legacycentral bbs

I picked up a EJ25 this weekend, I need the crank for my stroker build. It was sold to me as a Phase I EJ25 from a '98 Outback but the heads dont look like the PI EJ25 DOHC heads I have or others I've seen (see pics). They say 4 CAM 16VALVE on the covers and have more square spark plug holes. I sure hope I didn't just buy a PII crank I cant use, I thought all PII EJ25 were SOHC?

Heads on the new engine.




EJ25 heads I already have.



Anybody know?

Gary

Yes, all the late '99 & up EJ25's are SOHC. As for what you purchased, the Outbacks were known to have oddity pieces on them. You should be able to just swap out valve covers for the spark plug wire hole. I've personally never seen any that had the writing on the valve cover, but I've also never gone looking for it either.

just for reference, I took a peek in my dad's '98 Outback limited and my bro's '98 Legacy GT ... neither of them have the writing.

Possibly a '97 or '99 then. I know they used the EJ25 in the '97-'99 Outback, Legacy GT, and the Impreza RS. My buddy's '99 LGT was a late year model and had the Phase II EJ25 SOHC installed from the factory. So I'm not sure what the valve covers looked like on the early year '99 LGT cars.

I have *heard* that early USDM ej25s ('96?) had different heads than later years. Supposedly, these early heads are very close to a JDM spec and flow very well. I would guess this is because they didn't want to spend for a new casting until some money was recovered from the Outback project.

Worth investigating at least.

Seller wasn't sure on the year, so it could be '96. I found gasket sets on ebay for the EJ25 DOHC that have both types of spark plug gaskets.




It looks like its Phase I, so thats good. Now I'm wondering which is the better set of heads to use.

Gary

what EM are you going to run? if stock ECU probably go with the DOHC heads for compatibility with the crank angle sensor.
also isnt there a way to tell what block you have by looking at it from the outside? I vaguely remember there being two different sizes of rear main seal.

Only DOHC EJ25 I have ever seen with the writing was a '96. Some of us think that year is better because it still have the HLA's under the bucket. Others hate that design and think the shims are better. It's a personal choice thing. Regardless, that's a DOHC EJ25 and you;ll be fine. It could be an overseas motor,and that could explain the covers. Or maybe someone added them because they thought EJ20G covers looked cool. It doesn't really matter. All the DOHC Ej25 heads flow like EJ20G or EJ20K heads and outflow USDM Ej205 WRX heads. Just ask FujiK...

Yup, and I got lucky to have my car as a hybrid 2.2T/2.5 motor when I purchased it from my buddy. Iit will help greatly with the upgrading I'll be doing in the spring.

Yep, those are '96 Heads. I've got a set on my EJ22T. Lower CR than the 97+ heads.