Where have Subarus Been All My Life???

vierte
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Where have Subarus Been All My Life???

Postby vierte » Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:14

So I picked up a blown up 2003 forester for pocket change.. and a legacy motor with head gaskets and timing components replaced for almost free.. and after 2 hours of actual work, 2 hours of heavy drinking and bullshitting with bystanders, and another hour of snapping pictures of things so I don't forget where they go... The motor is out of the car!

No bloody knuckles... no inventing elaborately colorful new curse words... No broken exhaust studs or rounded nuts.. I don't want to jinx the process.. but this has been the easiest car I have every worked on in my entire life.

Mazda.. I <3 you a bunch.. but you could learn a thing or two from Subaru!
2003 MazdaSpeed Potege: Wiseco Pistons, Molnar Rods, Walboro 255, Megasquirt Ecu, Front Mount, Daily Driver.
1991 Mazda Rx-7 Convertible: Rebuilt 4-Port Turbo Block, TII drivetrain swap, Walboro 255, Megasquirt, Aeromotive FPR, JIC coilovers, 4" Stainless exhaust, Ticket Getter.
1976 Honda CB750F: Cafe Racer, Powder coated, Rebuilt, re-bearing/bushing, tapered stem bearing upgrade, Garage Project
2014 Silverado: Mazda Support Vehicle
2003 Subaru Forester: What was I thinking?...

coloskydiver
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Postby coloskydiver » Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:14

Sounds like your ready to build an 818!!!
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Learjet45
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Postby Learjet45 » Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:14

Did you get an EJ253 (naturally aspirated) from a 2.5i, or did you find an EJ255 from a GT?

I love my Subaru. Never had a bad experience working on my car, aside from replacing an O2 sensor when I managed to strip the very first thread on the bung. Managed to (have a friend) fix the thread with a file which involved dropping the headers, but it wasn't that bad all things considered! The cross compatibility of parts between models is wonderful too.
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[color="Blue"]2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5i PZEV - Current Ride, 100% stock[/color]
[color="Gray"]2005 Mazda 6i Pebble Ash Metallic - Dead[/color]

vierte
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Location: Denver CO

Postby vierte » Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:14

coloskydiver wrote:Sounds like your ready to build an 818!!!


Ha! Almost. A guy at my office is building one right now. I have too many cars for that just yet..

I think the motor I picked up is actually an EJ251 from a 2000 Legacy. I have found some subtle differences between it and whatever engine is in the Forester.. but it looks like it will work.

I played with the idea of swapping a EJ255.. but there's a few issues.. its automatic.. so I would have to swap a manual transmission for the fun factor.. and the car is going to be a gift to my girlfriend.. who currently can't really drive a manual very well.. So it will be boring NA for now. I've heard you have to swap the subframe to clear the down pipe too.
2003 MazdaSpeed Potege: Wiseco Pistons, Molnar Rods, Walboro 255, Megasquirt Ecu, Front Mount, Daily Driver.

1991 Mazda Rx-7 Convertible: Rebuilt 4-Port Turbo Block, TII drivetrain swap, Walboro 255, Megasquirt, Aeromotive FPR, JIC coilovers, 4" Stainless exhaust, Ticket Getter.

1976 Honda CB750F: Cafe Racer, Powder coated, Rebuilt, re-bearing/bushing, tapered stem bearing upgrade, Garage Project

2014 Silverado: Mazda Support Vehicle

2003 Subaru Forester: What was I thinking?...

vierte
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Posts: 315
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 9:14
Location: Denver CO

Postby vierte » Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:14

I take it all back! lol.. So the used motor that I picked up that already had the head gaskets replaced... might have a blown head gasket. I found this out about 100miles from home during the first major break in drive!

After I tow it back, I'm going to pull the engine and replace the head gaskets. But it concerns me that it may have failed so quickly. Anyone have a good machine shop that can surface and inspect suby cylinder heads in the denver area?
2003 MazdaSpeed Potege: Wiseco Pistons, Molnar Rods, Walboro 255, Megasquirt Ecu, Front Mount, Daily Driver.

1991 Mazda Rx-7 Convertible: Rebuilt 4-Port Turbo Block, TII drivetrain swap, Walboro 255, Megasquirt, Aeromotive FPR, JIC coilovers, 4" Stainless exhaust, Ticket Getter.

1976 Honda CB750F: Cafe Racer, Powder coated, Rebuilt, re-bearing/bushing, tapered stem bearing upgrade, Garage Project

2014 Silverado: Mazda Support Vehicle

2003 Subaru Forester: What was I thinking?...

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RX-7 Chris
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Postby RX-7 Chris » Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:14

have the heads checked for cracks.
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1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm

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Shadowden
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Postby Shadowden » Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:14

vierte wrote:I take it all back! lol.. So the used motor that I picked up that already had the head gaskets replaced... might have a blown head gasket. I found this out about 100miles from home during the first major break in drive!

After I tow it back, I'm going to pull the engine and replace the head gaskets. But it concerns me that it may have failed so quickly. Anyone have a good machine shop that can surface and inspect suby cylinder heads in the denver area?


I haven't used anybody personally. There are a ton of car/engine shops south of Hampden and east of Santa Fe (close to 3R Racing). I'm sure any of them could do it, but not sure on pricing or quality.

vierte
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Posts: 315
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 9:14
Location: Denver CO

Postby vierte » Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:14

RX-7 Chris wrote:have the heads checked for cracks.


Thats the plan! I'm half tempted to take the heads to fort collins, there's a great automotive machine shop there that has done most of my work.
2003 MazdaSpeed Potege: Wiseco Pistons, Molnar Rods, Walboro 255, Megasquirt Ecu, Front Mount, Daily Driver.

1991 Mazda Rx-7 Convertible: Rebuilt 4-Port Turbo Block, TII drivetrain swap, Walboro 255, Megasquirt, Aeromotive FPR, JIC coilovers, 4" Stainless exhaust, Ticket Getter.

1976 Honda CB750F: Cafe Racer, Powder coated, Rebuilt, re-bearing/bushing, tapered stem bearing upgrade, Garage Project

2014 Silverado: Mazda Support Vehicle

2003 Subaru Forester: What was I thinking?...


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