2013-14 2.5L DOHC for 2011 2.5L DOHC engine swap

The CVT is different too, so a swap is a nightmare.

The question is will the block and flex plate bolt up to the tranny and the motor mounts? And then, with some mods like putting the intake off a 2011 as well as the wiring harness and sensors run as it should? I'm definitely not interested in the newer CVT tranny that began production in 2014 at all.

Why? It's a better CVT than the earlier one.

My tranny is good. I'm trying to take a $1900 outlay down to $1200 or so. And I don't want to worry about ECU issues.

At the least you'll have to replace the ECM; but I fear there'll be a bolt-up problem with the earlier CVT.

Yeah....that's my main concern...the bolt up problem. I went to the Subaru site and the blocks are called 11008 in all the diagrams from 11-13, but the actual part numbers are different. ????

The real question is : Are the block-head configurations the same? If the tranny will bolt up. And the intakes swap out, What other differences could there be? What changes in the DOHC block would prohibit the upgrade?

Remember that ECM, TCM must match, and the old CVT must work through its TCM to match the DOHC's ECM. I really think you're looking at a can of mis-matched worms.

Maybe....but what started this whole question was JDMs offering of low mileage motor that fits between 2011 and 2013. All the sellers on eBay are not doing so. The adds all say that won't work. And, they are saying that Legacy 2.5l DOHC engines will not fit a Forester even though the sixth digit is the same. My question is : Are the blocks and heads the same? They are not the ECM or the TCM....they are hunks of metal. And If all my stuff will swap over, bolt up and install it should work.....shouldn't it?

Actually, JDM offers the FB25 DOHC engine from 2011 through 2015 for the forester, outback and legacy as if they are all the same. with a disclaimer: THIS PRODUCT(S) IS REMOVED FROM A JAPANESE MODEL VEHICLE AND IS INTERCHANGEABLE WITH U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL VEHICLES (IN SOME CASES WITH MODIFICATIONS). PLEASE CONFIRM WITH YOUR CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN THAT THE PRODUCT FITS YOUR VEHICLE/APPLIACATION BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASE. ERROR IN PURCHASING PRODUCT WITHOUT PRIOR RESEARCH IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF JDM MOTOR IMPORT.

Used Japanese engines probably do not meet American smog standards and often times you cannot get parts for them in the states.

There might be some confusion with the fact that JDM VEHICLES introduced the DOHC motor out of phase with US production. But since all MOTORS are JDM, I'm not worried about North American -specific emissions INTERNAL parts. Then again, you may be right, as Subaru, et al, often introduce variations without warning.

Yes, well, if you will read above, you will see that the real question is with regards to the block-head configurations and bolting up of American Subaru 2.5L motors. I'm not trying to use a $2500 to $3000 JDM motor. I'm trying to figure out if the newer 2.5L FB25 blocks and heads will bolt up to my 2012 Tranny and if the wiring and sensors will swap over. So far the objections I'm getting are about the TCM And the ECM.

So far from research I found that the cutoff point may be 2014 for the FB25 engines as far as major modifications. In that year we have a change in the CVT. and "The engine was slightly modified in 2014. The manufacturer reduced the thickness of cylinder walls to 3.2 mm and changed the pistons to increase the compression ratio to 10.3:1. The heads have been revised also. They got reshaped intake ports and new 36 mm intake valves. There are the new intake manifold and lightweight exhaust system." This lead one to believe that possibly one could use a FB 25 block and heads dating from early 2011 to 2013. The article I was reading actually states that production started in 2010. They are all produced at the Gunma Oizumi Plant.

I would've thought the block mods would've started in 2014 for production of 2015 new- body OBs and Legs. So not sure if MY 2014 blocks are identical to 2013. We're in the weeds now....

Going up two messages...If there's an overlap of the two different motors sharing the same CVT then I would expect that they'd physically match up, and electrically if the harnesses are identical and the ECM and TCM are swapped over.

The only way to know if this works is to try it. Could be an expensive experiment. If you are seeking a guarantee in advance you won't get it.

My fear too.

