RumblyXT

Thankfully the ej20x valve cover gaskets seems to be the same as the ones you can buy here in the states.. Part#: 13270AA190

I think Ryan Geter (Subaru Outback forum guy that decoded the jdm ECU) mentioned he had a copy of a jdm FSM.. not sure if he still posts there, I’ll ask him. Once I get the values, I’ll post them here, so others can use it for guidance. Btw.. Is there any possibility of the cam seals being blown out/expelled after tapping & capping the camshafts?

Any ideas where to get a jdm FSM from? I’ve been searching but haven’t found anything.. Wondering if the measurements would be the same/similar on both these motors in regards to buckets/valve clearances.. Are Canadian models the same as jdm?

Exactly.. all based in the power of 10s.. Caribbean here, Cuba!

Glad to know this. Yes, I will be swapping the 255 non AVCS/fixed gears.. In fact, I’m learning now about the buckets clearances and it doesn’t seem all that complicated. I may actually end up swapping the whole e255 cam/fixed gear together as to avoid tapping & capping the 4 holes on the 20x cams. This will depend of course on how the 255 cams look, provided they don’t have any scratches or scorings.. Plus, I was raised learning the metric system and I understand it well. It’s a lot more intuitive than the standard one. Thanks KZJonny.

Correct Tehnation. But yes, I actually understood it. AVCS cams have 4 port in the front and 1 pin facing the contact point to the AVCS gear. Our usdm ej255 cams only have the 1 pin to lock it onto the non AVCS/black sprocket. Ideally, I’d just switch the ej255 exhaust cams & non AVCS/fixed sprockets for the 20x exhaust cams/AVCS gears, but then I’d have to deal with buckets clearance and valve lashing, hence I’d rather tap and cap the 20x cams 4 ports, and then attach the 255 exhaust non AVCS sprockets. However, once plugged, is there any concern for the exhaust cams failing due to oil starvation? I’d imagine the lubrication of the cams riding surface has nothing to do with the ports being plugged right?

This one: ej20x long block (block and heads), everything above it will stay ej255 (I/M, turbo, engine harness, injectors, etc.), also the crossover pipe and some hoses. Below the block: ej255 exhaust manifold, still debating on swapping over the 255 oil cooler and water pump, since my T/B was serviced on my car less than 15K miles ago. Inside the block: swap over the 255 exhaust non AVCS gears to the 20x exhaust cams, plugging the 20x cams oil ports. I was debating on swapping both the 255 ex cams & the gears, but I was advised not to due to the buckets clearance and having to later on deal with valve lashing. Exhaust sensors will stay unplugged, and timing on exhaust cams will be set counter clockwise 1 tooth. Some more progress, passed by the local dealer to pick up some bell housing bolts and was finally able to put the engine on the stand. Currently soaking spark plugs with some penetrant.. cylinder leak down test is next. I won't be able to do the compression test until I remove my motor from the car since I don't have the flywheel. BTW.. is the flywheel integrated with the torque converter on these cars? That's what it looks like on Subaru parts online diagram..

I just want to get the car/motor running again, in the most reliable and economic way possible. I'm not interested in power or any aftermarket parts. In fact, I wish I could put the car totally back to stock. I'm preparing it for my father in law, this is why I want to make sure it's done correctly. Making the 20x a single AVCS seems to be the best option for me, since I could keep using the usdm ECU, functioning like an ej255. I will also be using the turbo from the ej255. I appreciate the input on the injectors, I wasn't sure which to use. I'm not sure however if I could swap over to the 20x, the oil cooler and water pump from the ej255.

^^I think this is the key to this swap. Check out this reddit reference guide, this user plugged the 20x exhaust camshafts.. I wonder why he had to plug the 20x camshaft oil feed holes though, maybe because he didn't swap the 20x exhaust AVCS gears for the the ej255 non AVCS one.. I guess the main question is: would it be ok to put together 20x exhaust cams with ej255 non AVCS exhaust gears? Thank you m sprank.

