Ok first off let's not start with the "you shudda gone with an EJ22 w/a 5 spd d/r tranny." Now with that out of the way....

 

Well I am between temp assignments right now so I figured I would tackle a huge portion of the project. I re-drilled the flywheel and installed it. Then I made the adapter plate and one thing that I noticed with the EJ18 is that there are only 4 bolts that secure the tranny/engine together. The bottom two, the starter bolt and one near the the flywheel window. I mated the two together yesterday and it fits perfectly. I took some pictures w/the cell phone camera but I haven't figured out how to download it yet.

 

The plan was to use an EA82 crossmember w/ps. The engine mounts for the EJ18 fit perfectly and there was no need to extend the slots. The PS lines from the engine screwed in directly to the EA82 crossmember.

 

So things are looking pretty good. The lift block that I made ended up being unusable so I am back to the drawing board. (see thread about lift block) It was too difficult to drill all the way through the center. I am going to pre-notch the bolt holes and drill through the top plate.

 

Things left to do are to complete the lift blocks and install them, install engine and tranny. complete wiring. install 5 lug parts. modify OBS front struts to fit BRAT. (this may prevent the need to make a strut lift block. are really daunting is the actually wiring and the Outback Sport front strut mod.

 

Well I have to go.

 

BW

here are the pics

 

First one is the engine tranny together.

 

The second one is the flywheel w/the input shaft snug against the pilot bearing.

 

BW

just curious, but how do you plan to register this in CA?

 

GD

just curious, but how do you plan to register this in CA?

 

GD

 

Been talking to a CARB ref and this shop called Garage Tuning, a shop specializing in EJ20 swaps into pre-02 Imprezas.

 

I can get the car inspected and registered as a BRAT w/a EJ18 AWD tranny.

 

Since the engine is OBD1, there are a lot less things to worry about in terms of the computer and the blasted Check Engine light.

 

Most of the things that I need can be sourced from Garage Tuning.

 

I think the key is to make it look as stock as possible.

 

BW

I abandoned using the 3 X 1 inch tubing that I bought.

 

Went to the metal yard and scored some 5 X 2- 3/8 thick.

 

Much easier to work with and it was only $42 for all of the steel.

 

I have to get it all cut up and then try to get some bolts that will work. I may end up tapping to to standard pitches b/c the longer bolts are easier to find.

 

once I finish the lift blocks I will be putting the BRAT into the garage for engine swap.

finished cutting the lift blocks.

 

I made a really nice set up for the radius arm rod and tied it all together. Problem is that I used a EA82 as a template and they are different mounts.

 

BRAT is in the garage and I dropped the tranny and motor. now I have to figure out how to get this massive piece of metal moved out of the way.

 

Guess I should have split the tranny from the engine first. :-\

 

other than that it's going well. The OBS struts are about an inch taller than the BRAT struts fully extended. I have to use the OBS top hat b/c it swivels and the ones on the BRAT don't. The center of the top hat fits nicely onto the hole. Mounting bolts will obviously have to be re-drilled. The strut mounting tab on the XT-6 hubs are a tad too thick for the OBS strut. Will have to take a grinder to the hubs to get then down to size.

 

I need some advice about using the OBS struts and I will post this in another thread.

 

Will also post pics later.

 

BW

Then I made the adapter plate and one thing that I noticed with the EJ18 is that there are only 4 bolts that secure the tranny/engine together. The bottom two, the starter bolt and one near the the flywheel window. I mated the two together yesterday and it fits perfectly.

 

I am not sure I understand, did the EJ18 and 4-speed DR bolt up without an adapter plate?

I am not sure I understand, did the EJ18 and 4-speed DR bolt up without an adapter plate?

 

No, I still needed the adapter plate.

 

The EJ18 has four bolts that mate the tranny.

 

When I did a clutch job on my EJ22 there were about 6 bolts.

 

So the bottom two bolts were similar but the top bolts were different. I will take a picture of the adapter plate.

 

BW

Well haven't posted it in a long time about this.

 

But I have some success. I used a bit of starter fluid and got it burped a bit.

 

So once I get the fuel system finished it will run.

 

Problem I just notice while trying to install the exhaust is that I need a spacer so that the headers will bolt up. The last thing it to get the radiator lines set up right. They are a bit pinched.

 

BW