What to do with my engine

[josh_90_leg]

So i have a stock 90 2.2l engine with almost 220k, i want to get an ej22t but cant seem to find one AT ALL and the ones ive seen are way expensive, so i been researching and read about getting a 2.5l block then putting my heads on it, is it really that easy?
Im thinkin doing that or just getting my engine rebuilt then throwing a turbo on it and modding it from there......so basically im wondering what one is cheaper? More gain? most reliablity? Absoloutly any info would be great

[mavx]

no need for the 2.5 block. keep your 2.2, better for boost and just easier in general + reliability.

[mike-tracy]

You should call around, because there are EJ22T engines in a couple of yards. One's in Puyallup/Edgewood (can't remember the name). Try Aarons Auto Wrecking in Seattle. I went there last month and they had an EJ22T still in a car.

An engine designed to be turbocharged would always be more reliable than your 19 year old 220k N/A block, even if you freshened it up. You could turbo yours, of course, but long term reliability would be compromised.

I bought an EJ22T on here for $350 (that needed rebuilding) recently, so if you can be patient I'm sure one will come up at a price you can afford. I also would suggest hitting up all the forums, NASIOC, SL-I, USMB, i-club, etc with a WTB ad.

[206er]

yes it is easy. use the ej25 shortblock like a stock replacement but with ej25 gaskets. i ran one of the 2.2/2.5 motors for a good while. it's torquey off idle more than any ej ive felt, has a decent punch to it, but it's not fast. it's slower than a stock ej22t by a little bit. however where the frankenmotor shines is that it runs exactly like an ej22e(dead nuts reliable and simple, looks stock) gets excellent gas mileage(best of 31 highway at altitude) and is somewhat fun to drive. however you are basically screwed if you want to try and get more power. cams and headwork will help, but you are grasping at straws. the whole point with the ej22/2.5 is to do a cheap builld.
if I was going to do the NA thing again I'd try a dohc ej25 with mild diy headwork, high compression(thin HG's) and cams. the 22e heads are really not worth messin with when you can use the 25D. plus the ej22e ecu will run it, so why not?
now that I'm turbo I miss the off the line torque and the gas mileage especially. if youre not concerned with having a really fast car, go NA. if you want to smoke ricers, go turbo. they are both fun but in different ways. turbo is a lot more work and a lot more expense but more fun.
when you start looking at ej22e+T it's really all in how you build it. put 22t stock pistons in it and it'll be just like a 22t motor til you want to put a big turbo on. the 22e pistons have weak ringlands so they are a crapshoot but putting some dohc heads on a 22e block would be pretty sweet and cheap as well. just depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

[kimokalihi]

I too bought a complete EJ22T in Port Orchard this year for $350. Sold the block for $300 and still have the rest of it. It needed a lot of work on the outside like hoses and timing belt and shit but it looked good on the inside.

[evolutionmovement]

If you run the 22T pistons N/A you will run out of breath about 1000 rpm sooner and take a hit in mileage, but be otherwise about the same.

[josh_90_leg]

wouldnt the best and prolly cheapest route be just to find a ej22t longblock, rebuild it and swap it? then just mod it from there?