Tranplant for Impreza 95L coupe
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From: Central Illinois
Car Info: 2007 WRX Wagon
Tranplant for Impreza 95L coupe
Here's my issue. I live in colorado and recently bought a 95 Impreza L coupe. It has the 1.8 engine. I also own a 92 Ford Bronco. The bronco currently does the snowboarding duty, but gas prices suck and I'm paying for college in cash as I go, therefore I'm going to sell the Bronco. I want to know what exactly would have to be done for me to turn my car into a 2.5rs. I am more concerned with the what needs to be done to the electricals and drivetrain. Any suggestion, resources, and links would be helpful. Also, I can't find any useful info on my transmission (5 speed) and a 2.5rs transmission. Are there any differences? Eventually this car will be a rally car, but now I just need something that can haul *** at 8K feet and work reliably.
NASIOC Slut
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From: Roseville, CA
Car Info: 1995 Subaru Impreza 1.8 L
Originally Posted by MinesPunk
Here's my issue. I live in colorado and recently bought a 95 Impreza L coupe. It has the 1.8 engine. I also own a 92 Ford Bronco. The bronco currently does the snowboarding duty, but gas prices suck and I'm paying for college in cash as I go, therefore I'm going to sell the Bronco. I want to know what exactly would have to be done for me to turn my car into a 2.5rs. I am more concerned with the what needs to be done to the electricals and drivetrain. Any suggestion, resources, and links would be helpful. Also, I can't find any useful info on my transmission (5 speed) and a 2.5rs transmission. Are there any differences? Eventually this car will be a rally car, but now I just need something that can haul *** at 8K feet and work reliably.
The trannys are different, but any other impreza engine will bolt right up to it so its not something you have to change. It has a cable clutch instead of hydrolic, and has a smaller case, but the gearing isnt a whole lot different so no biggie there.
For the engine its far more complicated. You have alot of optioins with what you can do. A whole EJ25 swap is very complicated if you want to do it 100% correctly. It will require basically rewiring the entire engine and ECU harness, and installing the EJ25 ECU. We are talking like alot of working hours to do this.
The other option is to do less wiring, and run it off of the EJ18 ECU, which wont have the engine running 100% but it will run. A few folks have done this. The reason why its complicated is because the EJ25's are OBD-II engines and your engine is an OBD-I engine.
However the MY98 EJ25 is a bit more compatible with the EJ18 ECU and wiring, and will be easier to operate with the EJ18 ECU, which has also been done.
Other options for making your car faster are EJ22 swaps, EJ22T swaps, JDM WRX engine swaps, USDM WRX engine swaps, or a turbo kit. Each one has its benifits and problems.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 60
From: Central Illinois
Car Info: 2007 WRX Wagon
Thanks for the suggestions. I've heard some rumors that I could swap the ECU, wiring harness, and engine from a WRX. Is there anything else I could swap? I'm thinking of trying to grab a wrecked WRX from a Junkyard here in Colorado, so if I can take the suspension and brakes I'd like to do it.
NASIOC Slut
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From: Roseville, CA
Car Info: 1995 Subaru Impreza 1.8 L
Brakes yes, suspension some of it but not all of it is compatible, the tranny/etc. will work of course. The wiring is very difficult for a USDM 02+ swap into an older L wiring wise btw, I-speed knows about this.
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The RS tranny also has a little shorter gearing than the L's, which really helps with torque and acceleration, but takes some top speed away, so it may be something to consider if you want a 'fast' car, because do you seriously plan on going faster than 140 MPH....in Colorado??!! Well, if you do, you won't last long 'cause some idiot is gonna pull out in front of you and WHAM! No more rally car. Or you, for that matter...
I plan to run a 2.5 longblock with 2.5 fuel pump and injectors on my ej18 ecu, with a possibility of adding some type of AFC for tuning abilities. You can do almost anything you want but think about how efficient your new system will be if it's not tuned correctly. No good in adding 700 more CC's if you don't got the fuel to run it correcly! Know what I mean?
