MrTris Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 ok heres a quick opinion question, local subie shop (not dealer) has BNIB EJ257 shortblock for 1500, good buy? Why is it so cheap? I mean, yes, $1500 is a great cash price for a NEVER BEEN USED/TOUCHED/DROPPED 257, but, seriously, why's it so cheap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 idk, the shop got it and never used it, need to get rid of it? i mean these guys do work on almost everyone's car down in the south florida region Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 idk, the shop got it and never used it, need to get rid of it? i mean these guys do work on almost everyone's car down in the south florida region Ehhh. . . A block is a block is a block. They don't depreciate unless they've been sitting and they've been lapped in technology or application. Heuberger's price of $1645 is COST on those blocks. They've taken a zero-margin on ALL EJ25x shortblocks in order to be the number-one volume seller. (Actually, they've earned the right/ability to sell them at cost.) These motors are a commodity and are in-demand; a selling price below cost on an unused, "BNIB" EJ257 sounds like a red flag to me. But hey, maybe you're just getting a homie-hookup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Something along those lines. As far as I know, he bought it for a swap for a spun bearing motor and I think he decided on another route. Hes unnegotiable on the price either so 1500 is bottom line price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Something along those lines. As far as I know, he bought it for a swap for a spun bearing motor and I think he decided on another route. His price is non-negotiable, so 1500 is bottom line price. ftfy. Even best case scenario, he's taking a $150 loss. (Assuming he got it shipped for free). How many of your homies are willing to give you $150 off something that A) isn't damaged; and B) he paid more for? I see this ending with a shrug and a, "Seems legit" . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Lmao idk man honestly, this guy and his partner are the 2 mechanics that do most work with the local subaru club cars. I admit I've had my shady past with them but it's not like this motor was specifically offered to me. Hes been trying to sell it for a week now on the Florida subaru pages but as long as my motor is still running I'm not in a rush to buy a motor. I rather recoup and get some funds together if I have the chance to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Lmao idk man honestly, this guy and his partner are the 2 mechanics that do most work with the local subaru club cars. I admit I've had my shady past with them but it's not like this motor was specifically offered to me. Hes been trying to sell it for a week now on the Florida subaru pages but as long as my motor is still running I'm not in a rush to buy a motor. I rather recoup and get some funds together if I have the chance to 'Splain. Did you know that engine-rebuilding is often a cathartic, and Karma-cleansing experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Lol I'm truthfully not that confident in my ability to build the motor myself honestly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compsurge Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Maybe I missed it. Did you compression test all four cylinders? 120psi isn't necessarily bad if all four cylinders are still within a few points of each other. It indicates the gauge is possibly suspect - maybe it just reads low. If you didn't follow the appropriate methodology in testing, you could actually have 134-135 psi in that cylinder. If you haven't gotten a leakdown test done, do that next. Pay someone to do it for peace of mind before you spend money on a shortblock. Were the valve covers siliconed and gasketed? OEM uses silicone RTV with gaskets. I'm not saying they did it right, a little silicone goes a long way. If they are trying to move the shortblock out of the shop, it makes sense they sell it cheap. It's costing them money to have it in inventory. They might be trying to cut their losses on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Lol I'm truthfully not that confident in my ability to build the motor myself honestly That's good! Doing the internals is kinda the important part. Much like all hearts, you should leave the building of them to God. Get yours the same way we all did -- from a box. Preassembled. Or did you mean putting all the other shit on it? Because you can totally do that. I did, and, I'm a better person for having done so. Plus, you get to be a cool kid when you're done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 That's good! Doing the internals is kinda the important part. Much like all hearts, you should leave the building of them to God. Get yours the same way we all did -- from a box. Preassembled. Or did you mean putting all the other shit on it? Because you can totally do that. I did, and, I'm a better person for having done so. Plus, you get to be a cool kid when you're done. Lol I was referring to internal construction. Assuming I'd purchase a pre-assembled shortblock I believe I could tackle the installation and mating of the heads to the block by myself and if not completely on my own then with some friends for help. But like you said, I'd leave the internals to the professionals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 If they are trying to move the shortblock out of the shop, it makes sense they sell it cheap. It's costing them money to have it in inventory. They might be trying to cut their losses on it. I don't normally disagree with you, but, I take exception here. Any Subaru shop knows that turbo motors are a commodity and should be on-hand at all times, if you want to help the customers. I see no possible scenario where keeping a perfectly good, non-damaged/installed/run turbo shortblock would COST money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 I don't normally disagree with you, but, I take exception here. Any Subaru shop knows that turbo motors are a commodity and should be on-hand at all times, if you want to help the customers. I see no possible scenario where keeping a perfectly good, non-damaged/installed/run turbo shortblock would COST money. Well keep in mind "shop" in this situation is 2 guys (3 now since one is injured) that rent out a bay at a body shop down in Miami. They're a growing business and have proven their work in the local community but by no means at this point a shop capable of handling having engines on hand. Sure they'll order some if needed and they have direct connections to the nearest subaru dealer as well as a Japanese motor importer. So there could be some point to what he was saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 ok heres a quick opinion question, local subie shop (not dealer) has BNIB EJ257 shortblock for 1500, good buy? Does it look like the new block in my pictures ? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 It's literally brand new in the box. He hasn't even taken it out of the box completely for photo purposes either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Sounds like a good deal. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 I sent him a message regarding that, let's see if he still has it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 he still has it, i just have to speak to him about holding it for another week or 2. in the meantime im looking at the list of parts needed and i see that i am lucky to have a few parts already sitting around. a couple of my best purchases were a torque solutions tmic ($100 almost brand new condition) and the best of all was a 7K mile IHI VF52 with absolutely no shaft play and no cracks whatsoever for 350. so these definitely reduce from the shopping list and are heavily priced items too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compsurge Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I think you should just carbon copy Max's build and call it a day. Did you compression test the other two cylinders? Do that before buying the block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Tell him you'll send him deposit to hold it. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxman Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 I don't normally disagree with you, but, I take exception here. Any Subaru shop knows that turbo motors are a commodity and should be on-hand at all times, if you want to help the customers. I see no possible scenario where keeping a perfectly good, non-damaged/installed/run turbo shortblock would COST money. The opportunity cost of having his capital tied up in inventory that's not moving vs. inventory that is moving is likely greater than the loss he'll take on the short block. Small businesses live and die on cash flow, non moving inventory is a killer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 Tell him you'll send him deposit to hold it. offered him one, waiting on response. I do have another question though, seeing that it is a new EJ257, im still going to be prone to ringland failure correct? its just one thing that has been hovering in my mind as soon as i started considering a stock 257 block Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 The opportunity cost of having his capital tied up in inventory that's not moving vs. inventory that is moving is likely greater than the loss he'll take on the short block. Small businesses live and die on cash flow, non moving inventory is a killer... i see some accounting over here..... good man lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShermanLGT Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 ok sorry for shifting directions so quickly but i do wanna ask for you opinions about this, an opportunity just came up for running a hybrid setup, a friend of mine pulled out a leaky EJ20 out of his bugeye and is parting it out for dirt cheap (hes just in need of money, like badly) anyway, i was considering buying his heads, sending them off to be refurbished and decked and then mating them to that EJ257. would run with IHI VF52. any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTris Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 i see some accounting over here..... good man lol That's not accounting, that's bullshit. Regardless of whether or not it moves, if you're in the Subaru business, you can never have TOO MANY turbo shortblocks on hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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