Yes to avoid issues I’m going to keep the usdm ECU and swap over everything North and South of the ej20x long block. I’ll find a way to have the ej20x exhaust cams/gears as non AVCS, that way the usdm ECU should function and control them as if it was an ej255 motor. Not sure if I might also need a usdm water pump and delete the oil cooler from my ej255 too for this swap.

I see.. so the oil control valves (solenoids) control the AVCS gears through oil pressure in them interpreted by the ECU. But the cams will get their lubrication through the engine oil splashing around inside the heads. I was confused because I had seen oil ports, holes on the front of the ej20x exhaust camshafts where the AVCS gears are mounted on..

Yeah, I will need to remove the left intake cam gear to get to that one. I'm not taking any more chances on oil starvation anywhere, I rather change the oil every 3K miles too. Getting there.. what did you think of the setup I have in mind on before the pics.. someone else mentioned not to go that route since then I'd have to deal with the buckets and valve lashing.

I did some more work on the motor today, removing all the upper parts of the long block, father in law helped me.. soon will be ready for testing.. I checked all the banjo bolts except for the one right behind the left intake gear, (it's a pain to get to it unless you remove the Timing Belt/cam gear). I was surprised to find only 1 filter screen on one of the turbo banjos, none of other bolts on the motor had a filter screen.

Oh crap.. you’re right.. I forgot about the valves and the buckets they’re each worn out, paired to each cam.. So what then? Swap the ej255 non AVCS exhaust gears to the ej20 exhaust cams once these are capped? Sighs..

I have decided to keep the usdm ECU to avoid the jdm ej20x dual AVCS, jdm ECU programing/tuning and longer wires to exhaust cams issues.. I will try swapping the exhaust ej255 non AVCS cams/gears for the ej20x exhaust cams and keep everything else usdm/possibly stock. So the only thing I’m using from the jdm motor is the long block minus the exhaust cams/AVCS Gears. It should work in theory, since all ej camshafts have all the same fitment (according to Flatirons Tunning). With this setup, I won’t have deal with the jdm dual AVCS/timing headache. But I think I would have to keep the jdm exhaust solenoid since they provide oil to the cams. That’s why I was asking about oil starvation on the exhaust cams if I go with the usdm ej255 cams. Hope I didn’t confuse you. What do you think?

Good morning everyone! Looking to stay away from the jdm ej20x future ECU tuning/immobilizer issues, dual AVCS and having to get extra wiring for the exhaust cam sensors, I have decided to go with the following setup which would be very similar to an ej255: ej20x long block, usdm ECU, ej255 non AVCS exhaust cams/gears, usdm I/M with harness and stock injectors, turbo and possibly stock everything else. Since all ej camshafts have basically the same fitment (per Flatirons Tunning), this would be imo the best option(please correct me if I’m wrong). Using my ej255 exhaust cams/gears, would be the same as having to tap & cap the ej20x exhaust cams oil ports. My only question about this is Oil Flow to the exhaust non AVCS ej255 cams, since I’d have to keep the ej20x exhaust solenoids in place. So, the main questions is: Would the ej255 non AVCS cams be starved of oil with this setup I mentioned above? Thank you in advance.

Sorry, I meant this reply for you Markmarcus, For this 20x swap, I was planning on using the 20x long block (block and heads) and everything above it would be ej255 (Intake manifold, turbo, vacuum hoses, PCV, fuel lines, injectors, etc.).. Are you suggesting I should use the 20x injectors instead, since I'm going with the 20x long block or can I keep using the ej255 injectors? I appreciate the help.