I know. My goal here was to bring in other heads to try to reduce the risk....lol I do kinda find it hard to believe that a Japanese JDM 2.5L DOHC FB25 motor will fit both the 2011-2013 Forester as well as the Legacy from the same years and the American versions will not. In fact there are some sellers on ebay that are offering FB25 long blocks that they say will fit either. They say you will need to swap out the intake and sensors. At the same time there are others who swear a Legacy motor will not work in the forester. It's hard to know what to believe. And what's up with the sixth digit in the vin. What does that represent???

Don't remember the 6th digit. Maybe factory...or JDM vs Indiana?

My salvage yard guy says that it must be a forester engine with the sixth digit A or C. And many of the engines listed on eBay list that sixth digit as. ie…..H or G. I did find a sixth digit C 2013 legacy DOHC that looks promising in the pictures. But the seller assures me it will not fit the 2011 forester. I sent him a question regarding it being an FB25 or not. I am awaiting his response. I can tell you that the compression ratio changes from 10. to 1 in 2011 to 10.4 to 1 in 2014 on the FB25, based on research. And, the 2014 ...." got reshaped intake ports and new 36 mm intake valves. There are the new intake manifold and lightweight exhaust system." As I said earlier....2014 is probably my cut off point.....meaning 2013 is probably the last year I may gamble on....lol There are some sellers on eBay offering 3.5L DOHC engines that fit the 2013-2014 years. In looking and researching it just seems to me that most of the sellers have only a calculated guess as to what fits or not. So they offer what they think it will fit for sure. Machinist on there rebuilding the FB25 shortblock offer from 2011 to 2019. Further confusing the issue...lol As for me....I think I'm only gonna gamble on a low mileage Legacy 2.5L FB25 DOHC 2011-2013. I'll probably have to swap over intakes and sensors and maybe the oil pan. And I should try to stay within that 6th digit criterion the salvage guy gave me of A or C as my motor has the A. That might leave the outside shot of a close match. If anyone sees the error in my thinking on this please speak up now as I am looking for all the help I can get before I roll these dice....lol

Any 2013 Leg assuredly has the FB25, and 2010-2012 the older SOHC.

As per this 1-A Auto posting: the 6th and seven digits in the vin denote body style. : https://www.1aauto.com/content/articles/vin-number-decoding

Got a 2011 Forester 25fb oil burner for 200.00. Swapped the engine to a 2016 Forester 12,000 mile engine. Same crank, has different camshafts, front cover water crossover flywheel and valve covers. Took 2 days to start driving my all in 1500 Subaru. Didn't get the VIN off the new engine but it is a fb25bc the old engine was a fb25ba. The front cover must be swapped to the old design for power steering. The valve covers must be changed to use the old coils. The coolant crossover was changed to eleminate the transmission cooler hose (not used on the 4 speed trans) to the CVT cooler. I did cap the other end on the upper oil pan. Changed map sensor and throttle body. The crank sensor is the same cam sensor and cam sprocket (actuators) are the same. I saved the camshafts out of the old engine just in case. Over 1000 miles now not changing them 24 mpg I'm good.

Congrats!

Swap the old harness, there are changes. I always use what I know worked before. Harness to me is a given, sorry for the oversight. Didn't find much info on this swap I just rolled the dice did part number search for common engine parts. Hope this helps.

John, can you email me more information on what you did! forzamotorsport9@gmail.com

John, can you also please email me photos of your modifications to ntonti513@gmail.com ? I have a similar scenario I would like to pursue. 2012 forester FB25 engine, burning 1 quart of oil every 1500-2000 miles, 112k total miles. You think a 2017 long block will be successful with the same modifications? Thoughts?

I have done several of these now. 2014-2016 blocks are the same. Save timing cover, wiring harness,, throttle body, toner ring, flex plate, dip stick, all sensors on block, route lower cooling hose to upper eliminating the cooler, engine mounts, coils. Plugs are the same. Swap out longer coil boots to save having to swap valve covers and use 8 mm nylon spacers between coil mount and valve cover where 6mm bolt mounts, or just swap covers.

2016-2019 clones too?