Engine ID question

[green97gt]

So iv retired the 97 legacy gt and am attempting to find a rebuild kit for it, but i want to make sure i order the right one, i know this motor has been swapped before i got it, and i have ordered parts for the 97-99 motor before like valve cover gaskets, and they haven't fit quite right....

so hoping that the local dealer could help i called them up and the parts guy says "you could find the serial number, but that wouldn't help you cause our catalogs aren't set up that way"...wow...thanks for that tidbit....

then he continues "there's a giant Subaru website called "naws-E-ak" try posting there and maybe someone can help you"

i can only assume he meant Nasoic..but still.. that's pretty shitty advice for a dealer to give.

SO my question is, how can i FIRMLY id this motor so i can place an order for the rebuild kit?

[anothernord]

Well, the 97 GT is a Phase I DOHC 2.5L with a 9.7:1 CR, if that helps any. I suppose you could check the bell housing for some sort of ID, I think that's where mine is.

[green97gt]

but this motor is not the original motor, the trans is original....supposedly...

called another dealership with a subaru rep present, subaru rep says i can find the serial number for the block under the intake manifold..however he also said there is no way to compare that serial number to a VIN to determine what car it came out of...

but you CAN compare the VIN to the serial number...to see what motor should be in a given car

this shouldnt be that hard....

the rebuild kits are offered as 1996 ej25 or 1997-99 ej25. there has to be a reason for that.

what, other than compression ratio is different? bearing journal size? or? or? or?

ive never put premium in mine..so i guess it must be a 97-99....BUT i ordered valve cover gaskets for a 97-99 and they had tabs that my valve covers did not...but that might have been seller error....

im about to call the rebuild place and see what they have to say.

[green97gt]

just got a call back from the local JDM warehouse

they have a jdm 2.5 w/ 55k and a 30 day warranty for $1100 that seems a bit high...

he also asked me if i was looking for a 2.5 with distributor or coil pack...

have 2.5s EVER been made with a distributor??????

so that brings up the question of if he knows what hes talking about...hmmmm

[anothernord]

just got a call back from the local JDM warehouse

they have a jdm 2.5 w/ 55k and a 30 day warranty for $1100 that seems a bit high...

he also asked me if i was looking for a 2.5 with distributor or coil pack...

have 2.5s EVER been made with a distributor??????

so that brings up the question of if he knows what hes talking about...hmmmm

There is a little cast marking on the block below the alternator that will tell you whether its an EJ22 or EJ25. I would check the back of the block where the transmission connects; on my short block, there's a number imprinted there; I don't know what the number is for, but it could be a serial number.

Edit: nope, they never had distributors.