Engine swap for a 2000 Impreza 2.2L

[Charles Leblanc]

Hi,

I am looking for an engine swapp for my 2000 Impreza 2.2L 5spd

Right now, the engine 2.2L is rated at 142hp and 149lb*pi. I was hoping at
something in the 200hp with regular gas

Unfortunatly, most engine are JDM 300hp+ Sti engine at 6000$-10000$ When
compared to an engine Swap for a Nissan, Honda or Mazda, this is more than
two times more expensive

I was thinking about the base WRX engine (complete engine+tranny+ecu) and I
would only have to get a hood (or cut an intercooler opening in mine) and a
new drive axe.

The other solution would be to get a 2.5L 165hp engine and apply a few mods
on it to reach something like 180hp

Any advices welcome, I have located 3 stores that sell low milleage subaru
engine in the Montreal area,

Charlez

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi,

I am looking for an engine swapp for my 2000 Impreza 2.2L 5spd

Right now, the engine 2.2L is rated at 142hp and 149lb*pi. I was hoping at
something in the 200hp with regular gas

Unfortunatly, most engine are JDM 300hp+ Sti engine at 6000$-10000$ When
compared to an engine Swap for a Nissan, Honda or Mazda, this is more than
two times more expensive

I was thinking about the base WRX engine (complete engine+tranny+ecu) and I
would only have to get a hood (or cut an intercooler opening in mine) and a
new drive axe.

The other solution would be to get a 2.5L 165hp engine and apply a few mods
on it to reach something like 180hp

Any advices welcome, I have located 3 stores that sell low milleage subaru
engine in the Montreal area,

Charlez

Well, anything turbo will also require an ECU swap - so you may as well
place the flat 6 on your list. My wife's '03 develops 212 hp. Of course
the maual recommends premium - but running on low octane would likely
still get you your 180 or more. Might need a front spring upgrade but
there are plenty of those around. The engine is less than an inch longer
than your's I believe. check www.nasioc.com for some other ideas. Your
present engine would need serious internal upgrades likely approaching
the cost and complexity of a swap. bolt ons might get you another 15% or
a little more - not 200hp - unless your considering NOS or something
like that.

Carl

 

[MN]

Hi,

I am looking for an engine swapp for my 2000 Impreza 2.2L 5spd

Right now, the engine 2.2L is rated at 142hp and 149lb*pi. I was hoping
at
something in the 200hp with regular gas

Unfortunatly, most engine are JDM 300hp+ Sti engine at 6000$-10000$ When
compared to an engine Swap for a Nissan, Honda or Mazda, this is more than
two times more expensive

I was thinking about the base WRX engine (complete engine+tranny+ecu) and
I
would only have to get a hood (or cut an intercooler opening in mine) and
a
new drive axe.

The other solution would be to get a 2.5L 165hp engine and apply a few
mods
on it to reach something like 180hp

Any advices welcome, I have located 3 stores that sell low milleage
subaru
engine in the Montreal area,

Charlez

Hello Charles,

What happened to your old engine?
I remember your post, some time ago, where you described having
some problems. Were you able to resolve those?

MN

 

[Charles Leblanc]

Hello Charles,

What happened to your old engine?
I remember your post, some time ago, where you described having
some problems. Were you able to resolve those?

MN

The engine was repaired by the dealer. All it took was to change the fuel
injectors and other goodies. We get really bad fuel in my region because it
is soo cold in the winter and they give un a special mix. The result was
that my injectors were worn out after less than 80000 milles. BTW with
summer gaz driving on open roads, I will get 370 milles/tank and with the
winter gaz I will get 250milles/tank, same road, same speed, same
temperature. I verified this a few times driving out of my region to Ottawa
or Montreal and back.

I was looking around to purchase a new car with a bit more power, especially
since I am now getting passed by Toyota Echo! The engine is fine but I am
thinking that swapping the engine to get a newer engine and more power.
Also, I used to have a 1988 RX turbo and I really like the turbo driving
experience.

I am not a tuner, my car is silver gray and the only upgrades that I have
installed are a front tower strut brace (after the windshiels cracked) and
15" Forester styles steel wheels with Toyo 205/55 R15 instead of the ugly
plastic wheels covers.

Charlez

 

[Charles Leblanc]

Hi Carl,

I found a Subaru H12 engine at

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Subaru-12cyl-F1-engine_W0QQitemZ7998119030QQc
ategoryZ33615QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Subaru 12cyl F1 engine
600Hp/13000rpm install in Your car or Your showroom Item number: 7998119030

I will not bid for it ;-) but i had to tell everybody.

As far as the H6 engine, I like the idea but how difficult would it be to
fit?

Is the transmission compatible? I have a 5spd + awd
How about the engine mount?
How about the radiator?

