TheSamba.com :: View topic - taking the plunge, converting to Subaru Power

Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:40 am

i just acquired a super clean EJ22 engine with 14,000 original miles from a '97 impreza. I believe this is the phase 2 EJ22 with 142HP and better gas mileage. It came with a complete small car conversion kit, including the complete stainless steel exhaust. The kit is for an auto. I called Kennedy and they said the adapter plate will work fine for a manual, I just need to buy their flywheel and cover the notch in the plate for torque converter access.

anyone need a KEP flex plate??

The harness is very complete and unmodified. I also got the Small Car harness modification kit.

I will use this thread to document the conversion. But I won't be able to start until my current westy conversion project is done (it almost is)....

and my house is for sale...so I don't know if I'll get to it before it either sells or comes off the market. .... but when the time comes I'll document everything here.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:28 am

It's still a phase 1 but second gen. It has better torque but HP is about the same. The phase2 started in 99 and as 2.5L style head.

Good luck with the project.

Ben

Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:48 am

thanks ben.

my objectives are better reliability and gas mileage. I'm not as concerned with power, I am still content with the wbx's power.

I do have a low miles SVX here too, but I don't think its the best choice for me. I don't want to compromise the life of my syncro transaxle.... maybe another project down the road.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:34 am

Nice find. I think a '97 Gen2 has solid lifters and earlier 2.2s had hydraulic lifters.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:46 am

Is it OBD1 or 2?

Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:50 am

Which van is this going in the silver one?

Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:57 am

ajdenette wrote: Which van is this going in the silver one?

Its going into the other syncro being converted to camper. I guess I need to add another to my tagline :roll:

ajdenette: i'm very willing to part with the silver one if you're interested or know someone who is 8) .

Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:16 am

"Is it OBD1 or 2?"

The EJ22 went two OBD2 in 1995.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:32 am

Hi : Good luck with the conversion. Just curious...but who would have owned a car,especially a Subaru, for 13 years and only drives that many miles? Point me in that direction will ya! :lol:

Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:35 am

what did you pay for it? :)

Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:25 pm

welcome to the club youll never regret it, nice score 14k og miles that will run long time 8) congrats

Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:39 pm

My guess is that you will see better power, but not necessarily better gas mileage, and if the mileage does improve it is only going to improve by 1-2 mpg. Ben surely has more experience and knows more.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:16 pm

Wildthings wrote: My guess is that you will see better power, but not necessarily better gas mileage, and if the mileage does improve it is only going to improve by 1-2 mpg. Ben surely has more experience and knows more.

I was hoping to get 19-21 mpg with the ej22. I get 15-17 now in my syncro. Is that a reasonable expectation?

Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:31 pm

Ive gotten anywhere from 15-26 MPG. Its all in the right foot and wind speed :D Usually I get about 21-23 MPG if I keep it under 75 MPH (you DO have the option of going faster even with the little 2.2). Course mines only a westy (manual trans, 16" BFGs, 94 EJ22) and not a westy syncro so MMV. I can guarantee that you will no longer be content with the old WBX after you go Subaru :twisted: Nice score!

Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:44 pm

Just sent mine off today for a suby 2.2. Going to be a big
difference from a 1.9.
Can't wait to get it back.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:45 pm

I would be interested in the Auto adapter. How much? pm me.

Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:46 am

I started the wiring harness this week. I'm about 5 hours into it and probably half way done. Really easy work. I read lots of horror stories on here and the subaru vanagon list about this part of the job, but I'm finding it to be pretty painless... just time consuming. hopefully i don't eat those words at startup time... but I'm pretty confident in my harness work, assuming everything in smallcars wiring "kit" is correct.

I've also decided to sell the complete auto KEP kit and buy the KEP manual kit with the funds. I'll actually be saving money doing it that way, and I won't have to deal with sealing the notch on the bottom of the auto adapter.

Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:20 pm

Finished the harness last night. Not bad at all. It only took two Celtics games (one OT).

this is all the excess wiring.

Sat Apr 03, 2010 9:25 pm

is this going in the westy?

Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:43 pm

Looking good!
I just got my conversion up & running today, thanks for swapping carrier brackets with me!