Turbo EJ22 checklist

[meanjoaquin]

I'm planning on putting a turbo on my 97 Legacy Brighton over the course of the next year. I want to get all my ducks in a row before I take the plunge so I can minimize the vehicle's down time. Any advice/input from people that have done this would be greatly appreciated.

Vehicle: 1997 Legacy, EJ22 with single exhaust ports; 5-speed
What I have:
WRX exhaust manifold, up pipe, and TBE
WRX TMIC and BPV
WRX Fuel pump

Shopping List:
EJ25D heads, intake, dipstick
EJ25 Timing belt kit
WRX Turbo inlet
STI head gaskets
TD04
Some sort of manual boost controller

Is there anything else I should purchase prior to starting the work? Advice?

[r3v_v3ng3]

Turbo subframe

[86bratman]

Don't buy the sti head gaskets. They are the wrong bore size, get a set of victor reinz gaskets for the ej222 (found in 99 legacy non-gt/outback and 99-01 impreza non-rs) or the hybrid build cometic gasket. Remember this block/head combo will have 9.2:1 compression, so a little thicker gasket will help get you a more turbo favorable compression ratio.

[EJ22D]

Also, you will need the black coolant pipe that rests on the driver's side of the 25D as it is different from the 22E's (22E coolant pipe does not fit around the 25D head.)

[lord flashheart]

Water pump from a 2006 outback non turbo 4 cylinder (EJ253). makes fitment of the exhaust manifold much easier.
if your just looking for a TD04, i would probably get a VF11 or a TDO5 90 degree the under manifold turbo inlets are a pain in the ass on EJ25Ds
some way to delete the EGR.
you will need to drill the oil return line from the turbo.

[meanjoaquin]

Don't buy the sti head gaskets. They are the wrong bore size, get a set of victor reinz gaskets for the ej222 (found in 99 legacy non-gt/outback and 99-01 impreza non-rs) or the hybrid build cometic gasket. Remember this block/head combo will have 9.2:1 compression, so a little thicker gasket will help get you a more turbo favorable compression ratio.

I found a Victor Reinz head gasket set, PN HS54423. That looks like it will have everything I need. Thanks!

[meanjoaquin]

Dang it, I just realized the intake will be different.... Looks like I have to piece it all together, lol

[meanjoaquin]

Ok, I put this together at RockAuto. Can you think of anything else, gasket/maintenance wise, that I need to pick up?

[Garrison]

You'll probably want to get OEM head and valve cover gaskets. They tend to fail if bought from another source.

Best of luck!

[harrymaneuvers]

I would get an OEM waterpump too... they are night and day better construction than that "Gates" one which is almost certainly an off brand like what comes in their timing belt + waterpump kits.

Might as well hit the cam and crank seals while they are accessible. Also replace your oil separator plate on the back of the engine. It is probably the older style that is prone to leaking.

[anothernord]

The WRX turbo inlet won't fit at all. You'll need to use a 90 degree coupler right off the turbo. I used a 2/14" - 2 1/2" 90 and chopped it down to fit.

[meanjoaquin]

You'll probably want to get OEM head and valve cover gaskets. They tend to fail if bought from another source.

Best of luck!

I thought Victor Reinz was the OEM head gasket supplier?

[Garrison]

I would imagine that the oem supplier would have a more "Japanese sounding" name. But multi-layered metal is definitely what you want!

[Reuben]

BTW, with gates AU/NZ, the kit TCK277A Comes with no tensioner... (I work in parts myself).

TCKH277A comes with, and it's the old pre 96 seperate piston/pulley type (if that's a valid number, I've never seen one, as we don't stock that in my branch)
TCKH277B comes with, but it's the post 96 all in one tensioner type.

Again, gates US may use different numbers, but I doubt it, I'd be calling your nearest branch and asking them to take the kit apart and seeing if it has the hydraulic tensioner like the description says it does, No H means no Hydraulic tensioner with the gates numbers down under.

[harrymaneuvers]

Yes the kits here in the US comes with the tensioner. Only option here in the US is a kit with waterpump or without.

[Garrison]

And if you were getting an EJ253 waterpump anyway, I'd opt for no water pump

[lord flashheart]

personally.. in my honest opinion.. the paraut water pumps are the best. i even prefer them to the Subaru ones.
i would honestly get the head gaskets from the dealer or world pac (if avail.) the subaru ones have that nice plasma stuff on them that bonds to aluminum. there is a brand of head gaskets called "stone". they are cheap. but the head gaskets are good. i try to use victor on german stuff, and felpro on american stuff.

but honestly. ive build a lot of engines, and the brand isnt nearly as important as taking your time and doing it correctly. ive used every brand ive heard of and never had a problem with 1 of them. infact the head gaskets that are on my car right now are ones that got put on a car and before installing the engine we changed the heads. so i put (techinically) used head gaskets on my car, with 15 psi and stock head bolts and never had head gasket problems.