Ultimate setup in a 99 LGT

[Svenerachi]

Okay, so I've been doing a bit of research since my last post in this forum about a year ago. To refresh your memory I'm in a 99 Legacy 2.5GT 4EAT, currently just a K&N panel filter, will be de-snorkling as soon as the flood season is over.

I've decided to forget about dropping a EJ257 into my car, would be too expencive on all fronts, so i'm thinking of buying a new EJ22T block from xcceleration.com or getting a front clip from a wrecked car or engine tranny combo from ebay.

I DO need to upgrade my 4EAT to handle upwards of 280HP even with a heavy tranny oil cooler.

my question is, will my ej25DOHC heads match to this block, and would it show anymore performance than the stock ej22T heads? Or if anything should I put the STI heads, or a set of ported heads from Cobb or Xcceleration?

Is there anywhere to get performance internal parts for the ej22t like cams and pistons in america or will i have to go to australia or japan for my parts?

I would be building this from the ground up and don't know of anywhere in florida that I would entrust my subaru to except Mastro Subaru but I doubt they would be willing to have my engine sit in their bay for months on end being worked on, and I seriously doubt they have the equipment necessary to propperly tune it the way I want it done.

I still want it completely streetable and want to focus on the engine being extremely efficient. lightweight pulleys, wide open single-cat exhaust, just trying to upgrade anything that could help free up power without burning more fuel.
Yes i realize that racing my car doesn't help with the fuel efficiency, but anything that I can do to make it easier for the engine to work, the less hard I have to push it, the longer the engine runs.

I want to make this thing bullet-proof.

Last question was, would it be easier to just put the new Legacy 2.5 turbo engine into it? find a new or used engine and tranny combo and upgrade the turbo, exhaust and engine management AND that dinky little intercooler that comes on those. hopefully I'd be able to find just the engine, no turbo, exhaust, intake, or intercooler

Is there anywhere that would buy a used EJ25 with 130,000 miles on it? LOL

[AussieDan]

Honestly if you want reliability you're going to be better off with an oem setup.

On top of that, by the time you price out what it will take to get to your desired power levels on the ej22t you'll find that it will cost as much or more than a used oem 2.5 turbo motor.

[sheepdog]

Cost and reliability wise, You will find that piecing that motor together will be no less expensive and much less reliable. JDM stuff tends to be a hassle reliability wise too. I know someone who could get you a full setup out of an 05 lgt turbo, or wrx, or whatever youd want usdm. It won't be cheap, but PM me if your interested.

[MR.MCSICK]

How much are you asking for that used Ej25?? I just might be interested. :D

[Svenerachi]

i haven't a clue, but everything on it is new from the radiator to the head gaskets (changed 25,000 miles ago). The reason everything was replaced was that subaru played dumb about a headgasket issue untill the warrenty had expired (3 months)

its had full synthetic, changed at or before scheduled time, had full maintainence, never driven stupidly but certaintly driven quickly. accelerator is rather familiar with the floorboards. its an automatic tranny, so its never been revved beyond 6000rpm

but it won't be available untill after I find a good deal on a new 2.5turbo engine and a place within driving distance that can swap and tune the engine for me.

[Huffer]

I honestly can't see why you'd bother with a 4EAT. you'd need to upgrade that at some point, you might as well swap in a MT.

[sheepdog]

Yea. Unless you were to get a new LGT motorset with an AT if thats really what you want. As for shops, where do you live? Let me know when you are ready to start tracking down a motor, I can usually help in that dept.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Why am I the only one who voted for EJ22T?

Honestly though, the EJ20G (old WRX engine from Japan in the early 90s) is the best. They're the only closed deck engines Subaru made (22T and 20G).

If you have questions about the EJ22T, go to bbs.legacycentral.org

As far as EJ25 heads working, yes, they do, and they flow a lot better than the EJ22T heads. Pistons and such are made, and actually, I think Pistons are the only internal that isn't already forged in the stock EJ22T block.

If you want bulletproof, EJ22T is the way to go. Have you looked at Slowboyracing's prices on the EJ22T? They might be better than what you looked at. Their EJ257 shortblock is also a pretty good deal. But you wanted bulletproof ;)

[losdiosdeverde86]

as a rule, turbos are less reliable then their NA counterparts.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Well, he's only asking about boosted engines, so...

