gc8 motor options?

[offcamber]

I just bought a 1996 Impreza L 2.2 with 238,000 miles and a blown head gasket to eventually replace my thief magnet fail wheel drive Hondu. The car will be used for DD, casual auto-x/rally-x (it's 90% driver anyway).

I'm looking at options that are inexpensive and reliable with some leeway for cheap performance (delta cams). I would like to stay emissions legal if at all possible...i also don't want to spend tons of money on tuning equipment/dyno time. Staying on 89 otane and decent gas milage is a consideration too. It would also be nice to be at least as fast as my 2000 integra LS.

As I see it now my options are:

2.5 swap since i can't find any 2.2's online and there are slim pickings in Texas for used motors. What does this swap involve? do i need an RS ecu and would that screw me over emissions wise?

some type of JDM motor...

buy ($200) and rebuild my friends 1999 2.2 90,000 mile (blown head gasket) dual port motor with fel-pro H-gaskets and valve cover gaskets, Gates t-belt and tensioner, and cardone water pump for $268 in parts. I'm not sure how much rings are or what kind to get (O'Reillys has federal mogal rings for $95) (not sure if thats just one piston's worth though). heads shaved for $30 each. can i balance the rods/pistons without splitting the case? will there be any issues with the phase II motor and my 96 ECU? If possible i would like to do the delta mild cams as well. will there be any issues (idle speed, misfire code) i can't easily fix with the cams? what about the hotter cams? alum. pulleys, cheap DIY intake/exhaust sound appealing too...

replace the blown head gasket on my motor and see what happens...

source a used 2.2 somewhere...?

pay a machine shop to rebuild my motor completely.

other options?



the car itself is a little rought around the edges and has 238,000 miles so i figured getting a jdm motor with alternator, P/S, tranny(?) etc... might be the way to go so i have spares. No matter what id do, i will put in new wires/plugs.

I plan on doing STI suspension/sway bars and steering rack, poly calk the bushings, cusco gravel center diff, cheap rear lsd diff, rear disk brake conversion, A/C removal, air bag delete, and gutting the front and rear bumper cores. skid plate and lights.

btw, how much does my car actually weight?

-thanks

David

[offcamber]

does subaru offer new motors for sale like Mazda does?

[kurt.]

Keep an eye out on this sellers auctions if you go the jdm route:
http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/jhot-imports/

-Kurt

[offcamber]

Thanks for the tip Kurt!

If i go with my friends 2.2 motor however (out of a 98 not a 99 like i originally posted), i have the option of going with either phase one dual port heads my friend will give me, or use the heads from the 98 single port that come with the motor? Which ones should i go with? will the dual port heads give me more power (remember that i will use the stock ECU)? I suspect that the best thing to do would be to let the machinist look at both heads and decide which ones are in better condition.

anyone have the "hot" grind delta cams with no CEL's on their 2.2 phase I motor?

[andyinvain]

heres my 2 cents, as i've been in your shoes and have had a swapped car as well.... the 2.2 is a stout, reliable as hell engine... but def not a high performance engine. In reality it depends on what your budget is and how much you would like to put into this car. Financially and mentally frustration. Rebuild what you have, and save up for a sweet USDM swap. USDM = more tuning options, easier for parts, easier to tune, etc etc....