Knock knock?

[WREXTCY]

I posted over in the new member section last week of my new car....

....have put about 1000 miles since I bought it, was driving to snowshoe yesterday when catastrophic failure happened about 20 minutes before we got there. I was just cruisin along at about 60-65, very light load on the engine. I then heard a clicking sound that very rapidly turned into a loud knock/slap, engine died, and I proceeded to yell many a profanity at the top of my lungs. Then had to get a 96 mile tow back through the mountains after we walked to the closest house and called AAA since we had no cell service.

All that being said, I figured I'd post here to get advice on a few options for what to do next, since I was told there are lots of subie guys round these parts. It also sucks since I had about $1200 of routine maintenance just done. My guess is a spun bearing or cracked ringland. First thing I'd like to do is have someone who is a guru come listen to it start it 1 more time to confirm my suspicions, then check the oil for metal. I haven't started looking into options yet but I have a few ideas in mind. One of my main questions is, have any of you around here built a boxer before, and does anyone know of a garage I can rent/store my car while the rebuild/swap happens? All help is greatly appreciated.

[CaptainHenreh]

where you at? I can take a looksee.

[CaptainHenreh]

Admittedly though, ringland issues aren't as common on 2.0's, and if you have spun a bearing (or really, cracked a ringland for that matter) then the easy button is just a EJ207 swap. drop in, ECU plugs in, more horsepowers, forged internals and MMMMMM dat 8k redline.

[WREXTCY]

Admittedly though, ringland issues aren't as common on 2.0's, and if you have spun a bearing (or really, cracked a ringland for that matter) then the easy button is just a EJ207 swap. drop in, ECU plugs in, more horsepowers, forged internals and MMMMMM dat 8k redline.

Oh trust me, thats where I'm leaning. What do you think Id be looking at for the price of that full swap? Also, how much do you think I'd be able to recoup selling a motor with a spun bearing, I know not much but still something.

[CaptainHenreh]

Admittedly though, ringland issues aren't as common on 2.0's, and if you have spun a bearing (or really, cracked a ringland for that matter) then the easy button is just a EJ207 swap. drop in, ECU plugs in, more horsepowers, forged internals and MMMMMM dat 8k redline.

Oh trust me, thats where I'm leaning. What do you think Id be looking at for the price of that full swap? Also, how much do you think I'd be able to recoup selling a motor with a spun bearing, I know not much but still something.

A V5 or something, maybe 3500 for the motor. While it was out I'd do all the maintenance stuff, gaskets and whatnot, add another 300 bucks. Then either put it in yourself or pay a shop to do it. I'm guessing 6 hours book @ 65/hr. Or you could talk to Jason he might could do it cheaper for you.

And for your busted block...about treefiddy.

[WREXTCY]

What if I went the route of a front clip? Im looking at some that cost around that price range but include a whole lot more odds and ends that I could sell and recoup $$ because everyone loves maaad jdm legit parts yo.

[JustinG]

As long as you get the clip from a legitimate source then you should be good to go. I can think of one place in Nova (dont remember the name but i can get it) and one place in Richmond (J-SPEC) that I would trust getting a front clip from.

[SlimKlim]

Wow, that really sucks. I have no advice to offer since I don't know jack shit about Subaru parts, just sharing my condolences. How many miles were on the motor when it let go?

I've never blown the motor in a car somehow, motorcycle a few times, but never a car. I should probably knock on wood after saying that while DDing a VW...

[WREXTCY]

Wow, that really sucks. I have no advice to offer since I don't know jack shit about Subaru parts, just sharing my condolences. How many miles were on the motor when it let go?

I've never blown the motor in a car somehow, motorcycle a few times, but never a car. I should probably knock on wood after saying that while DDing a VW...

129k and I honestly only ever thought rod knock existed in my nightmares. I used to read about people with spun bearings and would try to imagine how terrible it would be.

[Jake]

129k and I honestly only ever thought rod knock existed in my nightmares. I used to read about people with spun bearings and would try to imagine how terrible it would be.

I feel ya. I blew through two motors in my Miata... first one was understandable (it led a pampered life until it was tracked and the piston rings couldn't keep up) but the second was a failure of a junkyard motor that I initially didn't know was a junkyard motor. It sucks. It's easier to deal with in a car that's been tracked for a year or two, because that's a rough life. But I can't think your 129k wagon had that hard of a life...

Good news is, if you can source another motor, swaps aren't that hard. Happy to lend a hand or a set of wrenches or knowledge.

[SlimKlim]

Good news is, if you can source another motor, swaps aren't that hard. Happy to lend a hand or a set of wrenches or knowledge.

Just label. everything. Label your labels.

129k seems far too young to die, sorry you have to deal with it. :?