For this 20x swap, I was planning on using the 20x long block (block and heads) and everything above it would be ej255 (Intake manifold, turbo, vacuum hoses, PCV, fuel lines, injectors, etc.).. Are you suggesting I should use the 20x injectors instead, since I'm going with the 20x long block or can I keep the ej255 injectors? No advancing/retarding time on the exhaust cam gears sounds awesome. Less confusion when installing the T/B. There's only one problem, when I purchased this car, it came with a catless downpipe, aftermarket intercooler, cold air intake and Grimspeed boost controller. The old ej255 engine more than likely had a tune, because I drove the car for around 9 months till the motor went bad. But I was never given the tune, access port for it. How do I go about it this time with the ej20x swap? Last thing I want is damage this motor too. Should I sort out those parts to put it back to stock?

Correct, that seems to be the biggest obstacle in this 20x swap. Noob question: If I plug the exhaust camshafts oil ports, how do they get oil? Won't they seize in the heads? I'm still trying to understand this. This is why I was thinking of using my own ej255 exhaust cams with non AVCS gears from the motor that got damaged, provided of course that the ej255 aren't damaged.

Thank you for your comment Markmarcus. By eliminated the front AVCS, did you mean your exhaust AVCS gears? Did you also swap an ej20x on your car? I was originally thinking of going with dual AVCS on the ej20x, but that would of course require the jdm ECU. But I may have found an alternate method by capping the exhaust camshaft oil ports of the 20x or hopefully using my ej255 exhaust cams (if they're not damaged) and using the usdm ECU with them as non AVCS/cams/gears on the exhaust side like the ej255 has, then retarding the timing 1 tooth (7 degrees), that way the USDM computer can control the whole thing as if it was as ej255. What do you think? You can follow/comment/contribute your ideas on my ej20x swap thread here: Your input will be greatly appreciated.

Some progress.. I tried removing spark plug #4 to get a brief condition of the motor, but I couldn't.. the plug did moved, but didn't come lose. I left it soaking with W40, will try again tomorrow going back and forward to get it lose. This motor seems to have been seating for a while..

“Use non AVCS cams, cap the exhaust ports.. use non AVCS cams, cap the exhaust ports” ..of course!! I kept playing this in my head last night.. Now I understand what Flatirons tuning & iwire were talking about guys!! They meant cap the exhaust ports of the camshafts themselves! I thought they were referring to the exhaust sensors, but now I get it.. That’s essentially what that guy PyroBP5 who posted the write up on Reddit did! But if you cap those ports on the ex camshafts, how do they get oil.. I mean I’m sure it works and this is what has to be done, PyroBp5 sounded like he really knew his stuff.. and this is exactly what’s talked about on the Flatirons video.. I will look more into this. The best part of this method: you get to keep the USDM ECU and there’s no need to modify the USDM engine harness.. Just need a few jdm seals/gaskets which can be sorted out.. I also think I can use my ej255 exhaust camshafts with their corresponding sprockets since they are non AVCS, I just pray they’re still in good shape! Otherwise I’d have to go the route of tapping and capping the ej20x exhaust camshaft ports.. Light at the end of the tunnel!

Correct, but not sure if you saw I posted before that iwire makes an engine harness merge kit to connect to both exhaust cam sensors, provided one is using of course the jdm ECU. Yes, simple is what I’m trying to go for, but no matter how you look at it, this swap entails research/work. I’m already on this boat, after all this much research and work I’m not going back.. we’ll find a way to make it work.

I wanted the jdm ECU in case of having to go with the option of dual AVCS, as the motor originally operates in Japan. That honestly would be the best option but is one that requires a lot of work with the ECU and coding/computer skills I don’t have.

I saw this on reddit while searching. Seems to be another viable alternative for this ej20x swap, and one that allows keeping the USDM engine wire harness, USDM ECU and single AVCS. The nice thing is he even listed the parts needed to be sorted out and options to tune it afterwards. Looks like the riskiest part of this option is tapping the cams ports to block the oil feed as one would have to be very careful not to scratch the cam's riding surface. I would have to do more research to see long term how the motor/timing help up with this option. User name is PyroBP5 USDM Legacy EJ20X - Google Docs