Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
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Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
The fun begins! After looking far and wide, I stumbled Upon an EJ22T on craigslist here is SoCal. I went and looked at it asap, the guy had the engine because he was going to put it in a vw Bus, but it never worked out, so after doing a through inspection I bought it and now it time for some fun!
I have the donner turbo legacy that will be using to do the swap into my N/A legacy but I know I am missing a few things. I guess my first question is what all needs to be swapped? I know the front cross member does, as well as the A/C line and all that. what about the wiring? the engine has the full harness and so does the car, but will I need to swap all the wiring inside the car? or will the turbo engine and ecu just plug into the N/A harness?
Let me know if I am missing anything, because I probably am.
Thanks, Brian
I have the donner turbo legacy that will be using to do the swap into my N/A legacy but I know I am missing a few things. I guess my first question is what all needs to be swapped? I know the front cross member does, as well as the A/C line and all that. what about the wiring? the engine has the full harness and so does the car, but will I need to swap all the wiring inside the car? or will the turbo engine and ecu just plug into the N/A harness?
Let me know if I am missing anything, because I probably am.
Thanks, Brian
Last edited by SubyFusion on Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Brian,
I'd suggest searching the electrical forum as well as the engine forum. There's several posts covering the items that need to be addressed. I've got at least one post for when I did my swap. The steering lines do not need to be swapped. I would recommend pulling the wiring out for the turbo specific sensors on the strut tower and just add them to your n/a car, and then just modify the existing harness (swap pos. pins for cam & crank sensors), and move the coolant temp sensors to the driver's side for use on the turbo motor.
After searching, let us know if you have any questions.
I'd suggest searching the electrical forum as well as the engine forum. There's several posts covering the items that need to be addressed. I've got at least one post for when I did my swap. The steering lines do not need to be swapped. I would recommend pulling the wiring out for the turbo specific sensors on the strut tower and just add them to your n/a car, and then just modify the existing harness (swap pos. pins for cam & crank sensors), and move the coolant temp sensors to the driver's side for use on the turbo motor.
After searching, let us know if you have any questions.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- Second Gear
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- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 12:06 pm
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Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Alright thanks all go take a look, about how long did it take you to do your swap josh?
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
It took a while, but I rebuilt the motor and other stuff. You can see the picture journal here. I had a trip to Japan in the middle of the work too....so I wouldn't use my time line 
www.main.experiencetherave.com/subaru/images/ej22t

www.main.experiencetherave.com/subaru/images/ej22t
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Turbo Subies:
'87 GL-10 Turbo - SOLD
'90 BJ EJ22T/DOHC & 5speed swap - SOLD
'04 FXT, Forged internals, VF39, STI TMIC, Cobb AP- SOLD
'93 Legacy SS - 5-speed, SOLD :-(
'02 WRX -SOLD
'96 BD-turbo'd-SOLD
'98 SF - NA-T
'87 GL-10 Turbo - SOLD
'90 BJ EJ22T/DOHC & 5speed swap - SOLD
'04 FXT, Forged internals, VF39, STI TMIC, Cobb AP- SOLD
'93 Legacy SS - 5-speed, SOLD :-(
'02 WRX -SOLD
'96 BD-turbo'd-SOLD
'98 SF - NA-T
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Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
thanks for both the links there going to help big time! Josh why did my engine come with a metal cover on the rear of the engine and yours is plastic? why are they different?
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Subaru switched to the plastic oil separator plate to save money more than likely, but the plastic ended up leaking over time, and they've since gone back to metal. Be happy you have the metal one 

Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- Second Gear
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- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 12:06 pm
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Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Lol okay I thought the plastic was better! Do you know what years they changed?
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
According to the parts book, they started using the plastic separator plates in the 93 MY. It's likely that the plastic plate coincided with the introduction of the Impreza in 93....a cheaper car.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- Second Gear
- Posts: 296
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 12:06 pm
- Location: Yucaipa, Ca
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Okay good to know the guy I bought the engine from said it was out of a 91, is there a way to tell the year by the engine code?
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
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Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Okay well i'm a little bummed because I connected my fwd trans to the turbo engine and bolted it all up with a starter to do a compression test and it didn't turn out so well!!!
This is what I got
1)120
2)120
3)135
4)120
not so great! but I am not sure if the engine was turning over fast enough or if that even makes a difference because I just had jumper cables hooked up to a battery. The battery is fully charged but it could be because of the cables.
Whats the compression range suppose to be? I read some where that the lowest is like 140 Yes/No?
This sucks I don't have the money for a rebuild!
This is what I got
1)120
2)120
3)135
4)120
not so great! but I am not sure if the engine was turning over fast enough or if that even makes a difference because I just had jumper cables hooked up to a battery. The battery is fully charged but it could be because of the cables.
Whats the compression range suppose to be? I read some where that the lowest is like 140 Yes/No?
This sucks I don't have the money for a rebuild!
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
There should be some numbers on the block somewhere. That may be able to be used. Is there cross-hatching on the block at all?
Regarding the compression test
Should be between 142 - 171 psi
Limit is 114 psi, and 28 psi variance between cylinders.
The test needs to be done with the throttle body open with an engine rpm between 200 - 300 rpm. A good starter and battery should get you that. If it's still low, try squirting a little oil in the spark plug holes and see if compression goes up. If the engine has been sitting a while, that may be a partial cause. Also, I usually keep cranking until I see the gauge stop increasing, which takes a few seconds.
How many miles are on the motor?
Regarding the compression test
Should be between 142 - 171 psi
Limit is 114 psi, and 28 psi variance between cylinders.
The test needs to be done with the throttle body open with an engine rpm between 200 - 300 rpm. A good starter and battery should get you that. If it's still low, try squirting a little oil in the spark plug holes and see if compression goes up. If the engine has been sitting a while, that may be a partial cause. Also, I usually keep cranking until I see the gauge stop increasing, which takes a few seconds.
How many miles are on the motor?
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- Second Gear
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Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
O I didn't know the throttle body had to be open! and wont the oil make it read to high? the guy said it had 144,000 on it when the speedo broke, so i'm not quit sure! and idk if its spinning at 200-300 rpm but I tried hooking the jumpers to the battery on my car and it made no difference, so i'm guessing thats as fast as it cranks.
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
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Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Okay so I redid the compression test with a little bit of oil in each cylinder, the throttle body wide open, and I got as follows:
1)135-140
2)130
3)150
4)130
So does it need a rebuild? or can I run it with these numbers!? and how long is it going to last? I don't want to put this thing in and then have to pull it out in another year! ugh.
1)135-140
2)130
3)150
4)130
So does it need a rebuild? or can I run it with these numbers!? and how long is it going to last? I don't want to put this thing in and then have to pull it out in another year! ugh.
1992 Legacy L (AWD )(5MT)[2.5RS Trans] EJ22T Swap in Progress
Re: Finally Found A Turbo Engine Now...
Those numbers are a little low. You could run the engine like that. Depending on how you drove the car would depend on how long it would last. It will probably burn a little oil in its current condition.
There's no telling how long it would last. You'll have to make the judgement call whether you want to put it in as is or find another engine or rebuild that one.
There's no telling how long it would last. You'll have to make the judgement call whether you want to put it in as is or find another engine or rebuild that one.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm