Engine seized today.... need advice for options on motors

[alexandermf]

going down the highway when my car makes the worst noise/shudder I've ever heard, my mechanic eventually told me my engine seized and there was barely any oil in it. Either I burnt a crap ton of oil in less than 3 weeks(since last oil change), leaked it, or hit something/debris that drained it.. Either way its cashed! :( I'm not sure whether to go through insurance(road hazard)? since I still owe money on it and usaa has the title, or should I just swap a different motor in behind the scenes. I have no idea where to go from here and my dad told me to start price checking engines and whatnot so I just need a few nudges in the right direction. I dont have the budget for an sti motor, but possibly a wrx or jdm one...

[csweston]

If your going to go turbo id go with an EJ20T from a wrx, but youll need to rewire the entire car. Personally if you want to keep it cheap id go with a EJ22. Not sure if your car was ej25 or ej22? Either way, if your sticking with NA id personally go with the EJ22. Less power than an EJ25 but more reliable. Also much easier than an wrx swap. What are you wanting to do with the car?

[alexandermf]

it had an ej25, if Im doing a motor swap I def want the same/more power so downgrading isn't really an option, I actually was planning on keeping it as a rally/toy car eventually an buying an RSti here in a year or so, but now I might have to make this the swapped car from this opportunity..

my other question for advice is if I should try and go through insurance road hazard... dont know if they'd total the car or put a newer engine in, how much of a b**** is the rewire for the wrx block?

[csweston]

I cant really answer the insurance question. But as far as the wiring goes it would be easiest to outsource the wiring. There are a few places that will do it. After doing my own research about this a while back id recommend Brian ant i wire, http://www.rs25.com/forums/f14/t94785-iwire-wiring-services.html.

[jey]

What year car is this? (There are SOHC and DOHC EJ25s.)

The EJ25 is found in all other Subaru models too and interchangeable. If you want to stick with a stock-ish configuration, I'd get a used motor, give it a good checkup (compression test) and service (head gaskets, timing belt, water pump) and swap in in your car. Then you'll be set for a while...

Course there is always the opportunity to swap in a turbo motor, but it's more work and money. It's fairly well documented though...

[alexandermf]

jey its a 99 bd dohc, your first option sounds the best/cheapest... my mechanic said if I can get a good writeup off the forums he wouldnt mind wiring and doing the swap from a wrx... but i never even realized that i could search for other ej25 engines out of other subies :o

[httrdd]

Has you mechanic done wiring jobs before or do you trust him enough to do it? Wrx wiring is somewhat of a PIA for sure since the newer electronics. I would say go my route with the H6, but some custom work is required. Oh and if you do an engine swap find a decent car with that motor and part it out. :) It should fund the project.

[alexandermf]

yes he's very experienced, he just wanted me to research the info to see how much of a PIA it would be lol. I was thinkin of the H6 swap too, the only thing I dont have is time so custom work as in what?

[csweston]

Moving the radiator forward (possibly new radiator), ditching the a/c, possibly losing the hood latch and needing hood pins. This is all if you go with the EG33 motor from an svx.

[jey]

Yeah don't forget to look for both Outbacks and Legacies as a source for the EJ25 (96-99) and in 1998 it was used in the Impreza 2.5RS and Forester as well.

[alexandermf]

lots of jdm engines on ebay and jdm import websites... been strongly considering a direct swap jdm engine, only thing I should look for is to make sure its the year with the egr vavle correct?

[jantzen8895]

Nissan skyline engine. ;)

[DarkPhoenix]

lots of jdm engines on ebay and jdm import websites... been strongly considering a direct swap jdm engine, only thing I should look for is to make sure its the year with the egr vavle correct?


I don't think they had EGR valve in the JDM motors. You can just swap your intake manifold over and hook that up easy, peasey, lemon squeezie!

[csweston]

Maybe a dumb question but why are the JDM EJ25s any better than the USDM engines? Did they not have the head gasket issue?

[jey]

They are cheap and generally don't have that many miles on them. Over in JDM-land they have an incentive to get rid of cars before a lot of miles get put on them.

[chuckthefuk]

Jey's right.

EJ25 DOHC motors from Japan are under 70,000 km (strict emission laws.. they either sell it , rebuild it , or buy a new engine)

Now this is where it gets tricky.. at least from my experience..

