EJ22 Phase 2 rebuild advice

[Mountain Cowboy]

Hello Subie gurus, I recently purchased a 1999 ej22 phase 2 long block from my local picknpull that I want to rebuild and install in my legacy. Could you give me some advice as to what I need to replace/ upgrade while I have it on my work bench. I have read here on SL-I that I need to replace the plastic cover on the back of the engine with a metal version and I do intend on doing a timing belt and water pump kit on it. I would like any advise/ suggestions to ensure that I have a strong and reliable engine when I am finished. Thanks for your input

[r3v_v3ng3]

You pretty much got most of it. First thing though is to take it all apart and check and see all the components before you start ordering them, specially the bearings. Make sure that everything is within spec before you order your bearings/rings. Did you pull it out of a wreck car?

[Mountain Cowboy]

I sure did, one problem I have is the complete dash was gone thus the odometer. I have no way of knowing how many miles it has on it. I want to do the little things that are going to make a difference when I rebuild. I have been doing my home work by reading the N/A/ engine section here and I think I want to put a lightweight pulley on it and a metal intake tube as well as a coil pack from a Neon or one of the other alternatives. I am only on page 12 of 56 so I have a lot more reading to do but the information I have found here is amazing, these guys sure love their Subaru s and are very willing to share their knowledge, it really helps us noobs out, thank you all very much P.S. I see you are in NorCal., I am in the Sonora area !

[Mountain Cowboy]

So I am now up to page 16 and am wondering if I should put in a stage 1 cam and headers as well ,they seem to be bolt on options that will increase performance and not compromise longevity. One ? how will this effect my mpg

[86bratman]

You won't be able to use phase 1 head parts on the phase 2 heads. Not compatible at all, you can use ej251 parts though, the heads are basically the same except for the exhaust ports.

[Mountain Cowboy]

I meant a stage 1 cam my bad

[r3v_v3ng3]

I sure did, one problem I have is the complete dash was gone thus the odometer. I have no way of knowing how many miles it has on it. I want to do the little things that are going to make a difference when I rebuild. I have been doing my home work by reading the N/A/ engine section here and I think I want to put a lightweight pulley on it and a metal intake tube as well as a coil pack from a Neon or one of the other alternatives. I am only on page 12 of 56 so I have a lot more reading to do but the information I have found here is amazing, these guys sure love their Subaru s and are very willing to share their knowledge, it really helps us noobs out, thank you all very much P.S. I see you are in NorCal., I am in the Sonora area !


I'm in modesto, did you get the motor at modesto's pnp or stockton? Might be able to tell you about it since I frequent the yard lol

If your putting it on a manual trans car, I would do the lightened flywheel over the lighten pulley. You can always upgrade to lighten pulley in the future, much easier than removing the trans for the lightened flywheel. Also the phase 2 engine should of had the upgraded metal separator plate (although it might be the aluminum one, nonetheless its better than the older plastic ones).

[Mountain Cowboy]

I am running a 4EAT and am a little leery of the problems reported by some of the posts here so no lightweight flywheel! I just had an idea last night that brought me some unwanted news. I ran a VIN check on the car and found out it had 274,000 miles on it so it looks like I will be doing a full rebuild. My engine has the plastic separator cover on it still so I will need to get rid of that. I bought this engine to replace the one in my car at this time because of oil leak issues with the intent of rebuilding both and sticking one in a car for my son who is turning 16 soon. It looks like I may have picked a bad candidate for this never the less I will know whats in it when I am done. The car came out of PnP in Rocklin over the 50% discount weekend so out the door with a 1 year warranty it was only $175.00. I will be looking for a machine shop to help with rebuilding in the valley, any ideas as to where I might want to go?

[Mountain Cowboy]

Just wanted to ad , I checked out your 98 GT build. You have done a really first rate build and the outcome looks fantastic. That's my dream some day , perhaps after my kiddos get off to college in a few years !

[r3v_v3ng3]

I am running a 4EAT and am a little leery of the problems reported by some of the posts here so no lightweight flywheel! I just had an idea last night that brought me some unwanted news. I ran a VIN check on the car and found out it had 274,000 miles on it so it looks like I will be doing a full rebuild. My engine has the plastic separator cover on it still so I will need to get rid of that. I bought this engine to replace the one in my car at this time because of oil leak issues with the intent of rebuilding both and sticking one in a car for my son who is turning 16 soon. It looks like I may have picked a bad candidate for this never the less I will know whats in it when I am done. The car came out of PnP in Rocklin over the 50% discount weekend so out the door with a 1 year warranty it was only $175.00. I will be looking for a machine shop to help with rebuilding in the valley, any ideas as to where I might want to go?

