It will cost less to either buy one that is already swapped or to start with the Forester XT. Rust free 1996 and olders subaru's will be hard to find as well. That said, an early Legacy wagon with an STi drive train would be a nice thing to have. Maybe you can get a nice 1991MY one from Japan next year and rock the RHD.
Kreb wrote: Hmmm, I guess that Factory Five didn't do their homework.
I would say that the Subaru donor concept is the Achilles heel of the 818. From an engineering standpoint, it might have been the way to go, but from a marketing standpoint I suspect it will put some buyers off. It's just too weird of an engine.
Good thoughts here, thanks all. A 6cyl swap honestly never even occurred to me - I was thinking about boosting a 2.2 or 2.5, but I'm definitely open to the idea of more displacement.
For the record, the emissions test I'm trying to avoid if possible is an OBD scan here. I'm sure there are ways to deal with it, but it adds an level of complication I'm loathe to pile on the to build.
And for the sake of clarification, ideally this would be a "rolling project" of sorts, wherein I buy/drive a stock wagon while I accumulate parts.
Find the cleanest obd1 wagon you can with whatever transmission you can. Go from there. The stock transmission in that old of a subaru will not tolerate higher power.
I'm a little farther down the road on this one than you I think. I picked up a 95 Legacy wagon for cheap,and am planning on putting an H6 in it. Here's the run down on them.
EG33: 3" longer than the H4 motors, barely fits. Requires hoodpins. 230HP, takes common EJ22 type pistons and rods if boost is a thought. OBD1 or OBD2 depending on ECU year. "easy" wiring. Belt driven cams, cable throttle. Cheap($600)
EZ30D: 212HP, less than 1" longer than the H4 motors. Chain driven cams. OBD2 only, but it is possible to wire in the stock (nonVDC) ECU, cable throttle. 1 exhaust port. Cheapish ($700-1000)
EZ30R: 245HP, same architecture as the "D", but adds a second cam lob(Original VTEC), and cam phasing(Mazda VVT). CANBUS ECU and drive by wire and has 3 exhuast ports. Aftermarket ECU basicly required.(you need about 5 different CANBUS components including the HVAC computer to get the OE computer to run) Requires premium fuel. Not so cheap, ($1500)
EZ36R: 256HP, Same physical size as the 3.0's, but internally very different to accomodate 20% more displacement. Same AVCS and AVLS as the EZ30R, same ECU problems. Much more of a torque motor than the EZ30R, but only requires swill.. err 87 octane. Expensive ($2000+)
Currently I'm trying to get my car's drivetrain noises to go away, and get it to IL(where we're moving next month) so my progress is going to be slow. I'm going to use the 5 speed(cheap) for now, but the 6 really should be used($2500 swap) as it's much more robust.
Good info. Looks like EZ30D seems like the best option for cheap swapping. If you use the R you might as spend a little more for the 36R.
If you plan to use a 5 speed, grab the newest one you can. I found somewhere that there were a lot of little improvements over the years. What I don't know is if the WRX unit is any better than the regular NA Impreza/Legacy unit year for year. If no changes, I would try to snag the newest unit from whatever you can. There was a 6 speed in the latest few years of legacy/outback but those ARE NOT the same as the STI units. These are apparently a variant of the 5 speed but still stronger than the older 5 speeds.
If you don't like chasing electrons, the EG33 sounds like the answer. How much can a strong, used STi trans cost form Japan?
2500 is on the low side. Remember that you have to get the rear diff and sometimes axles to make it happen. Not cheap. However straight cut gears for the 5 speed are really really expensive!
Yep, most of this is true.
The 6 speed swap could easily be more than $2500, as I have a pair of 3.90:1 diffs, I don't need a rear diff(and axles),only an automatic drive shaft. This would leave me susceptible to the R160 spider gear weakness though. The JDM boxes doesn't seem to be any cheaper than USDM transaxles.
If you don't want to chase electrons, the EG33, or the early EZ30D with a non VDC ecu from a 2001ish model is what you want. THAT being said, you're still going to have to make a custom harness/harness splice which will take a lot of homework and time to make. I have made a 95 to 2001 ecu map if someone's interested. The EG33 will require a lot more thought as it needs the radiator relocated a couple inches forward and the A/C condensor and fans will need some work too The EZ30 is a drop in, BUT needs an H6 radiator since it has 2 upper radiator hoses. This might require some cutting of the lower cross member. I've heard illusions to this, but haven't seen anything specific.
I did buy a 2006 Legacy transmission since it was local, newer and with low miles and a stronger case. The issue with these transmissions seems to be shaft flex, not case flex. The big mistake with the 2006? No, not the final drive ratio. No speedometer hookup. In 2005 they pulled the speedometer sensor drive, and used the ABS sensors to gather that data. I THINK I can crack the case and put that drive in, but I'm not sure that the pinion shaft is worm geared for it. As life is hitting VERY hard here this month(moving across the country,first child was born 2 days ago,selling the house,etc), I didn't put it in,but went through the old gearbox. Replaced the input shaft thrust bearing, new seals, new thrust plate, reset the pinion last and preload.
Yes there is a 6 speed based on the old 5, but it's immediately recognizable as it's a cable shifted unit, and not a rod like the 5's and 6's. I haven't seen the guts of one, but I'm guessing they hung 6th out past 5th gear.
The turbo units can be a little stronger if you get a late model one, as they widened some gears by 1-2mm. 2nd and 3rd I believe. They did NOT do this to the N/A(push clutch) units, only the pull clutch/turbo units. 2004 seems to be the transition year.
If you haven't seen the Gramps build then you really need to take some time and watch it. They claim it's a budget build, but I think there's $15K USD in that build in parts alone. It's a EZ36.. turbo.. in a 2nd/4th gen Legacy. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp0KnUFYB--jDPJ-km5lSpvJvEJtCIdgl
Edit: .. and I wrote a book. Sorry.
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