legacycentral bbs

Okay I have a 98 Impreza OBS that I had been looking for an EJ22T block to throw in and turbo. The best options seemed to be getting the small block from a 22t and using a WRX head setup with ECU for best management options.

I found a 91 SS with some radiator damage and picked it up last weekend and now am in the dilemna of do I pull the small block to use in the OBS and replace it with the 2.2 NA block, use a 1.8 small block (heard it has slightly thicker wall strength), or look for a complete ej20 block and throw the small block on the SS and heads at the OBS.

I like the ease of packing stuff and carrying family that the OBS offers but having this SS with LSD seems wrong to not use...

In case it helps...the SS has at least as much, if not more interior room than your OBS. What condition is the SS in?

First glance has some damage to front where they previous owner had slid into a truck, the impact came down and onto the hood smashing the hood, radiator support, grill, and headlights. Cracking the radiator as well. There is a slight buckling on the passenger side fender by the door from the impact so I am looking at if I need to have it pulled out or if it is the front support causing the problem. Plus it has some minor rust spots in the back quarter panel areas.

Been thinking of pulling the engine for a rebuild and possibly swapping the 2.2t small block for my 2.2 na small block since I don't planning doing much more then the little turbo that is in there...

What I am really curious on is with the availability of ej205 blocks now if more people have been trying them with head swaps onto the ej22t small block, the ej20k seems to be the ideal head but hard to come by where as a 205 or 207 head is more common since so many people are going up to 257 sizing...

SLODRIVE wrote:In case it helps...the SS has at least as much, if not more interior room than your OBS. What condition is the SS in?

From what I understand, the EJ18's stronger cylinder walls are simply by virtue of its smaller bores.

However, EJ18s never came with knock sensors; there's no place on the block to mount one. So you'll have to get creative with mounting one or deal with a CEL and static pulled timing.

Honestly, if you're looking to go with a low-boost turbo (e.g. less than 10lbs), the NA EJ22 will likely suffice. You'll have to be more careful with tuning because of the higher CR, but the NA has the same forged rods and crank that the turbo has.