As the engine blows, where do I go from here?

[Plazma]

After failing a chemical leak test, and really bad over heat, at this point I've given up on this EJ22 currently sitting in my Leggy.

Here's where I turn to you fine folks. I'm looking for options at this point. I've come up with a couple that I can think of so far:

1) Replace with a used engine from somewhere. What are my options here outside of the 90-91MY EJ22 NA motor? I'd like to keep the amount of rewiring to as little as possible. The only bit of rewiring at the ECU up to now would be my MT/AT identifier which I had to cut for the transmission swap. Looking on eBay i'm seeing motors for around $1,000 or so :\

2) I take the motor out, check to make sure the block is true, and figure out where the problem is. According to one shop they'd charge me $50 per cylinder head to machine them down, along with another 50 bucks for new head gaskets. Along with any other unforeseen costs in the process. I'd also have to go buy an engine stand as I don't own one.

3) My least palatable option would be to remove the engine and send it out for a complete rebuild. I've had one shop quote me $1,900 because it's a Subaru engine. I'm positive I can get a better price than that though.

Those are the only options I can really see at this point if I missed anything please don't hesitate to point it out.

[mike-tracy]

You can replace the long block with another from a 90-98 Subaru ej22 and reuse all your sensors, intake manifold, etc. I've done this before. Look for a car that got t-boned or rear ended cause that means it ran when hit lol.

[Plazma]

You can replace the long block with another from a 90-98 Subaru ej22 and reuse all your sensors, intake manifold, etc. I've done this before. Look for a car that got t-boned or rear ended cause that means it ran when hit lol.

I'd need to swap the ECU though correct? I'm pretty sure they're different for each model year yes?

[mike-tracy]

No, since you reuse 100% of your electronics, intake manifold, wiring, etc, you don't need to change anything. 99+ EJ22's aren't easily adapted.

Also, some ej22's have single port heads, so you'll need to grab that exhaust manifold along with the engine. Yours are dual port, so a 1:1 swap would be a 90-95 (excluding certain late production single port exhaust models).

[Falken-18c]

My freiend done same thing with an impreza sport wagon but used an 22t and just switched crank and knock sensesor swaped manifold harness but i think it leaned out really easy

[Legacy777]

Where do you live?

I'd recommend trying to find a good used engine. That's really going to be the easiest and probably cheapest route.

[RoughDiamond]

The easiest route is to swap in another good, known motor. However, finding a good, known (or guaranteed) EJ22 is not that cheap.

To blend the options 1 and 2, you'll end up sacraficing a bit of power, but what about a phase 1 EJ20 (non-turbo)? I see EJ20E on eBay most of the time, and since it's a phase 1 block (before MY99), you'll just swap your intake over. No extra wiring, no guessing if the head gaskets are good, plug and play for under 75K miles. And I see them for about 650. And some suppliers will ship for free to a truck depo for you to pick-up.

And swapping the motor is easy. 6 bolts for the trans, 2 for the motor mount, handful of heater and vac hoses, throw over the P/S and A/C (just unbolt them, leave the lines alone) and 3 plugs by the battery and out it comes.