73ScoobyBus

Stupid questions of the day (1): Do I rebuild an NA EJ22 & is an NA EJ22 2.35l stroker worth it?

Further to my other post about the engine that is out of (and potentially is going back in) my 73 VW bay camper (https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...-and-help.html) I have established it’s probably a Phase 1.5 (central single coil pack) with slightly earlier heads. It needs a proper clean up as it’s been sat in the corner of a paint shop for 5years+ and a ‘refresh’. It was ‘rebuilt’ <1000miles before being laid up due to water ingress by a engine shop a mate in the trade knew on the cheap so I’m not sure what was done (I suspect cheap second hand short block and original heads) so I’m not sure how much was replaced, seals if I’m lucky probably. It ran ok, hunted a bit in tick over, not sure how much of that is down to the dodgy loom.

The NA EJ22 seems like a good bet on paper - balance of strength and power vs a 2.5 so I’m weighing up whether it’s worth having it fully stripped bead blasted and properly rebuilt. Is it probably sensible to rebuild it? If so how far should I go? I want it to be reliable, however realistically it’s only going to do a couple of thousand miles a year at most.

In my online musings about rebuilding EJ22’s I have come across the 2.35 stroker kits. These mostly seem to be use in turbo applications. So Is there any point building an NA EJ22 2.35l stroker while the block is stripped down and I might have to pistons etc anyway. If so what sort of bhp would you expect from a NA 2.35?

Thanks in advance.

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

I would imagine that the cost per hp gained would be enormous, given most 2.35l turbo builds cost 10k drive in/out

73ScoobyBus

I figured the additional cost wouldn’t be worth it £ for Bhp!

You know what its like when you are looking at parts and you think ‘well just a bit extra and I could have x y or z...’ !

LewisScoob

iTrader: (5)

I honestly dont know why you're bothering with the 2.2 Legacy engine when 2.0 NA and turbo impreza engines for that matter are ten a penny.

73ScoobyBus

Is it really not worth rebuilding / refreshing the EJ22 I already have?

I figured if I started with a whole new NA EJ20 from a donor car I would still probably need to put some money in to refurbishing it anyway?

Tidgy

What exactly are you trying to achieve? Just get it up and running it get it to perform?

73ScoobyBus

Ive had it ‘just up and running’ previously but just not running really well.

Basically i I want a good solid, stable reliable engine that will last for the life of the camper. The camper has had about 10k of restoration so I don’t want to chuck and old, dirty, not quite right engine back in.

I don’t need mental power really (other for the sake of it), to be honest 130bhp is more than enough for driveability of the van.

Tidgy

any idea what its final wet weight will be? i realise it will be an educated guess

73ScoobyBus

Of the engine? Not a scooby 😆

Tidgy

of the whole van/engine etc

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

I suspect someone would be interested in buying that engine off you, or just the block... I certainly would

But as you say, then you still have to source a 2.0, although you could probably find a much newer engine in ej20 non turbo format than the ej22 you have now.

Something to think about too

73ScoobyBus

I guess it comes down to what an EJ22 is worth to be honest and whether is going to enough to put towards an engine which I don’t know the history (ish) of.

The only issue with newer engines is the more involved electrics and specifically the immobiliser etc. At the end of the simple is best when trying to shove it in the back of a 46 year old camper van...

73ScoobyBus

I think the stock curb weight is 1325kg, I think the EJ22 engine is about 30kg heavier than a type 2 1600 air cooled engine. Will have an additional radiator and piping which must be another 30kg total I would guess.

Stainless exhaust is prob similar weight to the heavy old stock thing (although I guess some of that weight must have rusted away...)

I’m not sure how the 16” Porsche Alloys will compare weight wise to the original steel 14”’s.

I guess the 911 callipers will be a similar weight to the original callipers.

Its not got an interior currently bar a couple of 944 seats which must weight 30-50kg more than the originals.

So so I don’t know 1400-1430kg maybe?

Tidgy

so its pretty heavy compared to a classic scoob then. 2.5 NA might make it a better to just nock around in withot over stressing it

73ScoobyBus

Well the original engine is a whole 55bhp so the increase to 130bhp is more than enough to be honest. It drove pretty well with it previously and at the end of the day it’s a classic camper rather than a race car 😂

(Ignore the fact it’s having Bilstein B6’s and 911 front disc brakes...)

Tidgy

i drove my hawk, which is similar weight, with no turbo and was nice to drive even then, no struggling up hills etc etc