If you got it from the green 99 legacy sedan then I was the one that tore up the whole dash assembly lol :oops: I've been looking for a 99 5spd harness that is phase 2 (on 99 2.2 legacy's, 2.5 was still phase 1) and that was the perfect candidate and yes last weekend was half off :grin: , No worries you have a year warranty. One thing to get it checked up right away is to see if the crank is good. Make sure it didn't spun a bearing (rod or crank), the machine shop said its costly do the crank since they are so small and compact.

I'm not sure about your area on the machine shop but I've always been going to modesto engine renu here but any machine shop should be able to do the machining for you.


Just wanted to ad , I checked out your 98 GT build. You have done a really first rate build and the outcome looks fantastic. That's my dream some day , perhaps after my kiddos get off to college in a few years !

Thanks!

Here is another option for you, see if you can find the phase 2 2.5 engine at picknpull and you'll be able to use that in your car. Basically the phase 2 2.2/2.5 is interchangable, meaning you can use the 2.5 longblock then use the 2.2 intake manifold (just make sure to swap the crank/driver cam gear if they use different trigger. For example...... my bro's 94 impreza, we took the whole harness (front to back) from a 99 impreza obs and converted it with the 2.2 ecu. It's basically running an engine/drivetrain from an 01 2.5rs but i switch the manifold. There's alot more but if you want more info lmk. My point is instead of building the 2.2 and getting cams, might as well get a 2.5 and rebuild it
Here is a comparison

Phase II, 2.2 L 4 cylinder aluminum alloy 16 valve SOHC boxer engine,
Horsepower: 142 @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 149 @ 3600 rpm

New Phase II 2.5 L 4 cylinder aluminum alloy 16 valve SOHC boxer engine.
Horsepower: 165 @ 5600 pm
Torque: 166 @ 4000 rpm

[Mountain Cowboy]

Well now I know who ripped apart the green cars dash board, I did get the engine from that car. Can you tell me the odometer reading, it wasn't there when I was there. The VIN check said it had at least 274,000. You have a good point about rebuilding a 2,5 phase 1 over a 2.2 now the job is to find one. just off the top of your head do you know what cars those engines are in ? if not I will do my home work.
Thanks for all your responses I was raised by a chevy guy and drove american made cars most of my life so that's were my knowledge is. I really like my Subie and am looking forward to getting it "up to speed" Your tips and advise are very helpful.

[86bratman]

I don't know if you made a typo or not, but your 99 ej22 car would need a phase 2 ej251 to be a straight swap.

[Mountain Cowboy]

You are right this was either a typo or a brain fart either way thanks for catching that for me

[r3v_v3ng3]

I didn't really payed attention to the mileage, it was iffy for the engine though since the body was in good condition. So either had a trans or clutch failure or something wrong with the engine.

Cars that came with phase 2 2.5
00+ legacy
99+ forester
99+ impreza (mostly 2.5rs but i think somewhere in the 05 or somethingthey all went with 2.5)

If i find it in a yard i can give you a heads up

[Mountain Cowboy]

Well the body was not all that good , it had taken a hit to the drivers front fender just behind the center of the front tire that would have probably effected the wheel assy. The VIN search said that it was totaled by the insurance co. I did my home work on the 2.5 phase 2 here on SLI and found the cars that have that engine.
Impreza2.5 rs/2.5st 98-04
Impreza Outback sport 02-04
Forester 00-04
Legacy 00-04
Outback 00-04
Baja 03-05
Now I have to decide what to do with the engine that I pulled from the Legacy if I decide to go that way which I am thinking would be the smart thing to do. There is an Outback in Fairfeild that came in on the 24th that has that engine but I wouldn't be able to get there until next weekend so I am doubt it would still be around if it's any good. decisions decisions

[Mountain Cowboy]

I have decided to rebuild a 2.5 2 , now all I have to do is find one with low-ish miles. If you happen to run across one at a PnP please let me know either here or pm. thanks for your advice being a SOOB NOOB I have a lot to learn.