FWIW- I still have my ej18 and love it! 193,000k and still running strong. Sure it's nothing special but with an intake, full exhaust, some other power mods and light weight removal and I'm probably as fast as a STOCK 2.5. I also get close to 30mpg in the city with a new exhaust, if you're concerned about gas prices, so why would you want something that just sucks up more gas?? It's supposed to get up to $3.00 a gallon even here in Colorado over this summer, but that's just what I've heard. Good luck and keep us up to date!
I plan to run a 2.5 longblock with 2.5 fuel pump and injectors on my ej18 ecu, with a possibility of adding some type of AFC for tuning abilities. You can do almost anything you want but think about how efficient your new system will be if it's not tuned correctly. No good in adding 700 more CC's if you don't got the fuel to run it correcly! Know what I mean?
FWIW- I still have my ej18 and love it! 193,000k and still running strong. Sure it's nothing special but with an intake, full exhaust, some other power mods and light weight removal and I'm probably as fast as a STOCK 2.5. I also get close to 30mpg in the city with a new exhaust, if you're concerned about gas prices, so why would you want something that just sucks up more gas?? It's supposed to get up to $3.00 a gallon even here in Colorado over this summer, but that's just what I've heard. Good luck and keep us up to date!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 60
From: Central Illinois
Car Info: 2007 WRX Wagon
I have been looking for an good exhaust and intake for the 1.8 but I can't find any, although I've only looked for the past week or so (since I've owned the car). Keeping the 1.8 and stock tranny is tempting, expecially since I bought the car from a little old lady that only put 66K miles on it. If any one can recommend some performance mods, aside from a turbo, it would be much appreciated. I need to be able to get this thing from Golden CO to Summit County, and I don't really want to deal with any performance loss due to increasing elevation. I'm still gonna look for some different engines and wiring harnesses. Feel free to post any and all suggestions with what I should do with this thing!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 60
From: Central Illinois
Car Info: 2007 WRX Wagon
Okay, here's the latest bit of confusion. I just got off the phone with Colorado Component Rebuilders, the rebuild subaru engines and are supposed to be damn good. The lady I talked to said that a 95 2.2 would be a direct swap for my 1.8; she said they are identical, except for bore size. She also said that all my sensors, exhaust, and such will transfer to the 2.2. Here's where I'm confused, I've always heard that the 2.2 and 2.5 are the same block, just overbored; is this true or is it the 1.8 and 2.2 that are the same? Also, she said the 2.5 tend to blow the heads, anyone got any perspective on that?
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For CCR
I wouldn't recommend having CCR put an engine in your car or even buying a rebuild from them. My mechanics have bought plenty of subaru motors, new and used, from various vendors and they told me "their engine's are garbage". Straight from the mechanics mouth. They told me they got a CCR engine installed and started it up and it started spewing oil from all seals, including the oil pan. No es bueno, muchacho. Well enough bashing, it's all opinion's anyway but I had to tell you what was told to me. You shouldn't need a new engine for quite some time if it's only got 66k. Even then, get a real low mileage one from a wrecker for way cheaper than new.
Also you'll need much more than just a "wiring harness" to wire all the different sensors and electronics from a late model subuaru engine, just FYI. Any 'EJ' engine is the same as another, as far as parts and most dimensions, like you said, just the bore and internals are different, for the most part.
You can buy exhaust kits "for the 2.5RS" because the hangers and dimensions are the same on all Impreza's, 93-01 with one exception: Our older exhaust systems have one difference in the flange that connects the cat and mid pipe which is rotated in the opposite orientation than newer 97-01 Imprezas. I think the cat section may be just a bit shorter than them too, but don't hold me to it.
You should even be fine getting headers "for the 2.5" since our heads are in the same orientation as an ej25. Intakes, and many other part will be similar in interchangeability. They are just MARKETED for the 2.5.
So like you thought- if A plus B equals C, then A must also equal C.
ej18 = ej22 = ej25 - different bores on each, get it?
Also you'll need much more than just a "wiring harness" to wire all the different sensors and electronics from a late model subuaru engine, just FYI. Any 'EJ' engine is the same as another, as far as parts and most dimensions, like you said, just the bore and internals are different, for the most part.
