EJ20T vs EJ25T

[Sarra]

I'd really like to turn my '98 GT into a turboed wagon, and right now i'm debating between doing a USDM WRX 2 liter engine swap or a USDM non-STi turbo engine swap, IE, the turboed engine from a Forester or Legacy.

I know Subaru has done similar, yet different setups for each engine, the Legacy uses a different turbo/heads than the 2.5 liter WRX, different than the Baja's 2.5 turbo engine, etc.

So, my question is, would it be easier to get a 2 liter turbo longblock, or another non-STi 2.5 liter turbo longblock? I know I'm going to need to swap the front x member, and do some magic with the exhaust.

The other question is internals. I could always get a shortblock, I think most of the shortblocks are the same, other than the 2 liter vs 2.5, so would it be easier to just get a 2.5 liter turbo shortblock and get internals from another engine? I'm trying to keep the HP below 250, for safety reasons as well as practical (I've never driven a 230 hp car on a daily basis before, yes, at work I did from time time on my old job, but not daily).

The other part of this is transmission. My BK has a 5 speed, and I like how it feels, but the gears are a bit short. I'm not sure if this thing can hold up 220+ lb/ft of torque. I'd like to swap in a 6 speed, but I don't have $10k for that conversion, though I'd love having 6 gears instead of 5. Should I get a WRX gearbox for it, or would it be better to just get a set of PPG gears for the stock gearbox? Or should I go all traitor and get a 6 speed RWD gearbox from an RX7/RX8? Heh, I could get a 20B and an RX7 RWD tranny, and have a rotary, RWD Subaru. Heavy + no torque...

My last thought is a 6 cylinder. Maybe a H6 without the AVCS, or even an EG33. I don't want to have to move too much stuff up front, but relocating the rad wouldn't bother me too much.

Or should I just say "f it" and go for a full STi conversion?

Oh, and regardless of which engine and transmission I get, I'm going to upgrade my suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires before doing the engine/transmission swap. Want stop power before go power. ;)

[Wiscon_Mark]

There really is no "EJ20T" or "EJ25T"

There's EJ201, EJ205, EJ207
and EJ251, EJ255, and EJ257

The 1 suffix would be N/A, the 05 suffix would be found in USDM WRXs (02-05), the 25 suffix would be Forester XT, LGT, WRX (06+), and Baja Turbo.

And the 7 suffix is the partially closed deck found on STis. 07 would be JDM and 57 would be USDM.

A USDM EJ205 would be the easiest to find, as there are so many idiots with WRXs that have wrecked their cars. Much much easier to find than an EJ255.

And EZ30 would be an expensive project and an EG33 would not fit without heavily modifying the radiator, because the EG33 was never meant to fit in an EJ engine bay. It's a full 6" longer than the EJ engines.

A PPG gearset would never break, so it'd be worth going for it right away so you wouldn't be restricted by your tranny.

[sheepdog]

For what it sounds like you want, trying to piece together a setup is going to be too much of a bother. Just do a wrx/sti conversion. If you want to do the PPG gears i would recommend it, however if you don't want to go above 250whp its a waste of money.

[Sarra]

I want to stay away from JDM engines.

I'm seriously wanting to do an EJ255 swap. EJ257 would be great too, but I honestly don't want to mess with drive by wire, and then I'd want to do the 6 speed conversion too, and I don't have that much money to spend all at once. :(

The ultimate plan would be to do the gearbox, probably a WRX 5 speed case with PPG gears and the other internals from my current 5 speed. Then, drop in an EJ255 or EJ205. Once I'm used to the increased power, I'd mod the living hell out of it, and probably do about 250-300 hp at the wheels. But, that would be several years off.

I'd also think about doing an EJ22T swap, but as far as the engine is concerned, I want to keep it simple.

[Wiscon_Mark]

If simple and easy (in relative terms) is what you want, go with the EJ205.

[Sarra]

Okay, I'll do the EJ205 and an 05 WRX gearbox.

[sheepdog]

Thats exactly what I did. Let me know if you have any questions bud.

[Sarra]

There's a shop near to me that will probably end up doing the wiring. Indeed, they have an EJ205, a WRX 5 speed, and know how to do wiring.

I think I've got it pretty well figured out.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Start saving!

[sheepdog]

If you're in oregon, call rallitek. Theyre your best bet.

[Sarra]

Rallitek is in Portland area? Geeze, I didn't know that. @__@ I thought they were in NorWas or something.

[sheepdog]

All i know is theyre in oregon somewhere, and theyre one of the most reccomended swappers out there.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yeah, they're in P-town. Ask BakerGtt about them :smile:

[Sarra]

Would it be easier to change my sparkplugs if I swapped in an EJ205? :lol:

I've been meaning to give them a call. I want to get a skidplate and brush guard for the front end, and that sounds like something that they would do.

Man, I've never driven a turboed car before, but I'm already hooked on boost. :D

[rougeben83]

Well if you're going to consider the 2.5t's (which I would just for the displacement and power delivery), I would get the one out of the LGT. It shares almost all of the the parts as the STi save for the intake mani and turbo pieces. The Forrester XT gets a different cam profile.

[Sarra]

Well if you're going to consider the 2.5t's (which I would just for the displacement and power delivery), I would get the one out of the LGT. It shares almost all of the the parts as the STi save for the intake mani and turbo pieces. The Forrester XT gets a different cam profile.

Right now, I'm working up a budget, and I don't think I'd have the money for a Legacy GT motor.

[sheepdog]

yea, the LGT motors are still quite expensive. You might start having some luck with a 2.5l 06 wrx, but I'd stick with the 2 litre wrx motor. Let me know if you need help tracking a motorset down, jdm or otherwise.

[SubiesportEd]

I do this grudginly but try Silverline Automotive, ask for Leo, he owns the place. (located in Portland).
Anyway, he usually has at least a few complete drivetrains out of USDM WRXs and STIs from wrecked cars he buys at auction. The only thing is, he is pretty expensive since he sells USDM stuff in europe, asia and the middle east where USDM stuff is considered the hawtness.

OR, you can just go to any one of the local dealers like Carr or Wentworth and buy an STI shortblock for $1,600 and slap on your 2.5 heads. You will have really low compression but then you can run lots of boost.

Also, hunt up Kelly, former head tech at Rallitek. He can swap it for you for a reasonable price I would think. He did our "swap" when we turbo'ed our 97GT and it looks great, it's in the current issue of Subiesport. I think Kelly's SN on here is Kelly.

And as far as I know the LGT, FXT and STI block are all the same. There is no different part number between the three according to several different Subaru parts counters I have dealt with. Heads, I think, are the big difference.

[xcntrk75]

Just a small correction:

EJ255 & EJ257 are the designators for the 2.5l turbo short-block motor. EJ255 for the Legacy, Forester, and Baja and EJ257 for the Impreza model. Apparently Subaru carries different designating part numbers for the same block found in different models and/or different markets (JDM vs. USDM). The EJ255 has the part number 10103AB440 and EJ257 10103AB450; which both translate to the same actual part (Turbo 2.5l short-block, semi-closed deck). If you look up the “STi” specific 257 part number, it’s superseded by the EJ255 part number. So the obvious point here is they’re the same motor foundation shared throughout the different models.

[SubiesportEd]

That is kinda weird, why would they do that? Anyway, most parts guys I run into seem to be vaugely aware that they sell Subaru parts so, that could be part of the problem too, I have always been told it is just the same part number.... which, in a way, I guess it is.