Hey guys, im hoping someone can give me a few answers for this swap. (I have searched and the last guy that asked this was told to just buy a gd)

Okay so i have a MY98 GC8 WRX and its just started leaking water into the oil so i want to put a 2003 v7 (bug eye GD) STi motor into it. The v7 has AVCS and comes with complete long block, ecu, wiring. I will be using my 5spd wrx gearbox as ive just had it rebuilt and the v7 doesnt come with the gearbox. Im not swapping the dash just the motor.

I know the engine will bolt straight in, im more worried about the wiring side of things as im not very knowledgeable with electrics.

Im looking for any suprises that you guys may have run into doing your swaps.

Are the plugs the same between these 2 different models?

Will i be able to use my MY98 dash cluster?

Do i even need to worry about plugs?

If i decide to use the sti intake manifold will the 02 AVCS wiring kit help me avoid splicing and removing the harnesses?

Ive never done a swap and im not very good with this sort of stuff, i can service the shit out of an engine but cant wire one up

Whats the cheapest/easiest way for me to swap this engine into the GC8 chassis?

207 bottom end with wrx ecu/intake no AVCS?

V7 full swap with v7 ecu and intake (with avsc wiring kit)?
V7 swap with standalone haltech?

Im not too fussed about having AVCS as iread it ony increases spool by a minimal amount but having it would just be a bonus

Thanks guys

Please dont tell me to buy a gd shell.

You should find some info within. Many have done this