Hi Everyone.

 

I'm looking at buying a 1997 OBW 5spd that has a 2.5 with a broken Timing Belt 137K on the car. I'd like to just swap a 2.2. in there so I don't have to worry about Headgaskets.

 

I've done a lot of searching on here, and it looks like a 2.2 from a 1995 MY car can go into the 2.5s. But the Service Dept Manager at Subuara told me it wouldn't work, due to this being "Totally Different; the bell housings won't match". (The owner of the car brought the car to the Dealer and didn't fix it due to the Dealer telling him it wasn't worth replacing the motor).

 

Anyway is the Service Manager Full of it? :-\ Should I just be able to swap a 2.2 in there and be ready to rock? An old Girlfriend had 1995 Legacy with the 2.2 and it was a great car. Used Subarus are few and far between around here or else I probably wouldn't bother doing the swap, but I think I do this project for a total of $1500 (Cost of the Car and Junk Yard motor). one other ? is can the motor be taken out from the bottom or does this have to be hoisted out? I've done a few 4cyl H2O VWs, a Chevy Lumina and an Integra from the bottom.

 

ANy Help is greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome newbie!

 

Do some searching here.

 

I'm thinking he's full of it. Then again several folks here have done it and I'll bet he hasn't.

 

Just my two cents.

 

Dave

I just swapped a 2.2 into my 96 obw with no problems. Out from the top is best way to pull it.

You need to be looking for a local trusted mechanic no matter what choice you make.

 

Many more options with an independent and better pricing typically.

 

I would start with that search.

 

Many here have done this swap (myself included) and there are lots of excellent folks to advise you here.

 

Dave

Thanks for the Replies! So it being a Manual Tranny has nothing to do with the swap working or not? Most of the threads I've read so far, seem to deal with Automatics...

 

I wish there was an Independent shop around here that charged a decent rate and knew what a Subaru was (the "good" mech in my 'hood charged me an Arm and a Leg to work on my Tacoma the 2x I took it there; once for an AirCondioning job the other for front wheel bearings both of which I couldn't do without some serious shop tools). When I tell you guys they are RARE around here; I mean it. Scoobs are few and far between around here; I have a great Mechanic back in Massachusetts that was an Ex-dealer tech @ Subaru but he's 1500 miles away. I'm pretty good at wrenchin' on VWs but this'll be my first Subaru.

Thanks for the Replies! So it being a Manual Tranny has nothing to do with the swap working or not? Most of the threads I've read so far, seem to deal with Automatics...

.

 

No difference. I've done a 2.2 into a manual '98 outback with no issues.

The donor '95 2.2 should be from an automatic (long story-- only the 95 automatics had EGR, which you need to prevent setting the check engine light on a later model 2.5) The 2.5 flywheel will bolt right on to the 2.2 crankshaft.

 

Nathan

It is a very easy swap. Everything just plugs in and bolts on, if you get the complete 95 engine with the intake manifold. You could also use a 96-98 2.2 engine if you get the Y-pipe from the car the engine came from. You don't need any special tools to do it other than a hoist to pull it out. If you're really tough a couple guys can lift it out by hand, we've done it, but the hoist is the way to go.

It'd be plug and play the engine will fit the car.

sweet! Thanks for all the replies. Hopefully I'll be able to work a deal on this car and find a decent 2.2 to put in it. I'll make sure to stop by the Dealer and show him the swap works after I do it :-p

. You could also use a 96-98 2.2 engine if you get the Y-pipe from the car the engine came from. .

Or you can use a 90 to 96 2.2 and put a 95 intake and 95 cam and crank sensors becuse they are different plugs.