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!

Sounds like your ready to build an 818!!!

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.

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.

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?

have the heads checked for cracks.

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.

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.