Swapping engines?

ANDREW2005

MEMBER
2000 SUBARU LEGACY
2.5L
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
185,000 MILES

A few weeks ago, the U joint in the car failed while driving at 60 MPH. The drive shaft and whatever was still attached to it, whipped around destroying the center console and the floorboard below it as well as breaking the tail housing of the transmission, luckily the driveshaft was held up by the exhaust, so it didn't fall and gouge into the pavement at that speed. Since the motor was just gone through the notorious EJ Head gasket issues, among other reasons to save the motor, we decided it would be worth the time and effort to swap that motor into another car with a bad motor that's in better shape structurally. So, the question is this. Being a 2000 Legacy Outback with the 2.5L EJ motor, what other 2000+ Subaru vehicles will that motor directly swap into?

1 Reply

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
48,380 POSTS

The specific engine in your vehicle is likely the EJ251 or EJ252.

Compatible Subaru Models for Engine Swap:
2000-2004 Subaru Legacy (non-turbo models)
2000-2004 Subaru Outback (non-turbo models)
2000-2005 Subaru Forester (non-turbo models)
2000-2004 Subaru Impreza (non-turbo models)

Ensure that the replacement engine is the same EJ251/EJ252 SOHC type. While other EJ engines (like the EJ253) may be similar, they often have different sensors, intake manifolds, and emissions equipment. Let us know if you need anything else.