Questions About 2.2L swapping

[SVXR8ed]

It was recommended that I check out this board for answers to my questions regarding a potential purchase.

I am looking into a 99 SUS with a bad motor. I was wondering if it was possible to swap in a 2.2 (NA) or if there were any less expensive alternatives than 99 2.5Liter motor replacement.

Thanks in advance guys!

(I did a search and I didnt seem to churn up anything on it. Sorry if its been covered already!)

[speedoboy31]

swapping a 2.2 is possible,but uncommon. 2 choices are to 1:use the 2.2 harness and ecu or 2:swap cylinder heads and just use the 2.2 block-----of course you'd be loosing a lot of compression(good if you wanna turbo it,but bad for n/a). depending on your states emission laws, choice 1 may not be an option(obdii). for what its worth, 2.5's aren't that expensive used. i got one with 101k on the clock for 150.00 as is. check around your local salvage yards,you might be surprised. the 2.5 i got was for my 2.5/2.2 headed beast---currently in the works---slowly

[SVXR8ed]

swapping a 2.2 is possible,but uncommon. 2 choices are to 1:use the 2.2 harness and ecu or 2:swap cylinder heads and just use the 2.2 block-----of course you'd be loosing a lot of compression(good if you wanna turbo it,but bad for n/a). depending on your states emission laws, choice 1 may not be an option(obdii). for what its worth, 2.5's aren't that expensive used. i got one with 101k on the clock for 150.00 as is. check around your local salvage yards,you might be surprised. the 2.5 i got was for my 2.5/2.2 headed beast---currently in the works---slowly

I heard that the 2.5 in a 99 legacy is different than the 96-98 and the 00-04 versions and that (reason unknown) they are not compatible. Im curious on what I'd need to swap and what not. The car is not getting turbo-ed, just an NA everyday commuter car.

[SVXR8ed]

anyone?

[555BCTurbo]

The 99 might be SOHC...and if so, a 99-04 motor should work fine.

[dropdfocus]

Yes, I can tell you first hand that the 2.5 motor out of a "late year" production car is the initial offering into the Phase II motors. My buddy has one factory installed into his August built '99 LGT (which caught me off guard when I worked on it). Anything built from May of '99 and back will be the Phase I 2.5 DOHC motor. Either way they're listed as 165 HP from '97-'04.
Also, anything build from '96 on is an OBD-II setup.

Switching motors you'll go from 165 HP with the 2.5 to 130-ish HP with the 2.2.

You'd be better off swapping to a 2.0 WRX block (if you can't get ahold of a good EJ22T) and building up a turbo motor at your availability.

[Hondasucks]

win/lose tight/loose

Just FYI, if you have an early 2.5, and the head gaskets have been replaced with the newer, superceded OEM head gaskets, they aren't prone to blowing like the old ones were. The 2.5L HG problem was more related to a crappy head gasket formulation than anything else. Our master tech at the dealership I work at told me that of all the ones he's done, he hasn't had one come back with a blown HG.

[SVXR8ed]

Yes, I can tell you first hand that the 2.5 motor out of a "late year" production car is the initial offering into the Phase II motors. My buddy has one factory installed into his August built '99 LGT (which caught me off guard when I worked on it). Anything built from May of '99 and back will be the Phase I 2.5 DOHC motor. Either way they're listed as 165 HP from '97-'04.
Also, anything build from '96 on is an OBD-II setup.

Switching motors you'll go from 165 HP with the 2.5 to 130-ish HP with the 2.2.

You'd be better off swapping to a 2.0 WRX block (if you can't get ahold of a good EJ22T) and building up a turbo motor at your availability.

Thanks, but not looking to go turbo. I dont really care about HP. Im not driving it daily. Its replacing my better half's Sentra.