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Old 11-18-2004, 10:18 PM   #1
CirrusWRX
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Yardley, PA
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2010 WRX STI SE
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Default Help! Brother has blown 1997 Legacy Outback motor - help me find a new motor?

Hi all, asking for some help from some fellow tri-staters. I won't give you the sob story, but my older (only) brother recently "inherited" my dad's 1997 Legacy Outback wagon. The car had 150,000 highway miles on it, but recently came back to PA from Vermont on 3 cylinders. Compression check yields 0 in cylinder #3 (according to local and trusted mechanic).

My brother and fiancee are what I would describe as "just starting out" as they both just started working as pilots. He flies for Northwest, she flies for Continental Express. If any of you know anything about pilots who are just starting out, you know two things: (1) to train to be a pilot in the private industryr (ie not military), it costs roughly $35k in flight school (each). (2) starting pilots make between $15k-18k a year for the first few years. No I'm not kidding.

So what I'm asking- does anybody in the tristate area have, have access to, or KNOW somebody who has a 2.5L motor with relatively low miles in good condition they are willing to sell? I'll drive anywhere to pick it up! Since it's a 1997 2.5L, OBDII, 5spd, I think there are a lot of options and at least there are a TON of legacies running around the northeast, but sourcing an engine is another story altogether. I believe a shortblock would do the trick, but if you have a "complete" long block, that's less work to do for the swap.

The car itself is in fantastic condition with a new clutch (replaced about 3 months ago) all new suspension components, bushings, resurfaced flywheel, interior is practically new, body is in great shape, etc. So it's a fantastic car with a blown motor.

Anybody have anything to offer? (Yeah - a WRX motor like Garrick has would be trick, but that's not a reality - I'm talking as cheap as we can to get this car back on the road and run strong for another 30,000-60,000 thousand miles.) Or maybe you know of somebody trying to get rid of a motor? Kindly drop me a line via PM or email.

Again, I need to stress that we're not looking for "freebies" - they're totally willing to pay fair market value so if you have something, let me know and I'll do my best to make you a fair offer, but they just can't afford to bring it to a dealership to have them say, "Needs a brand new block and heads - $2500" - they just don't have the cash for that.

THANKS IN ADVANCE TRI-STATE!
Kyle
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Old 11-18-2004, 10:21 PM   #2
RidinLow
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Doh. I knew I should've held onto my EJ25 instead of selling it for a few bucks.

I have two EJ20's at home that would probably be just fine if you dig up some heads. You can have at least one of them, if not both.
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Old 11-18-2004, 11:28 PM   #3
jeffsnyder
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i have a short block from a 98 2.5RS w/ about 93k on it.

make me a good offer and its urs

Jeff
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Old 11-19-2004, 07:06 AM   #4
RidinLow
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Just had a thought, ask Zephyr who he sold my EJ25 to, there's a chance that he never installed it and might be willing to sell it back?
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Old 11-19-2004, 08:56 AM   #5
tm999xxx
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there is a probe in the back of my office that i could hotwire (or just take the key)

inside tip ...I really won the car but Lee put my name back j/k or am i?

sorry im really no help here....(like most things) but ttt
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Old 11-19-2004, 09:03 AM   #6
Mulder
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If the cylinder has 0 compression it's likely from a toasted valve, so you would need a long block vs. a short block. Also if the engine is otherwise in good shape and has been well maintained it might be worth pulling the head and repairing it. The motor isn't really "blown" with just a bad valve (assuming that's what it is).
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Old 11-19-2004, 09:22 AM   #7
CirrusWRX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulder
If the cylinder has 0 compression it's likely from a toasted valve, so you would need a long block vs. a short block. Also if the engine is otherwise in good shape and has been well maintained it might be worth pulling the head and repairing it. The motor isn't really "blown" with just a bad valve (assuming that's what it is).
Yeah -thinking more about it last night, I agree that I need to go long block vs. short block, but my thought of pulling and replacing heads is quickly replaced by the thought of NEVER having to touch the engine again. In other words, with 150k on the motor, and being that the REST of the car is in fantastic shape, and given that this needs to be reliable transportation for another few years, I think doing an entire long block would be the easiest and most cost effective way to get to the end result.

G- I will definitely contact Z to see if he has the contact info. Got a quote from a junkyard this morning for a 92,000 mile motor for $1600 hopefully can find something a bit south of there, but who knows what we'll find...

Jeff - thanks for the offer, but as was mentioned, and obviously without inspecting it, have to assume the heads are damaged as well, I'll be on the lookout for a long block.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP EVERYBODY

PS tmxxx9x9smxx9x9x - I here there is a nearly new silver STi just PARKED in the garage... I don't think anybody drives that, so I'll just hotwire that and take that if you don't mind...
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Old 11-19-2004, 09:25 AM   #8
Mulder
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Well unless you get a new long block, there is still no guarantee that you won't have to touch it again. It depends on the mileage and condition of whatever used motor you put in. If the current motor is otherwise in good shape, at least you know what you're dealing with.
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Old 11-20-2004, 08:48 PM   #9
CirrusWRX
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weekend bump
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