1997 2.5 to 2.2 swap questions. HELP ASAP PLZ.

[green97gt]

first off, i know its been covered, but i cant find the link.

my wife toasted the HGs on her 2.5, and instead of rebuilding the 2.5 we would rather put a 2.2 in, and drive it and rebuild the 2.5 for later.

i am looking to swap in the 2.2 and have no CEL or other issues, cause this is her car, and she loves her leggy.

here come the questions

so if i find a 2.2 from the same gen it will bolt up directly right?

what about one from the previous generation?

i will have to swap out most sensors right?

i know i will need the exhaust manifold from the 2.2, but it will bolt up to the flange on the main pipe, right?

will i have to swap out the 2.5 ecu for a 2.2 ecu?(remember, looking for no CEL)

will i need the harness for the 2.2 if i use the sensors from the car?

the 2.2s are non interference motors right?


thanks for any info you can share.

sorry huffer.

[LSiTo5Revo]

I did a swap in my 97 legacy. only i did a 2.2 to a 2.5. my motor went rite in. Yes you need a 2.2 computer. Bell housing is the same so it would bolt up to the trans. my motor came from a 98 outback...someone said that was a different generation motor. may only be one year but maybe it WAS a turning point in design. Needless to say still plug and play, it bolted rite up. i cant give you a definate yes to the exhaust working because i'm not to sure with compatibility but my y pipe came off a 95 legacy, it bolted rite up so that worked. As for the sensors i didn't have any problems with those. they plugged rite in. If thats what you were unsure about? just keep the years within reason. Sry i can't give you more detailed information.

[green97gt]

Anyone know for sure if the motors from the 90-94's will fit? I'm shopping for a motor cause time is running out!
Also, I can find imprezas with donor motors but will the ecus match and be issue free?
I'm going to look at an ugly 96 outback with 5 speed tomorrow. If that motor is a peach I will put it in the 97 leg. If it's not I'll use the outback for a driver while I find a motor for the leggy.


The svx is sold
the 00 outback is leaving for Cali on Jan 1
so all that's left is my shitty van.

[impreza_GC8]

Why not keep you stock ECU and just put the 2.2L shortblock in with your existing 2.5L heads. Then everything can stay exactly the same, you'll just have less power.

[green97gt]

Cause I'm worries the heads are warped due to massive overheating and don't have the time to mess with machining and rebuilding and a simple swap just seems to make more sence.

Went and looked at that 96 outback. What a piece of junk. Guy wants waaaaaaaay to much for it. It had crazy rust And ticked like crazy.

[LSiTo5Revo]

i was thinking about changing heads on mine but like you said easier to just do a swap. idk how much your spending limit is but google up Tiger auto. location is Canada. shipping isnt too bad they have reasonable pricing.

[bangedlegacywagon97]

my wife toasted the HGs on her 2.5, and instead of rebuilding the 2.5 we would rather put a 2.2 in, and drive it and rebuild the 2.5 for later.

i am looking to swap in the 2.2 and have no CEL or other issues, cause this is her car, and she loves her leggy.

here come the questions

so if i find a 2.2 from the same gen it will bolt up directly right?

All EJ engines will bolt up.

what about one from the previous generation? - It will bolt up too

i will have to swap out most sensors right? - Not required.

i know i will need the exhaust manifold from the 2.2, but it will bolt up to the flange on the main pipe, right? - If you can find a dual port head 2.2 motor it will bolt right up to your existing manifold. Or you can get the manifold from the 2.2 and yes it will bolt right up.

will i have to swap out the 2.5 ecu for a 2.2 ecu?(remember, looking for no CEL) - I did not and the only CEL I get is for the MAP sensor.

will i need the harness for the 2.2 if i use the sensors from the car? - No.

the 2.2s are non interference motors right? - Only till 97 I believe the Phase 2 is an interference motor.


Just go and do it it is an easy swap.

[mike-tracy]

will i need the harness for the 2.2 if i use the sensors from the car? - [color=#FF0000]No.


To expand on that, and to add a question into the mix,
The wiring from the 1st gen Legacys plugs into wires on the driver side fender area, and your 2.5 of course plugs straight back to wires coming from the firewall, so you'd need to swap the wiring harness from your 2.5 onto the 2.2.

This brings me to my question: would the 2.5 wiring plug into the 2.2 fuel injectors and coil? I know that 1st generation legacies have at least 3 styles of fuel injectors (and fuel rails): 1990-1991 N/a, 1991 EJ22T, 92-94 n/a & 22T. Perhaps my question isn't an issue on your particular swap, but I noticed the difference when I had to swap the wiring harness from a 92 motor with the one from my 91 to fit the 91 (different shape connectors).

On my 1996 EJ22 based Legacy, the wiring was plug and play with the 1998 EJ25D motor I put in (even the 22 ECU worked well with the 25d motor), so a 95-96 (or possibly 97) motor would be the easiest.

[LSiTo5Revo]

Well he's rite. but i was told to change the computer because of the fuel issue. the size of the injectors are differtent on the 22's and 25's " " if you'd like i can send you my 2.2 computer for free.

[jamesanderson1]

Yeah its good and nice way to install Tail light assembly. This was really very helpful.