The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Does anybody know if there are differences between early Outback (96) and Gen3 Outback EJ25 motors, are they interchangeable?

Yeah heaps of differences and not really easily interchangeable.

95-98 Gen2 Outbacks have a DOHC EJ25 that uses a similar fuel injection setup to the earlier EJ22.
98-03 Gen3 Outbacks have a SOHC EJ25 that has no air flow meter and uses MAP sensor instead.
Intake manifolds are NOT interchangeable, the exhaust on the Gen2 is unique to the DOHC NA EJ25.
I guess you could rewire the engine loom to make it work.

What are you trying to do?

A friend has asked about this, he said his 96 outback has SOHC, I have not seen the car yet.
Are they all DOHC?.
He is thinking about buying it cheap with a dead motor, then asking me to change it for him.
He is looking at possible motors he can get.
Just trying to help, what are friends for?