Most importers are sketchy.. they have no knowledge of the motors they sell when it comes to non-turbo subarus.

Example I asked for a replacement engine for a 97 BK EJ25D and we got a BE/BH EJ25 DOHC with no EGR and the size of spark plug holes were slightly bigger so new wires had to be used. Runs fine but still not a perfect replacement.

And I will say 1 thing about JDM engines.. If you buy one don't wait to install the damn thing I went through 2 motors before I received a knock-free engine... Compression test it before you buy it!!!!

-Chuck

[Drakien]

If you do go with JDM direct swap motors, DONT buy from Attarco! I bought 1 motor it had a rod knock and they sent another one under warranty, another rod knock, so they tried 1 last one, and another rod knock!!!!

I downgraded to a 2.2 because I was tired of trying to find a decent 2.5 :-(

[alexandermf]

attarco? what website is that cuz im pretty sure im gonna use jdmenginedepot.com

[alexandermf]

^ found the website you were talkin about, they only had an eg33 anyways, even though they say 6 month warranty and everything is tested.... kinda sketch as you said you went through 3 motors with them!

[green97gt]

i would stay away from jdmenginedepot.com, i was looking for a 2.5 for the 97 a while back, and spoke with a salesman, and he called me back saying the only one they had with the version with the distributor...figure that out..

[rdpro219]

the intake manifold on my 98 Limited did not match up with the JDM engine i purchased. Gaskets, bolts, fuel injectors.. all different. Sensors went from three prongs to four. There was also the absence of an EGR valve. Just a couple things i ran into with the JDM

[alexandermf]

lol well good thing i didnt go jdm route! found a 2.2l from a 95 legacy with 58k miles! ordered that from lkq online and it has a 6month/unlimited mile warranty, got it for $900, seemed like a great deal after a bunch of other places not having anything in stock from 2.5dohc-2.5sohc, nothing...

[Drakien]

Yeah the 2.2l motors are so much easier to find, and are WAY more reliable!

[alexandermf]

^thats what Ive heard over and over again, I was only really sketched about the power loss but others say its not bad at all :) you happy with yours from downgradin from the 2.5?

[Garrison]

If you want more power, use a 2.5 bottom end, and a 2.2 top end and boost the darn thing.

[Grafton]

If you want more power, use a 2.5 bottom end, and a 2.2 top end OR boost the darn thing.
fixed

high compression + boost = 99% chance of boom, without epic tune

[Garrison]

2.2 top end reduces compression ratio to something like 9.5 if I'm not mistaken.
But yes, don't go high compression + boost without race fuel and a tune.

[Grafton]

2.2 top end reduces compression ratio to something like 9.5 if I'm not mistaken.
But yes, don't go high compression + boost without race fuel and a tune.

the other way around, 2.2 block + 2.5 heads ~8.5:1 if memory serves me

(my build (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=19394) 2.5 block + 2.2heads ~12:1)

[alexandermf]

Lol you guys are talkin about an area of knowledge I haven't tapped yet. I'll look into it got sure! For now just gonna update some parts on the 2.2 and drop it in, from there I'll research all the combos I can do

[Drakien]

I am very happy with my 2.2
I do wish there was more power, but that is from riding in friend's turbo'd cars. lol so there will always be a want for more power.
Cams will net you the best gain for your buck.

[alexandermf]

thnx for the advice

[Garrison]

2.2 top end reduces compression ratio to something like 9.5 if I'm not mistaken.
But yes, don't go high compression + boost without race fuel and a tune.

the other way around, 2.2 block + 2.5 heads ~8.5:1 if memory serves me

(my build (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=19394) 2.5 block + 2.2heads ~12:1)

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. Do WRX pistons fit in a 2.2?

[mike-tracy]

2.2 top end reduces compression ratio to something like 9.5 if I'm not mistaken.
But yes, don't go high compression + boost without race fuel and a tune.

the other way around, 2.2 block + 2.5 heads ~8.5:1 if memory serves me

(my build (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=19394) 2.5 block + 2.2heads ~12:1)

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. Do WRX pistons fit in a 2.2?

Nope, too small or too big depending on the year. EJ22T pistons do. Nice set of brand new Wiseco ones will run you around $500.