[CaptainHenreh]

What if I went the route of a front clip? Im looking at some that cost around that price range but include a whole lot more odds and ends that I could sell and recoup $$ because everyone loves maaad jdm legit parts yo.

Well, if you can find a JDM STi front clip for 3500 you should, you know, buy it. I don't think you can though.

But, like, here's a V5 engine/trans/diff combo for 3k:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Subaru-Impreza-WRX-STI-GC8-EJ207-Turbo-Engine-w-DCCD-5-Speed-ECU-DIFF-Type-RA-/171216643626?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27dd4ea62a&vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Subaru-Impreza- ... 2a&vxp=mtr</a><!-- m -->


Regardless, you really just need the engine. The harness is the same usdm WRX/STI to jdm WRX/STI, you just have to plug the new motor in to the ECU that matches it. (note: the NA cars have wildly different wiring harnesses)

But let's see what the actual damage to your car is first, shall we?

[WREXTCY]

129k and I honestly only ever thought rod knock existed in my nightmares. I used to read about people with spun bearings and would try to imagine how terrible it would be.

I feel ya. I blew through two motors in my Miata... first one was understandable (it led a pampered life until it was tracked and the piston rings couldn't keep up) but the second was a failure of a junkyard motor that I initially didn't know was a junkyard motor. It sucks. It's easier to deal with in a car that's been tracked for a year or two, because that's a rough life. But I can't think your 129k wagon had that hard of a life...

Good news is, if you can source another motor, swaps aren't that hard. Happy to lend a hand or a set of wrenches or knowledge.

Yea I cant imagine it was ever beat on before me. 1 owner, didnt know jack about cars, garage kept for half its life.

Good news is, if you can source another motor, swaps aren't that hard. Happy to lend a hand or a set of wrenches or knowledge.

Just label. everything. Label your labels.

129k seems far too young to die, sorry you have to deal with it. :?

Yea it sucks but I'm the kind of person to look on the bright side of situations. Like, no matter what happens next it will probably have moar powaaa and low mileage, which will be nice. Mostly the low mileage thing.

What if I went the route of a front clip? Im looking at some that cost around that price range but include a whole lot more odds and ends that I could sell and recoup $$ because everyone loves maaad jdm legit parts yo.

Well, if you can find a JDM STi front clip for 3500 you should, you know, buy it. I don't think you can though.

But, like, here's a V5 engine/trans/diff combo for 3k:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Subaru-Impreza-WRX-STI-GC8-EJ207-Turbo-Engine-w-DCCD-5-Speed-ECU-DIFF-Type-RA-/171216643626?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27dd4ea62a&vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Subaru-Impreza- ... 2a&vxp=mtr</a><!-- m -->


Regardless, you really just need the engine. The harness is the same usdm WRX/STI to jdm WRX/STI, you just have to plug the new motor in to the ECU that matches it. (note: the NA cars have wildly different wiring harnesses)

But let's see what the actual damage to your car is first, shall we?

And yes absolutely we shall. Are you free tomorrow, hopefully the rain will subside?

[CaptainHenreh]

I mean, freeish. As "free" as a man with an infant, a career, and a master's degree to finish can be.

[WREXTCY]

I mean, freeish. As "free" as a man with an infant, a career, and a master's degree to finish can be.

Haha I understand. Free enough to make a quick pit stop to confirm depressing news that I already know?

[CaptainHenreh]

I mean, freeish. As "free" as a man with an infant, a career, and a master's degree to finish can be.

Haha I understand. Free enough to make a quick pit stop to confirm depressing news that I already know?

Prolly. Send me a PM with where you are, contact #, and some time windows.

[NTIman]

If you ever need a hand tearing something apart, let me know.

I love wrenching on Subies.

[Sully]

If you ever need a hand tearing something apart, let me know.

I love wrenching on Subies.

How much fun is it to tear about apart the 2.5l turbo motor to put forged internals in?!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[NTIman]

If you ever need a hand tearing something apart, let me know.

I love wrenching on Subies.

How much fun is it to tear about apart the 2.5l turbo motor to put forged internals in?!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

LOL

[DierwulfBL]

Honestly, the cheapest/best way to get back on the road if it is a spun bearing is to do the hybrid 2.5l block/2.0L heads. You can get a shortblock shipped to your door from subaru dealers for ~$1900(good time to do drop in forged pistons ~$400). Best to get the heads machined to match your new bore so ~$400 for that, then headgaskets for ~$200. You would then have basically a USDM STi engine with no AVCS. Also using your USDM ECU on the JDM motor wouldnt use the AVCS either, which would make it less powerful than listed.

Just another option to consider as this is what many spun bearing 2.0L end up being