What are my options??

[Perkul8r]

Hi guys and gals, I am new to the subie family, recently converting from honda's. Anyway, I just picked up a 1998 legacy L, 5 speed with the EJ22E engine, and i was wondering what things, performance wise i can do to the motor? I want to possibly do turbo considering NA build are very costly. I aint looking for a ton of power right now, just enough to go play with the WRX's around here. Thanks guys and gals for any input for my noob experiance.

[wagonryan]

most people on here will tell you there isn't much to gain with the 2.2 as far as power, but handling is another story. suspension mods are the most effective for our cars. but if you REALLY want power you could do a wrx swap and suspension stuff, then the wrx's will have to keep up with you :headbang:

[Perkul8r]

I just really like to go fast. lol. I had a fairly built galant vr4 and that things was stupid fast. And well. now i want to do that with a subie. lol

[aresbykes]

USDM wrx/sti swap. There are plenty of shops that will do it for you and if you're a gear turner it's not really that difficult.

[RS MN]

as ryan said, power mods arent exactly a subaru thing with NA's.
putting a turbo system on an NA subie engine isnt the best idea unless you have the 1.8, as you can get a WRX engine/ECU/harness(merged) for almost the same price, and end up with alot more power and reliability.
if your really looking for power with your NA though, look into Delta cams (suprisingly cheap), and CH import heads. (essentially the same company i think)
intake and exhaust also dont do much powerwise for our cars, but i highly recommend getting some borla or borla replica (unequal length) headers and a catback so you can get the boxer rumbles :D

good luck with the build!

[98obster]

I just really like to go fast. lol. I had a fairly built galant vr4 and that things was stupid fast. And well. now i want to do that with a subie. lol

just wondering, why did you get this car? is the engine shot and you are going to do a swap anyway? for what you are going to spend you could have just got an already "fast" car? let's start with replacing suspension stuff like worn outs struts, bushings etc. that will handle your fast car when it happens. more info on the car, mileage, pics? welcome.

[RS MN]

i agree, IMHO handling before power always,
but he wants to build the engine, so i gave him options :D

[Perkul8r]

The reason i decided to get the leggy was cause all you see around here is Impreza's, whether its a wrx or sti, thats all. Not very many people modify anything else thats AWD. there are a couple evo's, and a few dsm's, but i wanted something different. Also i have a family so the four door is a must, and the car was cheap. I only had about $2000 to spend on a car. so a wrx or something like that was out of the picture. Plus i like to build cars. The leggy is awd, five speed, and with the hardest part of an engine swap being the electrical, from what i have found, they seem to be a good platform to work on.
The car itself has 153xxx miles on it. Its got new struts all the way around, and new tires. and i do plan on doing a motor swap sometime next year, but for the mean time i am looking to just get a little extra grunt from it.

[RS MN]

theres actually quite a few people on here with leggys :D
good luck with the build and have fun!

[Perkul8r]

I also got another question. I have found a 1997 outback wagon for sale near me for like $500. its got the 2.5, not sure if its dohc or sohc, i am gonna check it out. But the headgaskets are out in it. Would that be a decent motor or would it still be best to just buy a turbo motor? Also, would the hood and fenders off the front fit on the legacy? Sorry about the noob questions. Still trying to figure out the subie motors. lol

[RS MN]

noob questions are a part of learning :D

and if your dead set on a turbo, just get a turbo engine.

[Perkul8r]

My biggest thing is i am still trying to keep things fairly cheap. lol. I have seen alot of single/twin turbo motors that are good but the wiring harness look pretty chopped up, and i know the tt motor would take some work to get in cause of the left side turbo possibly interfering with the steering. And wrx motors aren't the cheapest. lol Now i have found a couple jdm front clips with the turbo motors that aren't to bad priced, There is a 1994 impreza turbo front clip for like $1400 with shipping. That should have everything needed for the swap. Right?
And getting a swap isn't something thats gonna be in the near future. My son is fighting cancer right now so really i am just looking to make the car a little more reliable. the motor seems to run really good, but it doesn't look like the previous owners really took care of it.

