Possibly going turbo

[Baddog]

Debating on turboing my 96 Legacy.

I have available to me an EJ20 shortblock (USDM 03 WRX).

Just needs bearings and new rings. I know most of the things that are needed however a few questions.

To do the wiring part I can get a WRX ECU and Harness and splice into my factory harness? I would be able to use an Cobb Access port from there on out as well, right?

Looking to use Phase 1 EJ25D heads. Will I run into any issues with these heads?

Average cost to do this swap?

Rebuilt 96 Outback 5 speed able to hold the power with an exedy stage 2 clutch? Or try to source a WRX trans?

Trying to think about what to do about injectors and fuel rails. Would the 25d fuel rails work. Would need different injectors I'm sure

[anothernord]

You've got a ton more research to do. The cam, crank sensors are different for the WRX ecu, which means you need WRX heads for the cam gears, which requires a WRX intake manifold, and suddenly you have done a full swap. Basically, don't bother trying to piece together a swap, just buy a WRX donor car and merge the harnesses.

WRX transmission = Outback 5MT. The newer ones have wider gears, so they say, but as long as your aren't doing 6k clutch dumps and ramming gears in, it will hold the power fine.

[Baddog]

Sadly if i do this it has to be something i can piece together. I can't buy a donor car and i dont have a place to store it.

Looks like frakenmotor instead

[Baddog]

I was under the impression it was easier and more reliable to do a turbo swap instead of turboing the factory ej22. Suppose not.

I need a better solution then. The 2.2 has no power for me after the 4 years ive owned it.

[Garrison]

You can add 5-8psi of boost to your stock engine. Just fab the parts, retard the timing and/or add more fuel.

[Baddog]

May be what i do.

[Baddog]

What does the average wrecked WRX go for? Anyone have a ballpark?

I look at co-part.com but I have a feeling they have a reserve.

[Garrison]

Depends on what's left in it. Try looking for the "rear-end'ed" special; expect to pay between 2500 and 4000 depending on the extensiveness of the damages.

There is no reserve function on co-part, if it sells, it sells.

[Baddog]

Because most on co part in my area are going for under 2k

[Baddog]

So I am still keeping an eye out for a wrecked WRX around me.

I have the chance to have a 96 Outback 5MT transmission rebuilt by a friend of mine. New bearings and syncros. I would like to do this however if I went with a WRX motor I don't think the OB trans could hold what the WRX trans could. Are my thoughts correct?

[Baddog]

After some more research a wrecked WRX goes for about 3-4k. Sadly that is not worth it. Maybe turbo the EJ22

Or start my hunt for a 99-04 Mustang GT

[mike-tracy]

So here's what my long term plan entails

1.Get a complete ej205 engine with a bad/knocking shortblock that includes all accessories (couple of hundred bucks) (already have one - I paid $350)
2.Dash wiring harness for WRX including fuel pump controller (hundred bucks or so).
3.Pay Iwire or Zephyr around $600 to merge
4.Swap shortblocks with a known good turbo block (ej20g's would prob lower compression but are dirt cheap) (already have one)
-alternately an ej25d shortblock with STI pistons would work, 2.2 N/A with ej22t pistons, etc. These are cheap to source.
5.Install mechanicals and wiring
6.source everything else I need for the engine bay from wrecked vehicles people are parting out (couple of hundred)
7.after sorting out all issues get er tuned with opensource/cobb AP/whatever other tuning solutions exist for modern turbo subies. This alone is a good enough reason for me to do a WRX swap over turboing an n/a setup as you're really limited otherwise. Have that experience with my SS - short of using a $$$tandalone or getting a chipped ecu, my tuning options are basically non existent.
8. ???
9. Profit!!!
I'll give myself about a month to do the swap since it wouldn't be my DD initially.

[Tiags]

my car is powered by a 03 wrx. rear ended special.

uses a jdm wrx differential though. I think a engine swap is the best bang for your buck vs running low boost, and Mike is 100% correct you will save yourself a ton of headaches by moving to a wrx ecu you can tune with the accessport.