[losdiosdeverde86]

Well, he's only asking about boosted engines, so...

if you're looking for reliability, turbos aren't they way to go.

other than that i'd say an OEM 03 wrx

[Wiscon_Mark]

Oh, and I submit for your judgement:

EJ22T, original engine, miles, not km's.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c167/positrak/Odo1.jpg

[losdiosdeverde86]

Oh, and I submit for your judgement:

EJ22T, original engine, miles, not km's.



mark, youre smarter than that. you should know that you can't base a car's reliabiliy off of one specimine

[sheepdog]

Fact is, with an EJ22t you would have to build it up. I voted a new EJ25 because its a wham bam thank you mam kinda deal, no rebuild or parts search required.

[Wiscon_Mark]

mark, youre smarter than that. you should know that you can't base a car's reliabiliy off of one specimine

Oh, I am not expecting all of them, or even most of them to go that far, but many many EJ22Ts on LCO are well over 100k, boosted, and doing great. Many are over 200k as well. This is just a nice little thing to think about. The guy beats on the car too :shock:

[losdiosdeverde86]

mark, youre smarter than that. you should know that you can't base a car's reliabiliy off of one specimine

Oh, I am not expecting all of them, or even most of them to go that far, but many many EJ22Ts on LCO are well over 100k, boosted, and doing great. Many are over 200k as well. This is just a nice little thing to think about. The guy beats on the car too :shock:

i think you can thank some of that on the tank that IS the ej22, however i agree with the above statement that it would much much easier to swap in a 25

[phi11]

Why am I the only one who voted for EJ22T?


:naka: :naka: :naka: :naka:

[Wiscon_Mark]

BTW- The "EJ25T" and the "EJ257T" are the same engine, with slight differences. They're actually the EJ255 (legacy & WRX) and the EJ257 (STi).

[Manarius]

EJ22T. Strongest block to come out of Japan from Subaru. No HG problems, no valve problems. Have those nice little oil squirter things. Would have to be built up, but lasts forever.

The 22's are simply the longest lasting Subie engines.

[scottzg]

im another vote for dropping in the desired stock engine. If you want it to be more effecient and make more power, hook it up to some aftermarket tuning that can run a wideband 02 sensor and run a stock sized mandrel exhaust.

Generally, any NA head will flow better than any turbo head, with some overlap at the ends. So turbo cams in a NA head makes sense. The ej22t is as tough as an ej20g, but since the block's durability really isn't an issue for 99% of the cars out there, its kind of moot. STi's have variable valve timing, so that will need additional wiring.

A modified high-horse turbo motor paired to an automatic sounds like an awful combination for anything but drag 'racing.'

the ej20tt has clearance issues in a LHD engine bay.

This post could probably be picked apart since i used a lot of generalities, but it isn't very productive to do so. You get a lot of advice on the net from people who have never worked on a car.

[Svenerachi]

so keeping my phase II DOHC heads and getting a new 2.5 LGT and then tuning it from there would be the ideal way to go?

and this would work?????

BTW I live in Tampa, FL, but like i said i've just recently paid the car off and am JUST starting to get some money put away, got just over a grand, but have to resign lease and thats going to take some money and i'm sure something else will come along to screw me before i get this going.

[jey]

Yeah you can keep your current heads and then just put an STi shortblock in there. Run your favourite turbo setup - OEM (like WRX setup) will give you more reliability.

Yeah, save up some money before embarking on such an adventure - you don't want to be left with a half-completed car.

[sheepdog]

No, dont even bother switching heads

[Wiscon_Mark]

No, dont even bother switching heads

Depends on what block though, Sheepdog. I would switch heads if I were to get the EJ22T.

[sheepdog]

Yea, but he was talking about switching them onto the EJ25t legacy engine. thats not worth the trouble. Also, the EJ22t buildup is bulletproof, and has lots of potential, but when you look at the amount of time and parts and money to go into it, for what you want, you are going to want to go with a motorset that was designed together.

[Svenerachi]

thanks sheepdog, i think i will go for the new legacy engine and tranny combo, i want to eventually put a 6MT into it, but that's going to take alot of money and custom fab that I can't afford right now, so that's why I was asking about my existing tranny.