has ever made - the EJ25D.  If you do this then you can retain the newer gen intake manifold wiring harness, making the electronics much simpler. 

 

4. You can also do a complete and proper engine swap - swap the entire 1998 engine, wiring harness and ECU into the newer vehicle. 

 

 

For an easy and plug and play swap with no issues, no work arounds, no check engine lights and an engine that runs and idles properly - you need to follow my list I posted in my first reply. 

IF you made a set of intake adapters, the engine will run in SOME 1999-2002 cars. With intake adapters you would remove the incompatibilities.. Otherwise pre 1999 except 1999 DOHC

You guys are awesome. Thanks so much for the help!

Or... just sell it to one of the dozens of people with blown engines in late 90s cars, who keep coming here trying to figure out what else they can swap in...  

 

And buy something else.

Or... just sell it to one of the dozens of people with blown engines in late 90s cars, who keep coming here trying to figure out what else they can swap in...  

 

And buy something else.

 

Definitely a better option. I'd spend more time getting something rust free, find a good seller, even if it's out of state.  That will render the best price and more importantly - end product, over trying to shoehorn one specific engine into whatever is available locally. 

 

as to selling EJ25's though - compared to 10 years ago, it's a tiny market. I've got one never overheated and there's just no demand particularly in the rust belt.