Mariah05XT

how long do you run your oil? you may want to look into an AOS or something, it sound like you're running low on oil or you have a pickup issue or something.

Changed oil right on time ... the first motor blew because the dealers mechanic pinched the oil filter o-ring and the oil dumped out on as my wife was on the way home. Turbo went first and immediately follwed by the motor. The dealer tried everything to get around it but ultimately replaced it ... they gave us a new short block, turbo etc. but they said they had the heads rebuilt because they could not get new heads from SOA. When we tore down that motor the heads looked much more worn than 14K ... it had 48K on it when the dealer killed it. But when this new motor lost its turbo (had tons of debris in the oil line filter screen, which was hard to explain why it was even there at that point, I think they threw a bunch of the stuff back on without cleaning it properly) and then spun a bearing at 14K They tried to say I had not changed the oil as prescribed in the manual ... I came up with reciepts for three out of the six oil changes that I did and since I could not find the reciepts for two more of the actual three more I did they tolds me to hit the pavement, I had no idea I had to have reciepts. I found another motor in CO and put it in, it ran for about four months and then had a spun bearing as well. She has been sitting for over a year now in my garage. I want to get her back on the road so I have been accumulating parts ... Just wanted to hear what all you guys have to say about the best most reliable short block. Can I use a EJ257 and if so what issues does it bring to the table? Is it better than the EJ255?

I have a BNR EVO turbo, STI turbo oil lines, Cold air kit, New Uppipe (catless) and an AVO down pipe. Gonna go with a Magna flow exhaust and do some suspension mods to tighten her up ... but intend to only tune her for the BNR Turbo. Nothing radical ... any opinions, suggestions or pointers?

I'll be honest, the ringland thing is really a Subaru deal... not that it doesn't happen in other cars, but I NEVER hear any other car community talk about it. I never hear "Oh shit I lost a ringland on the LS1 at the strip." On Hondas people start freaking out about the stock sleeves (I had a friend drop a sleeve on his Integra), but you don't hear people with other types of aluminum blocks worrying about sleeves much.

 

On 7M Supras and twin turbo 3000GT's spun rod bearings are a major concern (I had rod knock on my old Supra), but you don't see people with Subarus freaking out about that much. On a DSM it's a timing belt jumping or crank walk in some cases which makes owners fret. On Rx-7s it's apex seals but it's almost never bearings or the crank. You don't need a built motor to make 500whp on that car as long as you can control heat and detonation. Every car has its strengths and weaknesses and then the internet forums can just amplify whatever concerns people have. And remember that many car communities have a "silent majority" of people who are happy with their car, don't have many problems, and don't feel the need to post on the internet about it.

Well it seems I am in the minority ... but I have had two motors with spun rod bearings. I am looking for a short block to get my poor XT back on the road. Any of you have suggestions about the best route to take ... I am not running any major mods or even any tune Mostly stock.