Building an EJ20d vs doing a swap

[counterbond]

So, i recently acquired a 97 legacy gt, and i keep tellin all the friends how i want to do some kind of swap, and they keep saying, "Why don't you just put forged and low compression goodies inside the 2.5 gt motor and the turbo it? I says to them...if it were cheaper than doing a full wrx or sti swap i think people would be doing that instead....so question is...is it?

[Huffer]

Is it cheaper? Possibly, if you get everything right first time.

In the long run, very few people have run a turbo'd NA engine reliably...if they do, they don't post much online.

If you took the engine out and installed low-comp pistons, you'd be doing the same amount of physical work as you would with a swap - the wiring is more difficult with a swap, but the physical stuff is the same, essentially.

Reliability is higher with a swap, and that's what people go for. When you sink $3-4000 into parts, you want to make sure it's good for a few years.

[counterbond]

well, if your going to pull your motor out, and put a new one in thats just been back from the shop getting forged goodies in, it'd be the same as pulling your motor and sending it to the shop, but cheaper... Just curious if the brian crower stroker crank would work with the ej25d. 2.71 Liters of deliciousness. Then throw in a set of good rods, maybe do an sti head swap or i thought i heard of people doing ej25 block halves with ej205 heads? or something whatever the hybrid motor is.

[Huffer]

Ok, let me put it in different terms then:

a built NA motor can match a stock WRX for power.
a stock WRX motor can be easily nudged to power far beyond the NA capabilities for far LESS money.

dollar for dollar, a stock WRX swap is better than building an NA motor.

The thing with doing a swap is that you don't have to touch the motor. You buy a long block and throw it in with the right crossmember.
There's a bit more, but you get the idea.

[counterbond]

something tells me that if you put low compression pistons, eagle rods, a good crank and sleeved the block of the EJ25d, that and put about 30 psi through her with a good head gasket and headstuds, some injectors a bigger fuel pump, maybe a different set of some cams, that you'd be pushing out a little bit more than stock wrx power.

The thing is....i dont think parts are made for this. I emailed brian crower asking if his stroker crank would work inside the ej25d block and they said the parts aren't interchangeable..lame...

anybody have any experience at all making an ej25d put out some amazing numbers?

[subba]

listen to the huffmiester, a swap will yield 417489372408743298042830% better results for 1/2 you would spend to build a n/a motor.

Only N/a motors worth boosting is SR20's and Hondas.

[Huffer]

something tells me that if you put low compression pistons, eagle rods, a good crank and sleeved the block of the EJ25d, that and put about 30 psi through her with a good head gasket and headstuds, some injectors a bigger fuel pump, maybe a different set of some cams, that you'd be pushing out a little bit more than stock wrx power.

You'd also be spending far more than an STi swap. Enough to put a decent deposit on a HOUSE.

[decke48]

a swap will be cheaper..
a n/a build matching a stock sti power will cost $10,000 w/ a v5/6 tranny and diff. minus the cost of machining and tuning so add a nother $3,000
a sti swap will cost $6,500 for a v 5/6 and $13,000 (drivetrain swap) plus $3000 for installation, or $1000 for wiring. if all mechanic work is done by you.
so there a little different but you can always add more power to the turbo. for less money

[counterbond]

i wanted to apologize to huffer if i came off sounded like a dickbag...sorry man, anyways yea, I guess my main question was, Is there a huge difference in the sti block and the ej25d block? You guys should check this out

http://www.rs25.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39629

[Huffer]

it's all good. I just hate seeing people throw money down a drain to achieve a goal that's already been done several times for less money...

Now when people are on a quest just be "different" then more power to ya. It's what keeps engine builders and tuners in business I guess.

[rougeben83]

you can build an ej25 na block to the same sti spec, but it'll cost way more than a new sti shortblock to begin with.

New low comp pistons alone are worth almost as much as a new sti block from subaru.

That's the main reason why few people go with building the NA block for boost. The big reason why to kit over swap, cost savings, goes completely out the door once you reach a certain power level (most put it at around 250-260whp on an untouched NA ej25 block).

[xXGTBspecXx]

unless you source out everything for extremly cheap, like i did. but im patient enough to wait around for a good deal. my motor is digustingly rediculous for a EJ25D. and ive only spent $890 so far. im just waiting on a trans cause i broke mine. building a motor by yourself/with some friends is a very cool expeirence. if you have the time and money i say build the 25D. but if your inpatient and want mad power for doing no work. do a swap.

if i get a strong enough trans i seriously think my car will run 14.0-14.5 with out the turbo. just think of the benefits like this. if you do the swap you get reliability and a lil bit of guilt for taking the easy way out. if you build the stock blocker, you get reliability (if you do things right) you get the satisfaction of sayin built not bought, and you can have the option to go even farther with the build. remember subaru motors are like legos.

wow i ranted on about stuff.(sorry i get like this when coming down from a serious hangover :grin: )