Subie motor swaps

Im looking into doing a motor swap on my brothers car a 93 imprezza L fwd. I was told that you guys are the tech heads and could help me. So my brothers car isnt the fastest and he would like to get it up there and do a motor swap. What motors can I put in the car, not limited to US motor (can get jdm motors as well). Also would I have to transfer it to awd. Not that its a bad thing, cause im sure that i could do it. But what all would be needed. Im not new to motor swaps by any means. My experience is in the Honda/acura relm though so if you guys can help me out that would be great ...thank....JOEL

[wawazat??]

over at www.i-club.com. Guys over there are doing swaps all the time. A number of vendors post info on JDM stuff as well.

Good luck!

[rufus]

I've done a lot of research on this topic, because I am planning to tackle it as soon as I find a nice deal on the right motor. I've got a 1.8L right now, which seems to be pretty much bulletproof, but a little lacking in the "get up and go" department. And with the aircon running, forget about it.

As far as I know, the n/a 2.2 and 2.5 motors will bolt right up and I believe require only some slight wiring modifications to run pretty well. People have also succesfully swapped in the turbo Legacy 2.2, and domestic and JDM 2.0 WRX motors. You're talking about a lot more money going the WRX route, (but mad power for a little, light, stripper Impreza L).

The AWD conversion will involve a new tranny, nearly an entire new rear suspension (almost all the parts are different; crossmember, lateral links, struts, hub housings, etc.). New gas tank (all wheel drive cars have a cut out in the tank for the drive shaft). Lots of work and money, even if you manage to get a rolling rear clip from an all wheel drive car. The advantages are a much better selection of aftermarket parts for the AWD models (struts in particular), and if you pick the right donor car, you're going to get rear disc brakes in the process.

I'm going to keep mine front wheel drive, I think, and probably just swap in a EJ22.

Good luck, and let me know how it all turns out.

And don't feel bad asking "non-SVX" questions. I've spent a lot of time on the i-club site, and I think in general you will get more reliable information here. And much friendlier people

[Mr. Pockets]

I agree with you on the suspension parts - there are definitely huge differences since the rear diff becomes a structural part of the car. But are you sure about the gas tank? There is no reason I can see for making two different tanks. Suspension, yes. But the tank...I can't see why they'd go through the hassle and expense.

[benebob]

I know the EA81's had two dif tanks. The 4x4 had a smaller tank than the FWD. I know that the Impreza has a 13.2 tank for both AWD and FWD so I would tend to agree that it wouldn't make much sense to have 2 dif tanks. The cost wouldn't make any sense.

[rufus]

I am almost certain there are two different tanks. I've talked to a couple salvage yards about what parts I would need to do the conversion, and they all mentioned the gas tank.

Besides, I can look under the back of my FWD car and tell you that the fuel tank I have would be in the way of any conventional driveshaft setup that I am aware of.

Why would they go to the trouble of designing two tanks? I'm not sure, but I'd say that manufacturing the flat bottom tank on my car is way cheaper than the AWD tank with the formed curves in the bottom; probably enough of a savings to justify having two designs.

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by rufus
Why would they go to the trouble of designing two tanks? I'm not sure, but I'd say that manufacturing the flat bottom tank on my car is way cheaper than the AWD tank with the formed curves in the bottom; probably enough of a savings to justify having two designs.

Possibly - but I would think that the expense involved in having two different forms made to stamp the tanks out, manufacturing two different tanks and stocking those two different tanks would WAY offset any savings due to a more simple shape.

I'm not saying you're wrong. Hell, I don't have a FWD Impreza for reference. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

[elninoalex]

I have 2 90 Legacys in my garage right now, 1 FWD and 1 AWD. They do not share the same gas tank. The AWD one leaves room for the prop drive shaft, where the FWD doesn't.

[Manarius]

Ok, I don't know much about Impreza's so I'll give it a shot.

You can swap in any EJ Series Motor. I would highly suggest a N/A EJ22. They're strong and run well. I need to find my friend's AWD swap..he did it on a Legacy so everything may not apply, but it should be close.

[AFBeefcake]

If you want power, easy to find parts, and many upgrades go with a US EJ20T out of a 2002 wrx. I installed one in a 98 Legacy GT with a turbo 5 speed trany. The car flies, but there is a lot of rewiring to do. New crossmember, exhust, power steering lines, power steering tank, and hood would be needed for a L. As well as all of the parts for the fwd to awd convertion.
I would check out NASIOC.com there are lots of people running swaps over there.

I have a 1996 1.8 AWD 5 speed Impreza and if I get the money I'm going for a WRX swap.