Want turbo, terrified to do it.

[Ron]

I would love to swap an ej20t into my 95 prez wagon but in worried i'm gonna mess up my car and make it run like **** and thoroughly ruin it. I really dont have a donor car i'd just have to piece alot of stuff together so any solid list i can go by? any tips from more experienced than i?

[idriveasaab]

if you do a full ej20t swap (motor hanress ecu) you won't mess up the car at all.you're pretty much going to need the longblock, manifolds, ecu, engine harness, turbo piping, upgraded fuel system and i'm sure there are more that's just what the top of my head gives me

[valkyrie]

If you feel uncertain of the whole process, then its probably best to

A: do more research, gather all the parts you need,
B: find someone local, or even from this forum who knows how to help you,
or C: buy a cheap $100-$500 spare impreza and tinker on that instead of your DD. That way, if/when something goes wrong your not out of a ride.

:headbang:

Dylan

[Lincx]

Well i wanted to do a turbo swap on my NA GC too...
Instead i just bought WRX... In my cause that was simply cheaper than do swap.
Anyway if you really want to do this swap - mechanically it will bolt right up, but wiring might be bit difficult. Best way possible is buy crashed WRX and swap everything over... Its LOT easier to do it if you have complete car.
Also do lot of research...
And make sure you swap gearbox and rear diff too..
If you have more questions just ask!

[punkrockerjohn]

It's not as hard as you think. I've done it, as have many others. Mine runs great on pump gas and is using the stock ecu. DO IT !

[Ron]

It's not as hard as you think. I've done it, as have many others. Mine runs great on pump gas and is using the stock ecu. DO IT !

Hey how did you do it? any lists or type of help i can get from you on this?? please? haha

[ShadowImg]

rs25.com has very comprehensive guides to doing it. Fair warning, if you don't have $5k or so at a minimum sitting around, it's probably not worth even starting the process. It's not cheap to do it right.

[punkrockerjohn]

Hey how did you do it? any lists or type of help i can get from you on this?? please? haha


I bought a used engine and trans from japan that came with the entire harness and ecu. I paid someone smarter than me to (I-wire) to merge the Japanese harness with the one in my car.

The rest was really straight forward nuts and bolts type stuff. Everything fits. even if it doesn't seem like it will. You will run into things that stump you every once in a while. But they can be figured out with the right help.

I would be more than happy to help answer any questions you have. If I don't have an answer I know people that will and can either ask them myself or put you in touch with them.

DO IT !!! It's worth it, trust me...

[punkrockerjohn]

It's not cheap to do it right.


It can be, if you have basic wrenching ability. My car has been through the ringer already with 5 rallycross' , and countless fun trips on the dirt roads around my area.

I have a stock ecu, stock radiator, I run pump gas, and I the car runs strong! Counting the cost of my car itself and the little extras I've put on it that wouldn't necessarily be "needed" I'm about 6k into the car.

It could be done for about 3k if the car your starting with doesn't need too much...

I spent $1600 on my Ver2 STi Engine and trans though, which was pretty cheap...

[Ron]

Check it out, i have found a turbocharged engine on craigslist w/ a blown headgasket but its fine, with all the wiring as well. Sound like a good start or would you guys not recommend it?

[ShadowImg]

Depends, do you want to go through the process of disassembling the block and fixing whatever you find? Blown headgaskets on an EJ typically means there are other issues from overheating or oiling problems (or both).

[bone_1113]

hey punk, by stock ecu, do you mean the one that came on the car?

[punkrockerjohn]

hey punk, by stock ecu, do you mean the one that came on the car?


No, I mean the stock ecu for the ver2 STi. Sorry, i should have clarified that. When I bought the engine and trans it came with the harness and ecu...

[punkrockerjohn]

Check it out, i have found a turbocharged engine on craigslist w/ a blown headgasket but its fine, with all the wiring as well. Sound like a good start or would you guys not recommend it?


I wouldn't buy that unless it was REALLY cheap...

[bone_1113]

blown headgasket could mean warped heads or block...so if it was super cheap and you planned on rebuilding it...id say ok

[Ron]

Well he hasn't contacted me yet, but he said he'd take like $175 for this motor! Holy jesus!