What are my options?

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:53 pm

I just bought a 91 turbo sedan and I need to find a powerplant for it. The crank had a lot of crank walk. You can grab the crank gear or the flywheel and the crank will easily slide in and out 1/8". This didn't seem right so I called up the dealership and the tech told me that this should be nowhere near that much play. He said it's measured in the thousands of an inch and sure enough when I looked up the specs in the haynes manual it says .0012"-.0045" is normal with a maximum service limit of .010". This engine is more like .125". Around 25 times more than normal.

So I paid $500 less(was quoted $450 to replace bearings)and the seller kept the block.

I have the EJ20 DOHC heads and all the rest of the parts for the engine except the block, internals, flywheel, crank pulley and the oil and water pump.

1. Where should I go from here?
2. Should I use the EJ20 heads and try to locate a used or rebuilt EJ22T shortblock?
3. Should I not bother with the heads and just look for a EJ22T complete engine?
4. Should I swap in a different motor?
5. Other

Does anyone know where I can buy a motor? Or a shortblock?

Feel free to make a suggestion on which route I should take.

Thanks

Kimo

dropdfocus · Post by **dropdfocus** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:39 pm

You can also use the EJ22E N/A motor as well. There have been several people on the forum using the motors with upgraded power and doing just fine.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:00 pm

Wouldn't I need low compression pistons though? Which would require cracking the block open right? Something I don't really want to do.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:11 pm

No. The pistons can be removed with just the heads off. There are access plugs for the wrist pins in the block.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:29 pm

I see. Is it hard to replace pistons? For someone who's never done it before? I've pulled an engine before, replaced a tranny, done head gasket, lots of things with engines and cars just haven't done any internal engine work before. Willing to learn though.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:22 pm

Contact Douglas Vincent - he made a DVD about doing it.

dropdfocus · Post by **dropdfocus** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:37 pm

Here is a link to his profile on the forum:
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/profile.ph ... file&u=390

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:55 pm

Alright thanks!

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:59 pm

Will the JDM 2.0 motor work in a 91 USDM turbo sedan or do I need the ECU?

I just found a motor for $350 near where I live.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pts/831522471.html

Aerotech · Post by **Aerotech** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:31 am

Factory crate EJ257 STI shortblock is about $1700...

I like it

Matt Monson · Post by **Matt Monson** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:49 pm

Hello,
I just replied to your PM but it seems I should have checked the thread first. I'm going to agree with dropdfocus if you've already got yourself a set of Ej20G heads with manifold. Get an Ej22e.

You will not need to replace the pistons in it with "turbo" pistons. Turbo pistons in an Ej22T aren't forged and are nothing special. They are made just the same way that the Ej22e pistons are made.

Furthermore, for the heads you want to use they are a better choice. Ej20G heads have way more combustion chamber volume than Ej22t heads. When you bolt them to an Ej22T you end up with a compression ratio way down around 7:1 or maybe even less depending on which exact heads you have.

When you bolt them to an Ej22e you end up right around 8.4:1 (again guesstimating without exact heads being known). That's PERFECT for turbo boost. You don't need to do anything else. Bolt the heads on install it in your car and go.

Use your Ej22t intake manifold harness and ECU and you'll be fine. Read the thread I linked you about my car. Actually, I will link it again for others who might read this thread a year from now:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=1278122

BXSS · Post by **BXSS** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:55 pm

kimokalihi wrote:Will the JDM 2.0 motor work in a 91 USDM turbo sedan or do I need the ECU?

I just found a motor for $350 near where I live.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pts/831522471.html

Yes it will as long as it is an older motor EJ20G, EJ20H, EJ20K, OR EJ20R long blocks will work & run off the factory ECU.

I have a EJ20G in my SS running off the ej22t ecu & all of the ej22t sensors.

It runs good, much better than I thought it would so it will keep the ej22t ecu in control until I get a standalone ECU.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:00 pm

Hmm, well I'll talk to the guy about his EJ20. Should I buy it just because it's so cheap and find an EJ22E block in the meantime?

That's what I didn't like about the idea of buying an EJ22 block. I thought you would have to find low compression pistons for it and that turned me off that idea but sounds good now. Probably cheaper too.

BXSS · Post by **BXSS** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:01 pm

Just so you know a ej22e with EJ20G heads will have lower compression than a stock ej22e because the EJ20G combustion chambers are bigger than the ej22e's combustion chambers.

&

A STOCK ej22e should survive under moderate boost levels using ej22t ECU/sensors/injectors, intercooling, & possibly 1 step colder spark plugs if they are needed.

You will probably be happy with the ej20's performance.
I can tell you from my own experience with the 2 motors that the EJ20G/TD04 has a little less low RPM torque than a stock ej22t, but once you hit about 2800-3000rpms the EJ20 has much more mid-top end power than the ej22t - both engines on the same car with the same mods & ECU...

I run a TD05-16G @ about 18psi on my EJ20G/SS now & it is pretty fun, more lag than the td04 but much more top end too.

I have abandoned the idea of a 2.2l DOHC hybird as I have a V2 STi RA swap that will go in the SS when/if the EJ20G in the car now blows.
The V2 STi RA motor is closed deck, has forged pistons, & ported heads from the factory - some folks say this is arguably one of the best stock motors Subaru made so it should be pretty nice.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:21 pm

Cool! I'm excited. This is my first turbo car. My first fast car period. It comes with WRX suspension but I'm not sure which year. Going to put that in soon. Maybe start on that today.

Eventually I'll probably build a motor for this car so it's really fast. Probably paint it in the future too.

dropdfocus · Post by **dropdfocus** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:27 pm

Matt Monson wrote:Hello,
I just replied to your PM but it seems I should have checked the thread first. I'm going to agree with dropdfocus if you've already got yourself a set of Ej20G heads with manifold. Get an Ej22e.

See, I tend to have useful points of information every now & then.

I'm not totally useless.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:46 pm

Just called the junk yard. Blocks are $45 haha. So I may go look and see if there's any low milage blocks there. I'll probably have to tear all the stuff off it though unless I want to pay for an entire motor I won't need.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:54 am

Scratch that, I found an EJ20 twin turbo complete engine and I'm picking it up today! Yay! On the cheap too, $350. Guy bought it from Tiger Japanese importers. When I to his house to check out the engine yesterday I found out it was a kid I went to auto tech class with in high school. Crazy.

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What are my options?

What are my options?