USDM WRX swap questions

[mycargoesvroom]

Ok so I'm currently in the process of sourcing a wrecked 02-05 USDM WRX to swap into the wagon. I'm confident in my (and a friends) mechanical abilities, but since this is something neither of us has actually done in a Subaru, I want to make sure all bases are covered before I start this mega project.

I know the 1st gen turbo crossmembers work, but I'm not trying to source something like that and I'd rather not notch mine if possible. I read the WRX's will fit but you need spacers do to the control arms no having enough clearance (?). If that's the case, would it be better to use the control arms from the WRX? I plan on taking EVERYTHING off the WRX and fitting it the the lego so the suspension would be the same.

Next question is about the wiring. I plan on using the dash from the WRX to make wiring a bit easier but do I merge the WRX engine/dash harness to the Legacy body harness? Where on the harness is the merge made?

If anyone else has any other tips/tricks they want to throw my way I'd really like to hear them especially if you've already done a swap. Thanks!

[Garrison]

Buy a wrecked WRX and do a complete swap. Anything less than that and you're going to find yourself piecing together things and paying more than if you have gone for the throat initially.

[anothernord]

Buy a wrecked WRX and do a complete swap. Anything less than that and you're going to find yourself piecing together things and paying more than if you have gone for the throat initially.

+99

[mycargoesvroom]

Yeah I should have mentioned that was the plan all along.

[Garrison]

Whoops, no that was my bad amigo; it's right there in the first sentence of your post.

Wiring- why are you wondering about anything like that? If you're buying a wrecked car, you're not going to splice anything you're just going to take the harness from the wrx and move it to the legacy. IF you were to splice, it's done close to the ECU.

Crossmember- the traditional concerns don't apply here. If you're swapping everything, the only thing you might run into is bolt's not lining up; but even that I doubt. The benefits of buying a wrecked 'rex is that you do get EVERY-THING. The typical "does this fit with my XXXX part" simply doesn't apply.

[csweston]

Assuming your swapping dash and hvac then wiring should be easy. Otherwise id go with Iwire

[mycargoesvroom]

Wait, so I can take the whole harness (engine/dash/body) from the WRX and put it into the Legacy if I use the WRX dash (which I was going to do anyway)
?! I was under the impression you used the engine/dash harness from the WRX and spliced into the Legacy body harness from the WRX ECU?

[redlegacygt]

Im pretty sure it can be done both ways, however spliced into the legacy body harness i'd imagine is easier. As for the dash swap, i've seen that its pretty difficult get the dash to fit, and even then i believe there's a gap that's left when trying to get it to fit.

[mycargoesvroom]

Im pretty sure it can be done both ways, however spliced into the legacy body harness i'd imagine is easier. As for the dash swap, i've seen that its pretty difficult get the dash to fit, and even then i believe there's a gap that's left when trying to get it to fit.

Yeah I've seen the dash swaps and they're never perfect. But considering the amount of wiring that would need done if I keep the old, outdated Lego dash I think I could live with it.

How would splicing into the harness be easier? If you can use the whole WRX harness it should be plug and play correct?

[redlegacygt]

Maybe i'm misunderstanding you but as far as the wrx body harness is concerned, i'd imagine connectors for say the wrx hvac or interior lights might not be the same as the legacy, so you'd have to splice to match up the right ones right? i believe when they merge harness, its just merging whats needed from the wrx harness into the legacy harness.

[csweston]

If you swap the wrx dash, hvac, the works then the only things youll need to splice would be simple things like the door locks, power window, headlights, tail lights, the basic stuff.

[r3v_v3ng3]

You might not need to splice it, just depin and repin it.

[Huffer]

If you don't swap the dash, you just have to workout the pinouts for the WRX harness that don't match up (things like the auto climate control, immobilizer circuit etc.) and figure out if you can delete them or not.

Personally I like the Legacy dash more because there's less visually going on. And tearing out your dash is traumatic as it is, let alone trying to figure out how to fit one that's not designed for it.

If you check with iWire, they could possibly convert the WRX harness to fit your Legacy - you mail them your harness and they label and pre-wire everything for you. Even better if you send them your Legacy harness, they'll merge the lot.

Nice to see you around again - did you manage to get past your past financial difficulties?

[Tiags]

I wish that my legacy had the wrx dash with its swap. but alas it doesn't, but at least my interior looks mint. theres a guide to change the led's and we can improve the look of the legacy dash