Subaru engine rebuild or replace ? HELP PLEASE
Subaru engine rebuild or replace ? HELP PLEASE
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Paul sadler

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
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Hi everyone , this is only post No3 .. 1st two were about me buying my Scoobie and asking questions about track days .. Yeah a little premature , I feel . After having the car only 2 days and driving it softly as New pistons ?were bedding in , it developed a knock . After searching the Internet and boggling a few heads the thing I had dreaded was confirmed . The bottom end bearing has gone , maybe scored the crank who knows ?? I've been quoted £1500 for basic rebuild by Eclipse performance , Rowley of North east £1800 , with me removing the engine .. This seems a little steep ?? Anyone got experience of rebuilds ? Is it worth just buying a used engine ??

I'm trying to way up if it's worth me keeping the car or scrapping it ? Never know there might be some quality spares up for grabs if it's not economical for me to repair it ..


Paul sadler

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
quotequote all
That'll be the one ... Dumb ass I know

bicycleshorts

1,939 posts

178 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
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Have messaged you.

Scoobman

450 posts

222 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
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Hi
If in the North East.
You want to take it to Harvey Smith/ Darren.
Honest to the point and will tell you what is what. They are also up there with the best subaru mechanics in the UK. (I know I have been around these cars for 12 years now)

http://www.geocities.com/harveysmith3000/

Cannonballtaffyo

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
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Wow you lot are great !! I thought there was no hope replys within 5 mins and some good links !! Cheers guys ...

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

225 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
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I would join the big scooby forum (scoobynet?) and find a reputable tuner near you.

YorkshirePudding

2,128 posts

202 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
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Might be too far away for you but,

http://www.hdcsubaru.com/

Worth a call.

Cannonballtaffyo

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
quotequote all
I rang htc Subaru , they gave me some great advice re the seller of the Scoobie . They said the rebuild would be way too expensive , recommended a replacement . Unfortunatly they don't have any in stock .. The drama continues , anyone know of a Ej20 forsale reasonable money without a knock or rattle ...

Scoobman

450 posts

222 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
quotequote all
Grade A
http://www.gradea-subaru.co.uk/

Ask for Matty
http://www.polepositionuk.co.uk/

Both those guys will not give you crap like many and will give you an engine that works.
However with out opening the thing up. How long is a piece of string.
Your used engine from the above may go on for years or go bang in the first week.
Which is why rebuild is best.

Before fitting a second hand engine ....find out why the first one went.

Hope this helps




RESSE

5,907 posts

238 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
quotequote all
Another vote for Pole Position - I haven't use them, but they have a good reputation.

When my STi Type RA dropped a piston, I had the engine rebuilt (with some major "tweaks") by API in Leamington Spa (did a great job).

As some one previously posted there is alot of information about engine rebuilds etc on www.scoobynet.com or the less known (but very friendly site) www.type-ra.co.uk

rallycross

13,603 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
quotequote all
There is no cheap rebuilds on these engines I am afraid to say.

Prices quoted are about right.

Finding a good used engine not easy and will cost £1k to £1.5k with little or no waranty and you will need to do cambelt etc while it's out so it soon becomes expensive unless you can do it all yourself.

Cannonballtaffyo

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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Crspares are breaking a WRX with 60k today ( genuine miles with proof?) said I could have the engine for £400. I'm going to have to try and fit it myself , including timing belt etc .. I'm a tad dubious as I'm no
Mechanic but spent all my money on the motor ?? Yeah so if there are any budding mechanics with a weekend free I'm
In Tyne and wear ( help lol) .. I believe there are several reasons the bottom end beating went ,, dodgy fitment of sti pistons , far too much oil in !!, has been re-mapped ? Quality and BHP .. Without pulling it apart these are just the obiouse ones...