You can buy exhaust kits "for the 2.5RS" because the hangers and dimensions are the same on all Impreza's, 93-01 with one exception: Our older exhaust systems have one difference in the flange that connects the cat and mid pipe which is rotated in the opposite orientation than newer 97-01 Imprezas. I think the cat section may be just a bit shorter than them too, but don't hold me to it.
You should even be fine getting headers "for the 2.5" since our heads are in the same orientation as an ej25. Intakes, and many other part will be similar in interchangeability. They are just MARKETED for the 2.5.
So like you thought- if A plus B equals C, then A must also equal C.
ej18 = ej22 = ej25 - different bores on each, get it?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 60
From: Central Illinois
Car Info: 2007 WRX Wagon
Thanks for the help. Now I just need to decide what I'm gonna do to squeeze some power out of this car. So what is everyone's suggestion on the engine I should use? I'm willing to rewire, swap the ECU, all that crap, I'm in engineering school so I may as well do it. I want my end result to be reliable, have enough power to accelerate to 90+mph on I-70 (above 8000 feet elevation), and I want it to be fun. Maybe I should try to get I-Club to sponsor me and let these forums build my car for rally/daily-driving duty, hehehehe.
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8 grand
Originally Posted by MinesPunk
Eventually this car will be a rally car, but now I just need something that can haul *** at 8K feet and work reliably.
If I had it to do over, I would get the engine and complete harness(es) from the same car and totally replace the wiring in the receiving car. In fact, I am doing it over with a 2005 Forester 2.5 turbo, and that's my plan. You have to take off the dash and remove the harness anyway, so why not simply put in one that takes the least modification? You will not get really good performance from your 1.8 ECU used for a 2.2 or 2.5. It does work though, as stated.
Have fun.
Mike McBride
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From: Roseville, CA
Car Info: 1995 Subaru Impreza 1.8 L
Actually, in terms of block relationships, the EJ18 has more in comon with the EJ20's than the EJ22's and EJ25's 
(The crank and piston rods are the same in the EJ18 block as in the EJ20 block, the only difference really between the two is the bore and pistons themselves) The heads are basically the same as the early EJ22's and EJ22T's though.
The EJ22 is not a 100% dirrect swap like they suggest though. There are a couple sensor/etc. differences.
(The crank and piston rods are the same in the EJ18 block as in the EJ20 block, the only difference really between the two is the bore and pistons themselves) The heads are basically the same as the early EJ22's and EJ22T's though.The EJ22 is not a 100% dirrect swap like they suggest though. There are a couple sensor/etc. differences.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 60
From: Central Illinois
Car Info: 2007 WRX Wagon
Alright, now that it seems obvious that I need to find a donor car to take the engine, ecu, wiring harness, and possibly tranny, what donor car should I look for? I've got roughly $1500 to work with, what could I get from a junkyard for this much? Anyone have a EJ20T with all the sensors, ecu, and wiring harness that I could buy? Or should I go with an EJ22 setup, and turbo it later when I can afford to rally? Gimme some suggestions people, you know this stuff better than I do.
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Ok, I'm hearing EJ22 and EJ25 are pretty compatible with EJ18 swaps. What about the EJ20T and EJ20TT, that would basically be the WRX Turbo and Twin Turbo respectively? The EJ20T is 227 BHP and the EJ20TT is 260 BHP, from what is listed that I found. I found a EJ20TT engine for $1150 and was wondering if I would need anything special for this swap to work on my 1995 Impreza L. Basically I'm doing the same thing, but I'm assuming it will need a different kind of exhaust or catalytic converter? Please help...I'd rather swap than pay like $3000 for a turbo on a 1.8...
Here's the link, one of my other Subaru friends purchased from there and was quite satisfied...
http://www.nippon-motors.com/Performance%20Engines.htm
Here's the link, one of my other Subaru friends purchased from there and was quite satisfied...
http://www.nippon-motors.com/Performance%20Engines.htm
Last edited by StrykerGod; May 18, 2004 at 08:43 AM.
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