the comprehensive EJ205 swap thread

[86BRATMAN]

No, unfortunately James, there isn't one. I've been looking for a bolt on solution for a while. The cam snout is shaped different on the phase 2 dohc. The two best options I've come up with would be to either; a, use a phase 2 ej222 cam gear but have the dowel pin relocated to the correct possition(it's a couple degrees off) or b, find a jdm phase 1 metal cam gear and machine/grind off the triggers and have the correct ones welded on.

[James614]

Oh pooh. A welded-on/relocated cam trigger sounds like a recipe for gremlins. And I just unloaded my old 22T days ago too. Meh. The 550 Robtune should keep me entertained for quite some time.

[86BRATMAN]

Yeah, if I were going to go through the trouble of the ecu swap I'd probably go with the redrilled dowel pin. The sohc gear fits on the phase 1 dohc cams and has the same number of teeth. It's just indexed about 4 teeth or so off.

[ASTRO]

I adjusted the injector scale to for the 370cc injectors. Its.not perfect yet but it works, still have to do some tweaks.

I do not know the offset or multiplier values for the MAP sensor, so the WRX ecu currently thinks my atmo pressure is 18.7 instead of 14.7. I am getting a WRX map sensor from a friend, then it will be all set.

I have side feed rails that fit Sti injectors, so I am switching over to them soon.

[cj91legss]

That's really cool that you got it to work. Are you the first one to do it or did you come across this in a thread?

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[ASTRO]

I didn't look at any threads on it, I had a spare WRX ecu with pigtails and wanted the ability to tune my 22t, so I broke out the manuals and found all the I/O info I needed and went to work

[86BRATMAN]

I've read the threads, you're the first I've seen running a phase 1 engine off of a wrx ecu. Many people said it couldn't be done. There is a diy thread on rs25.com, you should post your results there.

[ASTRO]

I wired up a GM 3 bar map sensor and should be calibrating it tomorrow.

I'm also compiling info for the conversion to make a sort of guide.

[cj91legss]

A guide would be great for the people here that can run the 02-05 ecu.

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[cj91legss]

Should have been more specific.

Your information can provide great hope for the first gen guys that don't want to tackle a whole swap. Some wiring and a cam gear swap to get full tuneability is far superior to a 20g ecu swap.

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[James614]

Just because us DOHC guys don't have a bolt-on cam gear solution, I'm gonna deny all claims that the 02-05 ECU is better than a Robtune. Even if it let's you overcome the MAF limitation and has fuel maps for virtually every aftermarket injector readily available....

[ASTRO]

It's not quite a bolt-on setup for the SOHC guys either.

I got it running, but it was a pain in the ass, and I am still dealing with the growing pains of a not-so-popular conversion.

While the Phase 2 EJ22 Driver's Side cam gear works, the Phase 2 N/A engines use thinner timing belts than the Phase 1 engines. I am still deciding on a permanent solution for this (probably going to have the cam gear milled on each tooth to accomodate the thicker Phase 1 timing belt). Currently (as a test), I am running a modified timing belt (we removed a few MMs off the belt using a bandsaw to the same thickness as a Phase 2 timing belt).

I am compiling all of this information, and once I have all (or most) of the bugs worked out, I'll make a posting/guide about it.

[James614]

That's odd that the belt is different between N/A phase 1&2, but the same between all the DOHC motors.

[ASTRO]

As if that isn't odd enough, the Phase 1 belts are also shorter than the Phase 2 SOHC belts.

I had some P2 sohc belts on hand, and there is no way they will fit on the P1 engines without significant changes. Thats where using the modified belt came into play as a tester.

[James614]

Crazy thought. Would it not be easier just to run EJ251 or EJ222 heads? On SOHC removing the heads isn't even that much work.

[ASTRO]

I don't have any sohc phase two heads on hand at the moment, I also do not know if all of the coolant passages line up, etc. i know (judging from gasket bolt spacing) that my intake manifold would not swap over, so I would need more parts still.


Running into some hurdles along the way, but trying to make it all work well with the phase one heads, manifold, etc.

[86BRATMAN]

The ej251 heads would be a good choice, coolant passages are the same. But the combustion chamber is 50cc, so you'd be dropping more compression than with a 25d head swap.

[ASTRO]

I have a spare 22t block here maybe I will try to get some 251 heads for that

[86BRATMAN]

You can use a wrx intake manifold on the 251 heads as well, would make it a little easier if you're piecing something together. You'd just need another set of ej222 cam and crank gears.

[James614]

Any updates on this project?

When my tour is up here, I will definitely try and tackle the EJ205 swap on my Touring Wagon (or EJ207, if the prices come down by then).