Cannonballtaffyo

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
P.S thanks for info on re-builds I do acknowledge and appreciate these are best and essentially only way to guarantee longevity of engine .. But the Bank manager ( Mrs) says "NO"!! .. Fingers crossed it's a good engine n I fit it ok

ejenner

4,643 posts

198 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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Keep your old engine and think about getting it slowly rebuilt so it is ready to chuck in a couple of years down the line. If you change your plans you know how much those engines are worth.

bicycleshorts

1,939 posts

178 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
Cannonballtaffyo said:
I'm going to have to try and fit it myself , including timing belt etc .. I'm a tad dubious as I'm no
Mechanic but spent all my money on the motor ??
Is it a 'classic' model? You'll need an engine crane. You should be able to tell if the engine has already been out by some of the bolts. Specifically the ones connecting the engine to the gearbox which you can see from under the car. Mine were a right bd to get off so clearly hadn't been off in a long time.

Getting the engine out took us about 5 hours, getting it apart took around 3. Putting it back in is (hopefully) this weekend.

I'd look at clutch and flywheel while you're there, you don't want to be taking it back out again in a few months to change the clutch!

Cannonballtaffyo

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
Yeah , its a fact , I had me pants taken down by the seller, unfortunately for me there is 500 miles separating me from him , otherwise I would have popped round for a quiet word . As for the engine I know I'm gonna struggle but needs must , need the car for work next week lol hope things go well . Was told the clutch had been replaced but again I won't know till it's in bits .. No doubt il vein here asking questions soon ...

bicycleshorts

1,939 posts

178 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
Cannonballtaffyo said:
Yeah , its a fact , I had me pants taken down by the seller, unfortunately for me there is 500 miles separating me from him , otherwise I would have popped round for a quiet word . As for the engine I know I'm gonna struggle but needs must , need the car for work next week lol hope things go well . Was told the clutch had been replaced but again I won't know till it's in bits .. No doubt il vein here asking questions soon ...
Same happened to me, it was cheap enough that I could justify 'some' problems. Didn't realise it would end up with the engine out.

Oh well, has meant some bonding time with my Dad and me learning a fair bit about engines.

ejenner

4,643 posts

198 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
doogz said:
The whole "piston" thing sounds like bullst tbh mate.

Someone sold you a car, and told you to take it easy, because they knew it was about to go pop. No-one takes a WRX engine out, and apart, just to fit a set of STI pistons (are they actually any different) and if they did, they'd be fecking stupid to not have the bottom end rebuilt while they have it out.
If new pistons really had been fitted then driving the car carefully for about 1000-1500 miles is part of running in the new pistons. You should use running-in oil and when the piston rings have mated nicely with the bores you call the job a good-un and switch the oil for some fully synthetic and then drive as normal.

Problem is, if the pistons had been changed there is no danger of the engine developing a knocking noise as the engine has in this case. Knocking noises come from the connector rods and crankshaft.

Most likely was told to take it easy so he would drive away and a long way down the road before finding out the car was knackered.

J4CKO

44,789 posts

217 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
bicycleshorts said:
Cannonballtaffyo said:
Yeah , its a fact , I had me pants taken down by the seller, unfortunately for me there is 500 miles separating me from him , otherwise I would have popped round for a quiet word . As for the engine I know I'm gonna struggle but needs must , need the car for work next week lol hope things go well . Was told the clutch had been replaced but again I won't know till it's in bits .. No doubt il vein here asking questions soon ...
Same happened to me, it was cheap enough that I could justify 'some' problems. Didn't realise it would end up with the engine out.

Oh well, has meant some bonding time with my Dad and me learning a fair bit about engines.
Yes, my dad helped me when we did the Fiat 500 engine, they are dead easy but they all operate on the same principle and need the same care when building.

Youtube has some excellent videos, take photos, ask for advice and honestly you will get it done, some effort and biting the bullet now will give you some satisfaction and reduce your fear of things like this.

I got caught out like this on a FIat Coupe Turbo, lad who bought it as a project had little experience but bought it, fixed it and modified it to 300 bhp, wish I had done it rather than fretting, it isnt that hard as long as you read up on it and ask questions.

Cannonballtaffyo

Original Poster:

16 posts

167 months

Friday 21st October 2011
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Right guys D-Day has arrived , tools out , car in yard , engine hoist being delivered tonight ... Here goes lol