2.5 engine / gearbox - compatibility

[steventhechef]

Hi All, First time poster here on the forum so excuse me if this has been asked previously. I did search

I have just bought another Liberty 2.5 4gen (4th Liberty/Outback to date) and have to ask a question. I have owned a few in my time but some history firstly -

1st was a 1992 1gen Liberty wagon with trouble-free 420,000 K's when the gearbox died. 2nd was an 2005 Outback with another 188,000 k's on the clock but the wife thought it was a bit clunky looking and decided to sell it after I had some panel damage fixed. 3rd is currently another 2006 4gen Liberty wagon with 193,000 K's on the clock with no issues and I have just bought my son a 4gen 2006 sedan with only 110,000 k's up thus far.

All of them have been/are manuals gearboxes on a 2.5 litre motor (non turbo) - except of course the 1gen - 2.2 litre. Great cars overall

The technical question is that I have the opportunity to buy a 2008 2.5 litre motor (43,000km) as a spare for a reasonable price. The spare engine comes (without the box) from an automatic car - would this fit to a manual box with any issues or are they different? I understand that I would have to pull the bell housing/flywheel/clutch etc. but would it bolt straight on? Do I need to change out the ECU?

thanks in advance.

[BillyCorgi]

Which vehicle is planned to take the 2008 engine?
The 2006 Gen 4 Wagon or the 2006 Gen 4 Sedan.

Either way, neither may be compatible with the 2008 engine.
To the best of my knowledge the VVL (variable valve lift) engine was introduced at the MY08 model year.
To make that work within the pre-facelift MY06 vehicles may require an ECU and wiring harness update.

Not impossible, but a challenge.

[steventhechef]

Good information, Thanks for posting. What a bummer

[Jiyujin]

PM sent

[Surge]

If it's really cheap, you could still use the shortblock, no?

[BillyCorgi]

Good thinking.
The donor heads would need to be okay.....
It would still cost a set of head gaskets and labour.....
And there would still be some rewiring work on the engine wire harness.....

By the way, the auto engine and manual are the same, need to change the flywheel.
And the manual model has an additional "keeper" for the timing belt over the engine timing toothed sprocket that automatic unit does not have.

[steventhechef]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the info. I'll let it go this time and see what arises later if I have any issues