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EJ205 Swap
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:32 pm
by tkammen
It seems like all the old school Legacy fans stick with the EJ22T or an EJ20G but what about the 205. I love the 205 in my WRX and you can get them pretty cheap. Are there any draw backs to swapping that into an older Legacy? You can get some pretty good power from a 205 with not a lot of mods. I'm not sure how the wiring would go, would it be as easy as a 2.0L swap into a 2.5RS or a little more involved? Any info would be great. Thanks!
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 7:42 pm
by ride_child
talk with cj, he just swapped 205 heads/wiring/dash on a 22t block. seems legit!
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 8:03 pm
by bcmaxx

swapping in 205 shortblock, keeping ej22t heads for now
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 9:13 pm
by Alphius
It's just as hard as doing any other Subaru wiring merge, plus a couple little things that are specific to the firstgen Legacy like the speedometer output, lack of OBD2 tank sensors, etc. I think most people with a firstgen are either too cheap to swap a 205 or are happy with the RobTune and don't want to spend the money for not much benefit.
I have a '99 Legacy GT with EJ22 block/EJ205 heads and intake with a 6-speed and a merged WRX wiring harness in my car. I did all the wiring and it wasn't that bad, but definitely more involved than what most people with a Legacy or TW are interested in doing.
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:04 pm
by cj91legss
I have the 225 hybrid. I bought everything online piece by piece. It took time and patience. I did make the dash fit with some modification to the transmission tunnel and the firewall. Also modification to the dash as well. I installed the whole harness in my 92 and merged the lights, doors, roof, and some misc stuff. Essentially it's a wrx with a 2.2t in it.
I kept the original turbo legacy gas tank and let the tuner fix the codes.
I have done all the physical work except for the tune. I have asked A LOT of questions and read A LOT of builds on nasioc and rs25. I warn you, don't go asking questions on nasioc. You will just get a bunch of dickhead responses...
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:47 pm
by monkeyposeur
bcmaxx wrote:
swapping in 205 shortblock, keeping ej22t heads for now
Interesting! What are you doing for EM? I am building a 22T/205 hybrid and I noticed the combustion chamber diameter of the 22T heads are the same as the 205 heads so I was curious if you could just swap in a 205 block and run it with the stock ecu.
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:53 pm
by cj91legss
You can run the block with the 22t heads on the stock ss ecu. It's a peppy little motor
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:51 am
by Alphius
I'd worry about detonation. That'll lead to a pretty high CR for sure.
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 3:48 am
by 86BRATMAN
8.5:1 with 1.5mm gaskets, 9.3:1 with 0.8mm gaskets if memory serves me.
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 3:35 pm
by cj91legss
Please don't beat me down for saying this, but I used stock 22t gaskets when I put that motor together. Car got sold, haven't heard anything from the guy so I assume it's not blown up yet.
Re: EJ205 Swap
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 7:00 pm
by bcmaxx
cj91legss wrote:Please don't beat me down for saying this, but I used stock 22t gaskets when I put that motor together. Car got sold, haven't heard anything from the guy so I assume it's not blown up yet.
I modified oem 2.0 wrx head gaskets, I should have gone thicker. oh well..next time. combustion chambers lined up perfect to the cylinders and fire rings