Boxer ix? Eh?

[lambo]

This may seem like a stupid thread, but I was walking back from class with 325ix, a while back, and we were talking cars and somehow an ej swap into an ix came up.

Now, I think that would be pretty badass...I love me some boxer rumble. So, I guess I made this thread as a discussion piece, more or less.

Only issues I can think of, off the top of my head, are: how you would mate the ix drivetrain to an ej and then mounting, considering ej's are so wide and shallow(?), as opposed to a deep I6.

Just looking for ideas and/or thoughts. *cough*nando*cough*

[Morrison]

What is an EJ?

[nando]

it's funny because the 2.5l boxer-4 (n/a) makes the same power as the stock ix engine. but has less torque, and drives/sounds like a freakin' tractor (I have one in my wifes car).

no thanks. :p

But seriously I have doubts whether it would fit between the frame rails. I'd rather spend time looking into motor swaps that start with "S".

[LuckyHenriksen]

I'd rather spend time looking into motor swaps that start with "S".

This

[MikeDE]

I'd rather spend time looking into motor swaps that start with "S".

SR20???

But seriously, that'd be pretty sweet.

[flyboyx]

no thanks. :p

But seriously I have doubts whether it would fit between the frame rails. I'd rather spend time looking into motor swaps that start with "S".

i honestly have no idea what an ej is either, but assume it is some sort of lezbaru engine.

as far as nando's statement: mmmmmm hmmmm!! i no dats riiiight!

speaking of tractor engines, a supped up m21 might also be a lot of fun.

[325ix]

The EJ is the engine code for Subaru's line of boxer engines.

[VinniE30]

EJ what?

EJ257 would be the coolest.

First used in 2004 sti up until the newer gen sti. 300HP and 300TQ stock and much more to be easily gained for relatively cheap.
In the subaru world it's very popular to swap these into the older generations like the GC chassis and they document it just as well as us with the 24v swaps - wiring diagrams and all - that could come in handy in someone decides to do this in an e30.





First to make things more simple discuss how we would even do this in a non-ix e30. We have trouble even fitting v8's in the e30 engine bay with the brake booster and the flat 4 is obviously much wider. (although it is not anywhere close to as tall so it might not even come up to the brake booster.)

It's hard to tell just from the pictures, with nothing for reference, how well it would fit, if at all.

The question would be does it fit between the shock towers. Other clearance issues would probably be the subframe and steering rack depending on how forward/back it needs to be placed. Assuming the subaru transmission fits in the tunnel and the selector rod/linkage fits in the hole; connecting the transmission to driveshaft would be an obvious problem and you would need to make custom parts.

As for the top mounted intercooler you could make a custom hood with a hoodscoop like the sti but that would be ugly and very non-sleeper. I would just make a front mounted intercooler which some sti people with lots of power already do.

This swap would make for a nice lower center of gravity. Good weight distribution as well, if the engine doesn't have to be placed that far forward to fit.

[chuckdizzle]

Swapped Foresters with STi motors are sweet.

m50 or s50 swap into the IX, I doubt an EJ would even fit, let alone be made to work with the driveline in our cars.

[nando]

An m50 swap would be expensive and pointless on an ix... S50 at minimum imo.

[Fidhle007]

I like my M54...

[nando]

You didnt swap it into an ix :p

[325ix]

It was just an idea. I highly doubt any engine other than a m20 will ever call my engine bay home. Most likely a big snail will be taking up residence in there sometime in the not to distant future.

[Fidhle007]

You didnt swap it into an ix :p

Not exactly, but it's still 4wd and I still OWN and ix so it's close, right?

[The Dark Side of Will]

As has been mentioned, the boxer is most likely much too wide to fit in the engine bay.

Also, to use the BMW driveline, the front diff ends up essentially under the engine. This works with the BMW engine because it's tilted over. It won't work with the boxer engine. The engine (and transmission, etc) would have to be raised in the bay to fit the diff under it.

Using the Subaru driveline, you end up with the same problem as you have in a Subaru... the engine is ENTIRELY forward of the front axle. In the E30, only about half of the engine is forward of the front axle as BMW built it.