16 replies to this topic

[Robdog77]

G'day guys..
Can someone tell me the easiest engine swap for my Subaru Liberty Gen3 BH9 Wagon?
It currently has a 2.5l EJ25 with 4Speed auto box
It is a 2002 facelift model..
Current engine has head gasket issues and seems to be very underpowered..
Looking for more power,but doesn't have to be Turbo ..
After the cheapest and easiest complete engine swap and possibly a rough cost if someone has done a transplant..
Appreciate your time guys

[duncanm]

In increasing levels of difficulty:

 

- H6 from an outback

- H6 from a JDM GT (? whatever their 3-exhaust port EZ30D was called )

- Auto TT from a JDM BH same rev (D)

- EJ20 turbo from WRX or similar

 

most will require a loom swap -- so the level of difficulty probably doesn't vary too much. Anything non-gen3 will be more involved, as those little things like brackets and hoses won't be quite right.  Mechanically, they're all bolt-in.

 

Best advice for any transplant is to get a wreck or front cut so you will have all the pieces to swap over.

 

$$ -- it depends.  You could pull off an H6 outback transplant for just the cost of the donor ($2k?), if you did all the work yourself.

 

Check out some of the transplant threads here.  TT, WRX swaps, and an H6 build are all in there.

[Robdog77]

duncanm..
Much appreciated mate

[Beckers]

In increasing levels of difficulty:

 

- H6 from an outback

- H6 from a JDM GT (? whatever their 3-exhaust port EZ30D was called )

- Auto TT from a JDM BH same rev (D)

- EJ20 turbo from WRX or similar

 

most will require a loom swap -- so the level of difficulty probably doesn't vary too much. Anything non-gen3 will be more involved, as those little things like brackets and hoses won't be quite right.  Mechanically, they're all bolt-in.

 

Best advice for any transplant is to get a wreck or front cut so you will have all the pieces to swap over.

 

$$ -- it depends.  You could pull off an H6 outback transplant for just the cost of the donor ($2k?), if you did all the work yourself.

 

Check out some of the transplant threads here.  TT, WRX swaps, and an H6 build are all in there.

 

All engine swaps will require a loom swap, so you are pulling the dash / heaterbox etc out of the car to remove and refit the new loom.

The 3 port H6 is called an EZ30R from a gen 4 Lib/Outback.

If you are NOT doing the swap yourself, its going to cost big dollars. so even fitting an h6 from a donor car will be at least 3K to 5K, plus the price of the donor.

I did a TT conversion to my Outback, that I'm very happy with. But it cost me around 5k for the conversion, service items (timing belt kit, water pump, thermostat and seals etc) plus oils and extra parts required.

I did all the labour myself, with some help from my subyclub brothers here in Victoria.

[duncanm]

good point.

 

Don't contemplate a swap unless you're handy or have a bulging wallet.

[El_Freddo]

Ditch the auto.  That's around about 70% power gain right there...

 

A well serviced EJ25 should be plenty enough in the power department, hence why I said ditch the auto.  My sister's RX GenIII wagon is a manual and has plenty of power on tap for our needs.  Needless to say, it goes very well, even for a car with 360k km on the clock (HG's done about 30k km ago - for that pesky oil leak).

 

Cheers

Bennie

[Jimbo]

Turbo Subaru's are getting so cheap now, a conversion seems hardly worth it. That is of course you cannot let go of the car you have and must keep it for some reason.

You could just get the HG done on the '02 as that will help selling it on later.

My advice would be to just save your cash, and sell the RX. About $7k can get you into a Gen 4 GT (MY04-MY06) in decent condition or a bug/peanut WRX.

 

[Robdog77]

Appreciate everyone's input..
A manual box is no longer an option for me as I was run over by a forklift and have bad sciatica in left leg that goes to another level when engaging a clutch pedal..otherwise I would never own an auto..
Is there any options out there to bolt a turbo onto my EJ25..or would the internals need strengthening also?
I have had my days of super quick and heavily modified cars,but a little more power,say around 30kw would be bloody lovely..
Any ideas,even if a little from left field,would be much appreciated
Cheers guys

[Sven Smergberd]

A tune? If you are just chasing 30kw, you might add 10 with a decent tune.

You can get a Raptor supercharger which will add x amount of kW, but costly off the shelf.

But I like Jim's suggestion, as the Gen IV GT > Gen 3 RX.

[Robdog77]

This might sound strange..
But I actually think the Gen3 Liberty has a bit of character,where I kind of think the Gen4 is a bit pedestrian..
Just my opinion,but I really like my car..first Subi in the 40 cars I have owned..
But the engine apart from being hit with the HG issue,just doesn't match the look of the car to me..
A tune sounds like an option..didn't realise these engines could be tuned,maybe a high flow cat if it's not going to throw up a CEL..
Cheers guys again for the input

[El_Freddo]

Another thing that's worth looking into is a "sports exhaust". It doesn't have to be louder, just larger in diametre with some nice flowing mufflers to allow the engine to get on with it's job without having to worry about pushing the exhaust through the exhaust pipe.

If driving pleasure is what you're after also look into a set of UELs. I did this to my sister's gen3 and it sounds mint but does make you want to drive it faster on the open road (at least until you get used to it).

If the raptor charger is too much (it will be!) look into a Toyota SC14. You'll have to work out mounting and plumbing etc but would end up a pot load cheaper than the raptor and could be setup to be turned on and off via an electric clutch.

Sorry to hear about your incident. I can't comprehend how that's changed your life in a way you never thought about prior to this occurring. Good that you can still drive!

Cheers

Bennie

[Barbbachello]

ECU cant be tuned and the raptor kits are for the EZ30R. Only option for power is a H6 or forced induction

[El_Freddo]

You could get raptor kits for EJ's. Would have to look at their site to see what's on offer these days though.

Cheers

Bennie

[Sven Smergberd]

No tuna for stock RX? Yikes.

But yeah you can get a Raptor SC for the EJ25, shit option though.

[Barbbachello]

I stand corrected. Pretty spendy option which doesnt include an ECU or tuning. Would easily run you into cheap WRX territory by the time you got it running well

[duncanm]

if you want to stay in gen3 - best swap is car, not engine.

 

Buy an H6 outback and de-lift it.

[Robdog77]

Freakin love different opinions and alternate options..
Appreciate it guys