Draw thru turbo EJ22 swap?

[yamahondarider]

Well, wasn't really sure if this should be in the forced induction forum or here in conversion perversions but seeing as almost every thread in the forced induction section is VW engine based its probably better off here, hopefully some of the resident turbo guys peep in here occasionally . Anyway, I thought this would be an interesting topic to discuss. Now, I beg of you for ALL that is holy please don't turn this into a shitshow of fuel injection vs draw thru carburetors. I swear to god I will want to dig my eyeballs out with a spoon if that starts. Now, with that out of the way, heres my thought process on this. Joe Shmoe wants to go fast, so, Joe, shells out huge bucks for a big bore stroker VW engine and a store bought draw-thru turbo system from one of the many engine builders out there. Thats all nice and fine, but Joe here has many thousands of dollars in his mill. Well, wouldn't it be a smart budget option to take a 2.2 liter boxer engine with 4 valves per cylinder and overhead cams along with water cooling that you can pull out of a Subaru for $250 and start with that? And then simply run megajolt and EDIS for spark control, and pipe yourself up a nice draw thru turbo system like you would for a VW engine? Seems like a fairly budget friendly option to me for a simplistic draw thru turbo option and I think you'd make plenty of power for a street car on low boost. Is anyone aware of this being done in the past? Not much turned up on google search. Thought this might be an interesting topic to discuss here. Maybe if I can get my hands on a Subaru adapter cheap enough I'll be the guinea pig and give it a shot.

[Chip Birks]

No doubt it will work. The engine just needs air, fuel, and spark. Doesn't car whether a carb is providing the fuel or a computer. For the same price as the mega jolt, buy an ms1 or 2 and just run spark only. Don't run the edis garbage, rather direct drive the subie coil, and bring in 2 step control, as well as overall spark cut limiters, and major data log capability.

[56SemaRag]

If you know where you want to end up with respect to what you want out of the engine, then the build will be easier and cause you less problems. I completely agree with Chip...data log a lot. If you are going with a 2.2 N/A block keep the boost low. Boost is addictive, I started out with 11psi and I am over 20psi now. If you eventually want to raise the boost, the cylinders barrel ends will move because they don't have the support of the semi or closed deck blocks. Detonation will kill these engines in short order be it ring land or rod bearings.

[yamahondarider]

No doubt it will work. The engine just needs air, fuel, and spark. Doesn't car whether a carb is providing the fuel or a computer. For the same price as the mega jolt, buy an ms1 or 2 and just run spark only. Don't run the edis garbage, rather direct drive the subie coil, and bring in 2 step control, as well as overall spark cut limiters, and major data log capability.

I didn't know megasquirt could directly drive the Subaru coil? I was eyeballing MS1 PCB V3.0 though, I suppose MS2 could support direct drive but it is a bit more expensive.

If you know where you want to end up with respect to what you want out of the engine, then the build will be easier and cause you less problems. I completely agree with Chip...data log a lot. If you are going with a 2.2 N/A block keep the boost low. Boost is addictive, I started out with 11psi and I am over 20psi now. If you eventually want to raise the boost, the cylinders barrel ends will move because they don't have the support of the semi or closed deck blocks. Detonation will kill these engines in short order be it ring land or rod bearings.

Yeah, I've heard that the N/A EJ22 engines don't like a lot of boost. I'm just thinking for around 10 lbs on a little street motor it'd be a great alternative to building some massive stroker engine, and if you do blow up an EJ you can just yank another one out of the junkyard and throw it in in a day. If you blow up a 2276 for instance, it'd be a bit more expensive and take a bit longer to wait and parts and whatnot. I think its a really viable option, I haven't seen it done though. I don't see why 300WHP wouldn't be achievable with that setup and thats more than you'd ever need in a street car.

[Chip Birks]

Ms1 or ms2 will work, ms2 is just better, it will log more, faster. Cost is about the same as your average mega jolt. Probably cheaper if you are willing to build your own ecu, vs. buying one preassembled, it can be a fun project on its own. Takes a little time to build your first, but it's a good learning experience. You would need to make sure to order a second coil driver, since the coil is actually two coils built into one unit with 4 posts.

Mario at thedubshop.net is a great resource as well. He could build you a very nice ignition only harness for your subie and supply a ready to rock ms suited to your build. Did I mention electronic boost control as a potential ms2 feature as well? Good options if you want them.

[55superbeetle]

Microsquirt is a little more expensive but when used with a 36-2-2-2 STI crank trigger wheel, and a later subaru coil with built in ignitors it makes for a really easy install. Having full control of timing and boost cut will pay for itself. I helped a friend do a ej22 turbo in his bug with good success. We ran a stock wrx turbo on it, was making 200ish whp on 12 psi. As stated detonation will kill it very quickly. I set my friends up non intercooled but ran it strictly on e85. If you plan on running regular pump gas that's going to limit you. If you have e85 available to you I highly suggest you take advantage of it, it would be magical on a carb'd setup. I would think with a good MLS head gasket you could push the motor till the stock rods failed as long as the tune was perfect.

[55superbeetle]

Microsquirt is a little more expensive but when used with a 36-2-2-2 STI crank trigger wheel, and a later subaru coil with built in ignitors it makes for a really easy install. Having full control of timing and boost cut will pay for itself. I helped a friend do a ej22 turbo in his bug with good success. We ran a stock wrx turbo on it, was making 200ish whp on 12 psi. As stated detonation will kill it very quickly. I set my friends up non intercooled but ran it strictly on e85. If you plan on running regular pump gas that's going to limit you. If you have e85 available to you I highly suggest you take advantage of it, it would be magical on a carb'd setup. I would think with a good MLS head gasket you could push the motor till the stock rods failed as long as the tune was perfect.

[yamahondarider]

Yeah that wouldn't be a bad idea. On the complete other end of the scale though, I can fit a distributor from an early 80's Ford Escort (can get reman'd units from Autozone) to the passenger cyl head on the earlier EJ22's (pre 95). the electronic ones are TFI, which I can run with my Mallory Hyfire 6 box I already have which has functions for 2 step limiters and boost retard per psi using a map sensor, along with a step retard for nitrous and whatnot. That way instead of the cost of a trigger wheel, sensors, the actual ECU and harness and all that other good stuff, I can just use my mallory box I already have and spend ~$80 on distributor/cap/rotor/wires and another ~$50 on a coil and TFI module. I could use the stock EJ intake by cutting a flange to fit where the throttle body went, that has just a simple pipe welded to it and directly couple the turbo outlet to said adapter. It'd be pretty idiot proof at that point and dirt cheap. This is looking more and more feasible. The spendiest part of the whole ordeal would be the adapter kit which is around $490 new. If I could find a used one that'd be ideal.

[ryans88gt]

I grabbed a microsquirt, newer style coil with ignitor built in to go on my EJ20g. Replacing head gaskets and timing stuff while the engine is out. The most expensive parts I have purchased is the transmission from KCR to handle 200hp and the adapter plate, flywheel, and clutch. Seems like the weak link on this swap is the trans and you can do the subagears reversed ring and pinion, but it is spendy. With 300 hp, I think you will have a tough time with transmissions.

Pretty sure there are a number of people that have done the 2.2 turbo swap. Give outfront a call. I think their belief is the 2.2 is the worst engine to through boost on as they don't last long when you do.

http://www.outfrontmotorsports.com/motor_matrix.htm

"2.2L motors: The factory 2.2 turbo is a strong foundation for a motor package. The non turbo 2.2 is John's least favorite motor (for horse power)the non turboed version should not be turboed over 5 psi, and it needs injectors to add the turbo for adequate fuel delivery."