best way to go with spending 4k for a swap?

castle1977 · 10-18-2012, 03:37 PM

ill start off by saying i don't know a tons about these cars. i do know cars in general, and i have read a lot about the 2.0 engine. i have always wanted one, and i finally bought one about 2 months ago. i knew i would eventually need to rebuild the engine, although i was hoping to make it till the summer when i could do it myself. fate had other plans lol.

about 2 weeks ago my 2003 wrx burned a valve. although its still limping along, its time to figure out what to do with engine and my budget of around 4000$. the point of this thread is to look for feedback from people that have gone this route, or information i may have overlooked in my reading in the past few weeks. my goals are 250hp at the wheels and a better bottom end than stock, while remaining very reliable. i want to get 50k minimum. miles out of the new engine. after spending the past few weeks reading tons on here i have narrowed it down to two choices.

1. rebuild the stock 2.0 and go with the tdo4 19t turbo, bigger injectors and fp. the main thing i am worried about here is spinning a bearing and cracks in the heads. my engine right now has 185,000, and i have read that a decent amount of the heads on these cars develop spider cracks and there isn't really a good way to fix them.

2. go with a used ej255 and have it rebuilt stock. im thinking a vf34 turbo. going this route seems like the slightly better choice as its closer to stock and will most likely be more reliable and get slightly better mpg. i get the bottom end of the 2.5 block and don't need to do any real mods to run the turbo. i couldn't really find all that much info on doing this swap though and would like some feedback if someone has done it.

if there is a swap that i have missed i should be looking at, or something else i missed somewhere, please let me know.

BoristheAnimal · 10-18-2012, 05:22 PM

are you mechanically inclined or will you be having a shop do it? That all depends how far your 4k will go, if a shop does it, realistically 4k wont get you doodaly squat

castle1977 · 10-18-2012, 06:05 PM

4k will get either of the 2 above options done, im just on the fence as to which one will get the best results.

BoristheAnimal · 10-18-2012, 06:49 PM

Option # 1 A complete Block rebuild for a 2.0 will run you about 3500,
Turbo about $850
Injectors about $300
give or take for small additions, and a tune and tax, id say plan for 5500

BoristheAnimal · 10-18-2012, 06:50 PM

Easiest option is to find a used ej257 block, and a used 2.0 head which ever one has the burnt valve, get a sti turbo and a top mount and tune, should be around 4k and get you 270whp

castle1977 · 10-18-2012, 09:01 PM

thanks for the input, but i don't want to go the hybrid route, i already have quotes for both of the other jobs, both for just under 4k.

lukeskywrx · 10-18-2012, 10:59 PM

Just shop around and buy a 207 swap, you can find them for <3500$ if you really hunt for them. Sell your old motor for a few hundred $$ and you are set.

207 will easily reach your power goals with the stock turbo and will be very reliable at those power levels. rebuilt motors seem to be hit or miss.

BoristheAnimal · 10-18-2012, 11:29 PM

well right on man, pretty good prices then

10-18-2012, 03:37 PM	#1
castle1977 Scooby Newbie Member#: 332244 Join Date: Sep 2012 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: vail co Vehicle: 2003 wrx wagon black	best way to go with spending 4k for a swap? ill start off by saying i don't know a tons about these cars. i do know cars in general, and i have read a lot about the 2.0 engine. i have always wanted one, and i finally bought one about 2 months ago. i knew i would eventually need to rebuild the engine, although i was hoping to make it till the summer when i could do it myself. fate had other plans lol. about 2 weeks ago my 2003 wrx burned a valve. although its still limping along, its time to figure out what to do with engine and my budget of around 4000$. the point of this thread is to look for feedback from people that have gone this route, or information i may have overlooked in my reading in the past few weeks. my goals are 250hp at the wheels and a better bottom end than stock, while remaining very reliable. i want to get 50k minimum. miles out of the new engine. after spending the past few weeks reading tons on here i have narrowed it down to two choices. 1. rebuild the stock 2.0 and go with the tdo4 19t turbo, bigger injectors and fp. the main thing i am worried about here is spinning a bearing and cracks in the heads. my engine right now has 185,000, and i have read that a decent amount of the heads on these cars develop spider cracks and there isn't really a good way to fix them. 2. go with a used ej255 and have it rebuilt stock. im thinking a vf34 turbo. going this route seems like the slightly better choice as its closer to stock and will most likely be more reliable and get slightly better mpg. i get the bottom end of the 2.5 block and don't need to do any real mods to run the turbo. i couldn't really find all that much info on doing this swap though and would like some feedback if someone has done it. if there is a swap that i have missed i should be looking at, or something else i missed somewhere, please let me know.

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10-18-2012, 05:22 PM	#2
BoristheAnimal Scooby Newbie Member#: 328758 Join Date: Aug 2012	are you mechanically inclined or will you be having a shop do it? That all depends how far your 4k will go, if a shop does it, realistically 4k wont get you doodaly squat

10-18-2012, 06:05 PM	#3
castle1977 Scooby Newbie Member#: 332244 Join Date: Sep 2012 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: vail co Vehicle: 2003 wrx wagon black	4k will get either of the 2 above options done, im just on the fence as to which one will get the best results.

10-18-2012, 06:49 PM	#4
BoristheAnimal Scooby Newbie Member#: 328758 Join Date: Aug 2012	Option # 1 A complete Block rebuild for a 2.0 will run you about 3500, Turbo about $850 Injectors about $300 give or take for small additions, and a tune and tax, id say plan for 5500

10-18-2012, 06:50 PM	#5
BoristheAnimal Scooby Newbie Member#: 328758 Join Date: Aug 2012	Easiest option is to find a used ej257 block, and a used 2.0 head which ever one has the burnt valve, get a sti turbo and a top mount and tune, should be around 4k and get you 270whp

10-18-2012, 09:01 PM	#6
castle1977 Scooby Newbie Member#: 332244 Join Date: Sep 2012 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: vail co Vehicle: 2003 wrx wagon black	thanks for the input, but i don't want to go the hybrid route, i already have quotes for both of the other jobs, both for just under 4k.

10-18-2012, 10:59 PM	#7
lukeskywrx Scooby Specialist Member#: 59837 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Arizona Vehicle: 2004 Spec-C Type RA What MAF? -Speed Density!	Just shop around and buy a 207 swap, you can find them for <3500$ if you really hunt for them. Sell your old motor for a few hundred $$ and you are set. 207 will easily reach your power goals with the stock turbo and will be very reliable at those power levels. rebuilt motors seem to be hit or miss.

10-18-2012, 11:29 PM	#8
BoristheAnimal Scooby Newbie Member#: 328758 Join Date: Aug 2012	well right on man, pretty good prices then