ZeroNZ

Hey guys, I have a 1999 Legacy Rev B that has the auto EJ206 in it which I will be removing and manually converting (car is being painted by a friend to showcase to employers). I also plan to have something done with the engine at the same, but I'm not too sure on the route to take. I would like the end result to be single turbo with pretty much standard performance as it will be my daily driver, but I can't decide on either rebuilding the current engine or swapping in an engine from a Forester. If I were to get a Forester engine I would give it a refresh but not to headgaskets. I am leaning more towards keeping the current engine but it's done 230k and I'm not sure about the open deck design. Will it be easier to single turbo convert with a Forester engine or will it be easier to keep the current engine? Cheers guys!

Hey guys, I'm doing a manual conversion on my 1999 Legacy B4, and got a box with the ID tag TY752VBCAA, which is from a GTB and has the ratio of 4.444. How do I find out the rear diff ratio of the Legacy (without taking off the backing plate and counting) and if it's not 4.444 would I need to replace it with a diff with a 4.444 ratio?

Hey thank guys, for some reason I wasn't notified of any replies but thought I would manually check anyway. Thanks for all the info, I have another question too now Is the EJ206 block any good for forging? I have seen a kit on Spool Imports which seems cheap enough and allows me room to expand in the future if I want to run more power and want to use my factory block. Here's the kit: http://www.spoolimports.com/spool-engine-rebuild-kits/subaru/ej20-25-rebuild-kit/subaru-ej20-25-rebuild-kit Cheers guys.

Hey guys, I've got two questions that I can't seem to find the answers for with quite a bit of searching, and would appreciate if someone could help me out - I've got a 1999 Rev B Legacy B4, if I were to go single turbo, would I be able to get that ECU chipped/tuned or would I have to go with a V5/6 Forester ECU? The car is auto but will be manually converted so it has the 9:1 ratio. - What turbo would be ideal for a freshly rebuilt EJ206? I'm looking for near factory power if not a little more and want about WRX performance from the bigger Legacy. Cheer guys for any help

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I'm no stranger to modifications as I've built a Skyline from factory auto/non-turbo to a fully worked manual/turbo with a link and all the other stuff, so cert doesn't scare me too much haha, I also found that I enjoy the modification process and even if I end up spending more I don't really mind as I learn a lot and I'm a mechanic by trade so the more knowledge the better. Reason I ask is that I treat each new project as a newb and find out as much as I can. Say I were to get the whole rear assembly and engine/front subframe/transmission it should all bolt straight in? Would I run into issues with auto/manual conversions with wiring (if I were to get an auto)? I'd likely run aftermarket ECU control, so would the 1.5 wiring be basically the same, or would I need to do a body harness swap? I'm not familiar with the EJ series engines in terms of what is SOHC and what is DOHC and their interchangeability.

Hey guys, some pretty daft questions which I've been searching for answers for but haven't turned up anything definitive. I'm looking at getting my lady friend a new car, and I'm keen on her getting something I can modify when she upgrades in a year or two, and I enjoy the conversion/modification instead of selling and buying. I was looking at a 2000 1.5 Impreza sedan, but I have a few questions... Are the 1.5s AWD the same as the 2.0s? If I were to swap in the drivetrain from an STI, would I need to be concerned with anything other than the normal conversion stuff or is it a bolt in affair, aside from wiring? Also are the rear brakes drum brakes or calipers? Many more questions but that would do for a start haha Cheers guys

The knocking lasts until the engine starts to warm up so I thought it might be piston slap due to the pistons possibly expanding when warm, but big ends sound a bit ominous haha. I had a quick look at that site and it seems really good for parts, much cheaper than what I was quoted at trade! I'll have to find an oil cooler on a parts car, also any good links to a manual conversion guide? Cheers for the help too!

The engine has done 206k, it's due a cambelt anyway so I thought now was as good of a time as any. It's also got some bad piston slap when cold but I've been told this is a common Subaru thing. With the timing belt guide, I'm assuming this would be available through Subaru too? I'm planning on getting the parts through Armstrong Subaru and I worked at Armstrong Nissan so I get trade on all parts so I would prefer to get them through there if possible, although an aftermarket oil cooler should be sufficient?

Hey guys, Can anyone recommend an engine reconditioner in the Wellington region for my 1999 Legacy EJ206 engine? Wanting to leave it stock (if possible, it is my daily), so would be using factory gaskets which I can get at trade pricing. Needing a rebuild as the left hand head gasket has blown and it is using a lot of oil and water and keeps fouling the plugs. I've also considered a replacement engine but if the pricing is similar enough (or not that much more) then I would prefer a recondition. I'm also considering a manual swap while I'm there so is there any considerations I need to take into account regarding the engine rebuild? I have heard that there is a difference between the cam sensors. Also wanting to keep the car as I quite like it and the body is in really good condition, so I'd rather do the engine than buy another car. Cheers, Steven.

Hey yeah I figured there wouldn't be too much of a difference apart from the way boost is delivered, and it will be good to be able to check everything as I am am training to be an auto electrician (year 2) so I can get some practice if something goes wrong lol. I went to STM when Andre had just left and was sorting out HPA, and when I picked up the car there was a misfire which I couldn't pin point to any specific condition. I took it back to work and put it on a hoist (I worked at Nissan at the time) and inspected the spark plugs and found that one had been dropped or something as a huge chunk of the ceramic insulator was missing and it was tracking up the coil pack and to the head, and whoever had done it had just wrapped the plug in electrical tape and put it in. Replaced the plug and it was OK, but not as good as I had hoped though having an aftermarket ECU wired in and paying almost 4k for it. Just leaves me hesitant to go back there, not trying to scare people off or anything as I have heard really good things about them too. All I'll be likely to do with the car is a freer flowing exhaust, a better fuel pump and a flash of the ECU. I've got an old (4 years) GFB electronic boost controller that I might put in too as it's still sitting in the Skyline and only displaying the boost pressure as the Link controls the boost levels now. Cheers guys

Sorry about the muddling there, didn't mean to confuse anyone Are there any recommended methods of reflashing? I think my local tuner (STM) does something with them, but I'm not too keen on them as I had some issues when I put a Link in my Skyline. I've had a look on TradeMe for some decent ones and I'm also looking at Japan for importing one. Anything in particular to look for other than the basics with cars like service history? Cheers guys

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies, it's good to know that I can up the boost a bit. Recommended ways of doing it? Sorry for all the questions, I'm used to working on my Skyline and Subarus are a little foreign to me in terms of engine strength for modifications. So to get a fair bit of power, in short; down pipe, freer flowing exhaust, and up the boost a little? Would it be best for a reflash of the ECU?

Nah my current legacy is the BE5 Rev B which I don't want to do anything to as it has done just over 200k and is Auto, I would want to run more boost in the newer one if I got one.

Oh really? My bad lol I was told they were twin turbo haha gotta go have a look at one first! But the question still stands, would I be able to run some higher boost in it without worry?

Hey guys, my partner and I are going to be looking for a newer car soon and have considered a 4th Gen Legacy (twin turbo). We currently have a 1999 BE5 and like the size of it, but want a bit more power. If I rebuild the engine and run better headgaskets (with same compression), can I up the boost on the engine and expect some semblance of reliability? Or would it be simpler to run a WRX engine with the single turbo? Anything considered at the moment as I have a Skyline for weekend work so not searching for massive power. Cheers guys.