legacycentral bbs

well, i may just go with the thinner head gasket and keep the 8:1 CR. the 2.0L @ 16.5 psi makes around 280 hp with my current setup, with the same CR the 2.2L @ 16.5 psi would make close to 320 hp, and the stroked 2.33L @16.5 psi would make close to 340 hp. but it looks like i may just pull the 2.2, do the internal work on it as i can, while saving for the upgraded turbo, fmic, fuel, etc. the car already has a full suspension setup, and the stock WRX front brakes, so i won't be spending any money there in the near future. so now all the money can go toward building power.

This really isn't new territory. There are a number of guys running Ej22's with Ej20 heads. But none of them run the stock turbo. I think you are forgetting the impact that the extra displacment will have on the WRX's TD04. It is a pretty teeny little turbo, no larger than the Vf-10's on the Leggies. At 16.5psi, you will be out of the efficiency range of the turbo. Really, the most you want to push it at that displacement, is 15psi. This project is only worth doing if you get a 16G or larger.

And even then, until you are around a 20G, you won't need to change any of the internals. Guys run 18g's and VF22's all day long with the stock internals. Read the sticky at the top of this forum for very detailed information about Xephyr's old build. About 20+ buys copied him using either EJ25 or EJ20 heads.

I don't think most people have a clue what 400 Wheel HP is like. Xephyr only recently hit that number with an Ej257 block. You will need more displacement, and about $5000 in turbo stuff. And then you will need $5000 in tranny as well. 325-350whp is far more humane and reasonable. And once you have it, your mind will be blown.

Lastly there aren't really any issues with coolant passages or CR. People talk about it based on single article written by Larry Witherspoon where he compared the SOHC Ej25 heads and the EJ22. But he never tried it. I personally know 8 guys in Colorado who have done these hybrids, and know of another 10 around the North America who are doing the same. I have driven and ridden in these cars, and off boost driveability is fine, and I don't know a single guy who has overheated or blown a heat gasket except under extremely insane conditions (like an hour long 130+mph chase with the police! ).

In short, put the Ej22 block in with EJ20 heads, find a bigger turbo and have fun for a while. A 16g will put you upwards of 300-325Crank HP, and see how long your gearbox lasts with that before you spend another cent on more power...

so, since i don't have the money for a larger turbo, upgraded fuel, and a bigger intercooler at the moment, just keep the ej22 block for later, when i do have the money, right?

Here's some pics one of the nasioc guys took when doing his hybrid. It shows EJ25 headgaskets on an EJ22T block. The WRX headgaskest should be close as well.....

andrewp724 wrote:so, since i don't have the money for a larger turbo, upgraded fuel, and a bigger intercooler at the moment, just keep the ej22 block for later, when i do have the money, right?

How can you afford forged pistons but not a bigger turbo? There's a Vf-24 in the classifieds right now for $350. STi injectors frequently go for $125-150 on NASIOC. The larger intercooler isn't really required. $500 is less than you will spend on pistons...

i honestly didn't even consider a used turbo. i didn't think the VF22 had a desirable spool, and i was thinking larger than a VF34. i was thinking more in the SBR-GT11, FPGreen range. i suppose some used IHI series could work in the meantime, thanks for the heads up,

but wouldn't even a VF34 outflow the stock top-mount? maybe i've been misinformed, but that's what i've been told before. and the stock fuel pump(which is a cheap easy fix) won't support the STI pinks either, correct?

found a VF39 and STI pinks for $700, maybe get them for less. how would the 39 compare with the 24? would it be worth another $150-$200?

andrewp724 wrote:but wouldn't even a VF34 outflow the stock top-mount? maybe i've been misinformed, but that's what i've been told before. and the stock fuel pump(which is a cheap easy fix) won't support the STI pinks either, correct?

This is a highly debated idea. It all depends on how you do it. If you are going for max boost, then yes, you need a bigger IC and fuel pump. But if you run it on the stock WRX ECU and a mild bump in boost to say 14psi, you will be fine. But even the Cobb stage 2.5, which runs 16.5psi on the VF-34, they don't spec a bigger intercooler. They strongly suggest the fuel pump, bit for $80 for a Walbro, it is a good security blanket.

A VF-39 is the stock turbo off a USDM STi. This would be a better turbo than a VF-34 for your larger displacement hybrid. Again, just don't overboost it...

i can get a STI fuel pump for $20, that should handle the load, right?

well, the current decision is: I'm buying a STI VF39, pinks, and fuel pump, and swapping the blocks.

so, in the next couple of weeks i will have a 91 turbo legacy 5spd for sale that needs a tranny rebuild, and a block. more than likely i will part the car out, unless someone local wants to just buy the whole car.