EJ20 Or EJ22 conversion?

indy · Post by **indy** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:12 pm

Hey all not that i have the expertise or the money at this stage, but i was just wondering what would be the outright better engine conversion for an L series. A ej20 or an ej22? Or if anyone has had the privellege to use/convert both what are the pros and cons of each? fuel economy, torque, HP, reliability? etc.

Any info would be great!

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:44 pm

are you talking about an EJ20 turbo or non-turbo?
If it's a non turbo then its almost the same as an EJ22. Disadvantage of having slightly less power but advantage of probably being newer and lower kms than a 22.

indy · Post by **indy** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:57 pm

Yeh im talking non-turbo, i see on the "Ultimatesubaru" forum alot of them do ej22 conversions and not many do ej20's? it just got me wondering if one is really that much better then the other? or if theres not a big difference.
Now an EJ20 turbo, thatd rock

would you need to upgrade clutch, gearbox and brakes if one was to put a turboed ej20 in?

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:29 pm

have a read of the sticky thread at the top of the Conversions section - all information requried is there.

People have been using the EJ22s because they came out in the first Liberty's - these cars are all getting quite old now so many are being wrecked and parted out which makes the EJ22s quite easy to come by and cheap.
Won't be long before they get too hard to find and people will have to move on to the EJ20s found in Foresters etc.

You really need a new clutch etc for even en EJ22 or 20 non turbo but yeh with a EJ20turbo you need an even better new clutch. The standard L series gearboxes don't last long either, best to go for an EJ AWD box but this has its drawbacks if you still want to go offroading.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:01 pm

you will read something into the practicality of going 2.0 instead of 2.2 if not going for engineer cert for RTA, which is what you will need if you go 2.2. In NSW they allow upping capacity 15% if fitted originally. 2.2 is outside the 15%

daza · Post by **daza** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:45 pm

The Yanks(USMB) don't use the Ej20 n/a because they don't exist over there.
The 2.2 has slightly more torque and are cheaper because, as AndrewT said they will be higher milage.
If money allows then rebuild a 2.2
And wether you have clutch issues is entirely up to how you drive it.
Plenty of us have done conversions with standard clutchs with no problems, if you plan to be hard on it by all means a heavy duty clutch will be worth it.
Daza.

indy · Post by **indy** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 3:05 pm

Thanks for the replies, that makes sense about them putting the ej22's in then. Is an ej22 from say just a Liberty 90 model GX, much different then an Ej22 from a later model suby? or just minimal differences.
That being said about the engineering certificate.
Would a ej20 turbo need to be certified by an engineer or would you get away with it the fact that its still only a 2.0ltr engine and not a 2.2?

Phizinza · Post by **Phizinza** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 3:54 pm

EJ20t would require cutting and welding the "chassis" rails... Good luck getting that cert'ed. Possible, but you better be a good tig welder.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:21 pm

indy wrote:Thanks for the replies, that makes sense about them putting the ej22's in then. Is an ej22 from say just a Liberty 90 model GX, much different then an Ej22 from a later model suby? or just minimal differences.
That being said about the engineering certificate.
Would a ej20 turbo need to be certified by an engineer or would you get away with it the fact that its still only a 2.0ltr engine and not a 2.2?

There is difference between Gen1 & Gen2 Liberty is that it may have different ECM, and the wiring/connectors can be different - from what I noticed... But the core engine is the same between Gen1 & 2 Liberty.
Cheers
AP

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:35 pm

indy wrote: engine conversion for an L series.

Phizinza wrote:EJ20t would require cutting and welding the "chassis" rails... Good luck getting that cert'ed. Possible, but you better be a good tig welder.

no. L series require absolutely no chassis rail mods.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:37 pm

indy wrote: engine conversion for an L series.

Phizinza wrote:EJ20t would require cutting and welding the "chassis" rails... Good luck getting that cert'ed. Possible, but you better be a good tig welder.

no, this is totally incorrect. L series require absolutely no chassis rail mods. Phizinza is thinking of the older MY series of Subaru which have a more narrow engine bay.