Hi all
A mate of mine bought an MY 97 wrx with a blown engine,
he went and bought another engine that was adverized here recently only
to find out that the inlet manifold bolt patterns are different.
He bought an MY99 engine.
Is there anyway to make the early manifold fit the later heads?
Or to modify the later manifold to work with earlier throttle body etc??
Thanx
Chris

Short answer is not easily.
Not only is the manifold a different pattern but the ports are further apart so you can't even adapt them.

It is possible to fit the early throttle body and ignition coil to the late manifold by making adaptors but there's no easy way to make the idle speed control work. They are very different set ups.

It appears you have got some bad advice on fitment.

Will the old heads work on the newer engine ?
Or what's the easiest way out?
Chris

Not really. You end up with too much compression ratio and you will struggle to stop it pinging.

There's no easy way out that I can think of. Sell up, buy the correct engine for the car.