[98obster]

I also got another question. I have found a 1997 outback wagon for sale near me for like $500. its got the 2.5, not sure if its dohc or sohc, i am gonna check it out. But the headgaskets are out in it. Would that be a decent motor or would it still be best to just buy a turbo motor? Also, would the hood and fenders off the front fit on the legacy? Sorry about the noob questions. Still trying to figure out the subie motors. lol

I believe you already have a project car, but maybe not since it's your DD. the 97 ain't a bad engine once it's HGs have been done. My '97 OB has great low end torque in 3rd around 2500-3500 rpm. what you don't know is if it was overheated and incurred additional damage. It's probably a DOHC but can verify by looking at the cam belt cover. don't know if parts are the same tho.

So, here's your project: pull the 2.5 out of the OB and swap in the 2.2 out of the legacy and do everything to make sure it will last another 150k. then you can make that the family wagon until you find the 2.0 turbo to put in the Legacy. is the OB an auto or also manual.

In the meantime, about the only thing you can do to the 2.2 is allow it to breathe a little better with a CAI (cold air intake) that keeps the airbox, a 2.25 axle back exhaust, maybe a lightened crank pulley to improve throttle response some...etc. I would say it's 50/50 a restoration project/pimp my ride project.

But mostly, take care of that 2.2 (especially since you and your family depend on it) and it will take care of you (hopefully). learn about it and be diligent about mainteance. ABSOLUTELY verify that it is on it's 2nd timing belt and if you can't then that's priority along with waterpump (won't last another TB interval), seals, tigthen oil pump etc...search, search.

Wheres you at living for so many subaru's?

[beatersubi]

More power and better reliability are usually at odds.
The EJ22e is pretty bulletproof, if maintained.
There are ways to go about turbo-ing your EJ22. Or the aforementioned WRX/turbo swap, which would be the most simple route. Your bottom end w/ latter SOHC EJ25 heads/intake and a small-ish turbo make for a pretty street-friendly power combo, but thats getting into pretty in-depth modding. Check out http://bbs.legacycentral.org (http://bbs.legacycentral.org/) for knowledgeable tech info.
Best wishes w/ your son, too. Thats gotta be real hard.

[Perkul8r]

I believe you already have a project car, but maybe not since it's your DD. the 97 ain't a bad engine once it's HGs have been done. My '97 OB has great low end torque in 3rd around 2500-3500 rpm. what you don't know is if it was overheated and incurred additional damage. It's probably a DOHC but can verify by looking at the cam belt cover. don't know if parts are the same tho.

So, here's your project: pull the 2.5 out of the OB and swap in the 2.2 out of the legacy and do everything to make sure it will last another 150k. then you can make that the family wagon until you find the 2.0 turbo to put in the Legacy. is the OB an auto or also manual.

In the meantime, about the only thing you can do to the 2.2 is allow it to breathe a little better with a CAI (cold air intake) that keeps the airbox, a 2.25 axle back exhaust, maybe a lightened crank pulley to improve throttle response some...etc. I would say it's 50/50 a restoration project/pimp my ride project.

But mostly, take care of that 2.2 (especially since you and your family depend on it) and it will take care of you (hopefully). learn about it and be diligent about mainteance. ABSOLUTELY verify that it is on it's 2nd timing belt and if you can't then that's priority along with waterpump (won't last another TB interval), seals, tigthen oil pump etc...search, search.

Wheres you at living for so many subaru's?

I live in North dakota, so we have seen our fair share of nasty winters, and last year was alot worse than this year. But shortly after i got my car there was that 97 in the local classifieds for sale due to a headgasket issue. I dont know if the car is a manual or auto. i emailed the guy to go look at it. And yes the Leggy is my dd but i like to tinker with things also. and i will definately check on that timing belt. I am doing alot of maintance on it over my days off for christmas.