EJ22e rebuild - advice?

[Numbchux]

so, I'm rebuilding a '90 EJ22e to receive a few psi of belt-driven boost (thanks to a Mercedes Eaton M62 like reddevil's setup) and be dropped in my wagon. not looking for a power build, as I don't think I'll be pushing this motor past 200awhp. more like 150-175 this time around.

So...first thing's first, the good stuff......pictures!

Picked up a motor and FWD 4EAT from a '90 legacy with about 180k miles on them for $100. appears that the motor was cared for fairly well while it was in the car, but has been stored very poorly. so some brackets bent/broken, and a few things dried/rusty (mostly tbelt pulleys). Started tearing it down the last few days:

got it unloaded, and started taking some things off to ease the trip down into the basement:




Subaru timing belt.....possibly original




got it in the house, and set up on the bench:


a table just for the engine:


pulled the flex plate, and found this......somebody must have dropped it through the access panel.


one of the mounts where the PS bracket bolts to the block is broken. nothing behind it though, so I'm thinking I'll tap threads in there, and run a slightly longer bolt.


still got the crosshatching:




Came with a power steering pump, pulled it apart, and it's in great shape. which is awesome, because mine is.....well.......not





Now. what do you guys think. I plan on having the heads checked over, and installing some Delta Cams. obviously head gaskets, timing belt set, water pump, seals, etc.

BUT, my question is, should I delve into the short block? I'm thinking I'll pop the pistons out and put new rings in it. but should I split the block and put new bearings in it? it turns over VERY freely, and only has 180k on it (the motor in my wagon has 280k on it now....as if I have to explain EJ22e reliability here )

Next question is, what's the best source for the parts for a rebuild like this. I've been pricing kits out, an "Overhaul Gasket Set" from 1stsubaru is $195, which is suspiciously low....probably doesn't include quite everything I need....

a Sealed Power set from Rock Auto is 288:


or, there's these:
ebay link

I got a kit almost identical to this from the same seller for my Toyota 22RE, and was EXTREMELY impressed with the quality.


which brings me to another question.....pistons? should I replace them.

at which point, maybe I should just bring the shortblock to a shop and have them assemble things and see if anything needs machinig/oversized parts.


also head bolts. I've heard that it's a bad idea to re-use them. thoughts? good source? I see B/A ones on RockAuto are almost $90 for a set. should I switch to studs?

[Legacy777]

If you put new rings in you need to have the cylinders hones, or the rings won't wear in properly.

It's one of those things....if you touch the short block, you really should do everything, new pistons, rings, & bearings.

[93forestpearl]

Considering what 3rik has been getting out of 22E for years I think you'll be fine with it handling that blower.



$193 for a seal kit sounds about right. The EJ22T seal kit was $200 and change from Tonka with our discount, and that has a little bit more to it.



I say leave the shortblock alone, have the heads checked, and buy my 22E for a spare

[douglas vincent]

I would replace the rings. Use NPR rings.

[Numbchux]

I would replace the rings. Use NPR rings.

I'm leaning more towards this. the engine is low mileage enough that I probably won't have to worry about bearings. and i really don't want to split the case.

got a good source for NPRs? I've searched around online, and not seen them for subarus at all....

[jp233]

I got the NPR rings on fleabay also, as well as a timing belt + water pump kit (GMB pump and bearings, PCI timing belt).

ebay link

also got the whole gasket kit on ebay (Eristic) although since i robbed the exhaust gaskets out of the kit to use on my 94, and one of them blew out a chunk in just a few days.... i am questioning the quality, but have read they are good elsewhere.

i re-used the pistons since they measured out fine and did not have any obvious damage (were just disgusting, about 190k on them). took forever to clean the ring grooves and all that. but they look great now.

had the heads rebuilt by a local shop, did not open them up at all myself (valves are for toilets).

you could probably get away with honing with the cases assembled, albeit you'd have to hone by hand only. since the crank/rod bearings were so cheap (like $40 for regular ACL Duraglide bearings from the same seller of all the above crap on ebay), I am putting bearings in it too. the old bearings look fine though, not bad at all considering 190k and i abused the car pretty hard (however it was and is N/A).

[Numbchux]

excellent information, thanks!

I was already planning on running a PCI/GMB timing belt/water pump kit from ebay. I've used those before with good luck.

I think I'll go OEM for the gasket set, since they're only $195 on 1stsubaruparts.com

I have decided to split the case and do bearings too. I don't think I'll take the shortblock to a machine shop though, I'll just hone it myself and re-assemble.



still not sure what to do about head bolts/studs though.

[jp233]

the head bolts are pretty cheap off ebay, also.
I am keeping mine as they look fine and none have coolant crud,
corrosion, or other bad features about them. Course, I might eat
those words but I'm already deeper in $$ in this car which has a
terrible body and rough interior on it.

anyways, i'm no guru as this is my first Subaru motor.
But, since I've worked on other car engines, but mostly bike engines
for a while they are similar (i.e. cases coming together onto a
crankshaft, everything is aluminum, etc etc).

course I still say valves are for toilets, 2-strokes RULE!! !!!