At first, I was thinking about an electrical supercharger coupled with a
kick down switch
After I was thinking about a mechanical supercharger with a kick down switch

Ad far as the H6 is concerned, Since the 2.5L output is 66hp/litre with
regular gas, I could expect to have 198hp out of the 23liter H6 and it
would be Ok but I think that the H6 will be less fuel efficient than the
2.0L WRX engine

I will review the Nasioc forum this week to get more info

Charles

 

[mulder]

Well, anything turbo will also require an ECU swap - so you may as well
place the flat 6 on your list. My wife's '03 develops 212 hp. Of course
the maual recommends premium - but running on low octane would likely
still get you your 180 or more. Might need a front spring upgrade but
there are plenty of those around. The engine is less than an inch longer
than your's I believe. check www.nasioc.com for some other ideas. Your
present engine would need serious internal upgrades likely approaching
the cost and complexity of a swap. bolt ons might get you another 15% or
a little more - not 200hp - unless your considering NOS or something
like that.

Carl

More specifically, read the Conversions forum at NASIOC. Just about
any engine/drivetrain swap you can think of has been documented and
discussed there-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=87

 

[MN]

The engine was repaired by the dealer. All it took was to change the fuel
injectors and other goodies.

Good to hear that.

We get really bad fuel in my region because it
is soo cold in the winter and they give un a special mix. The result was
that my injectors were worn out after less than 80000 milles. BTW with
summer gaz driving on open roads, I will get 370 milles/tank and with the
winter gaz I will get 250milles/tank, same road, same speed, same
temperature. I verified this a few times driving out of my region to
Ottawa
or Montreal and back.

I add a very small amount of Marvel Mystery Oil (MMO) to
my fuel regularly- makes the engine run a bit smoother.
Around Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, you can occasionally
fill up with gas that seems to be diluted with water (?)

I was looking around to purchase a new car with a bit more power,
especially
since I am now getting passed by Toyota Echo! The engine is fine but I am
thinking that swapping the engine to get a newer engine and more power.
Also, I used to have a 1988 RX turbo and I really like the turbo driving
experience.

I know what you mean. I was thinking about doing something
with my 2.2l but gave up. I only put a tranny cooler on it and Iridium
NGK spark plugs. They are good. I've got 29,000k fairly happy miles
on the Impreza; its a coupe and a bit lighter than your wagon so perhaps
a bit more peppy (?). Acceleration is rather poor after I reach
30mph, so I resort to reving it harder and hope the synthetic oil
and MMO in the fuel do their job as it sees high rpms frequently.
I pray for the head gasket!

I am not a tuner, my car is silver gray and the only upgrades that I have
installed are a front tower strut brace (after the windshiels cracked) and
15" Forester styles steel wheels with Toyo 205/55 R15 instead of the ugly
plastic wheels covers.

These people have a more powerful 2.2L engine actually
its a 2.35L, you might consider. I know nothing about
them, nor their products. I think this engine (stage kit) is still
far away from the 200hp that would make you happy.

http://store1.vividracing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4828


Did you consider buying the Saab version of the WRX?

I think GM offered employee pricing in Canada combined
with GM Credit Card earnings- I've seen something like that
on a Quebec GM/Saab, and Saturn, site.

Had they offered a similar deal in the US I would have
bought a SAAB 9-2 (WRX), for sure, or maybe even an
original 9-3, as I have a ton of earnings on my GM cards
some ready to expire (7 year limit), and also acquired
in your words "a liking for the turbo experience" )))

In the States they won't let you combine GM card earnings
with Saab, Saturn, purchases. Maybe they will in the near
future, Detroit (GM/Ford in particular) is doing so bad and
the economy in the US is also slowly running out of mortgage
refinancing steam that I think more good deals will be offered
in the near future.


MN

 

[MN]

These people have a more powerful 2.2L engine actually
its a 2.35L, you might consider. I know nothing about
them, nor their products. I think this engine (stage kit) is still
far away from the 200hp that would make you happy.

http://store1.vividracing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4828

I take this back, the engine is not an ej22 modifiaction
but a different 2.2L turboed engine that was available
on some earlier Subaru cars that happens to fit easily
on todays WRX's.

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/1_5_9_106/products_id/4825

MN

 

[Charles Leblanc]

Thank you for the link. The swap is more expensive and more complicated
that I first expected.

The engine price is much higher than other japanese engine in my area and it
seems that it is beyond my mechanical skills

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Charles

 

[mulder]

While the engine itself may be expensive, the mechanical part of the
swap is usually not a big deal. The hardest part is the electrical
stuff, to do this properly requires a fair amount of skill and
knowledge, not to mention time. If this is your only car the time
factor is a significant consideration as you can expect it to be off
the road for quite a while.

 

[Charles Leblanc]

I was thinking about purchasing another car (cheap used car) to drive around
while I would do the swap but I do not get that much spare time with my job
and with the house maintenance and time is a big issue.


And you are right, the electrical is my main concern. I have the manual
for the wiring but I live in a remote area and I am afraid to get an
incomplete harness or missing connectors on the replacement engine and the
delivery time is fairly long to reach my area. Heck! my Subaru dealer don't
even stock spark plugs wires.

I really like the 2.0L turbo of the WRX, many peoples have reported a very
reasonnable fuel economy.

Of course, If I could get a westfalia, I could cascade the WRX engine in my
impreza and the 2.2L 142bhp in the westfalie

I am still thinking about it but more a dream than a project at this stage

Charles