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Performance rebuild of EZ30


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This isn't my first rodeo when it comes to rebuilding engines. I've pulled, torn apart, diagnosed, and rebuilt a nice handful of flat-fours over the past year and a half, but I don't think I fully prepared myself for rebuilding an EZ30.

 

I purchased a 2006 Subaru Outback LLBean 3.0R from a dealership on a whim when the car was priced at $1500 with a bad engine (I take the phrase bad engine with a grain of salt). This thread will cover my experience of the entire rebuild of the engine from start to finish with some goodies down the road.

 

Parts list (subject to change as the process goes on):

- Supertech pistons (P6-SU8920-N18)

- Pauter connecting rods (SUB-220-550-1315F)

- Supertech valve package (MSVP-STD-EZ302)

- Outfront Custom ARP head studs (OUT-ENG-EZ30STUD)

IMG_0553.thumb.jpg.f3c03d2bbb04f2bcb55fba2c62c5b1c9.jpg

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Interested in watching this process. I like the idea of rescuing an LL Bean Outback from oblivion.

 

The LL Bean will be undergoing some serious changes to make it fit the image in my head. Change bits out in the drivetrain to take it to legacy spec (even some spec.b hardware), fresh paint job, and a black interior. Oh, I forgot the turbo and the swap to a spec.b 6spd.

 

Stay tuned!

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The LL Bean will be undergoing some serious changes to make it fit the image in my head. Change bits out in the drivetrain to take it to legacy spec (even some spec.b hardware), fresh paint job, and a black interior. Oh, I forgot the turbo and the swap to a spec.b 6spd.

 

Stay tuned!

 

I really want full documentation of this as this is my dream. Twinscroll 7163 mated to an h6.

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  • 4 months later...

After taking a break from this project for a few months while I traveled, I will be getting back to this project starting in April. Goals for the engine have changed a bit since I last posted. When complete the engine will be installed in a 1997 Impreza coupe, but this thread will focus just on engine development.

 

The engine at this point is completely torn down and I'm weighing my options between using these case halves, buying a used JDM ez30 with low miles or buying all brand new. Will touch more on that in the next post with a detailed account of tearing down the motor.

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http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2664&pictureid=12157

Most of my experience comes from working with older Subarus, primarily 1st and 2nd gen Outbacks. Pulling the ez30 was a PITA to say the least. Once you get past the extra two cylinders, it's not much different from any other Subaru engine.

 

Once the engine was pulled (did a poor job of documenting this) I got straight to stripping it down. Removing accessories, intake, fuel, and wiring was all very straight forward, felt reminiscent of working with older EJ engines. Well, this was the extent of familiarity. You can completely pull the timing system (covers included) from an EJ with a handful of bolts. The EZ30 on the other hand has over 100 screws to remove the front timing cover and rear timing cover (includes the oil pump and water pump). To further conserve space, instead of using hex head bolts, they chose to use socket head and countersunk screws, requiring the use of 4mm-6mm hex bit sockets. An engine with 178,000 miles and so many small screws made me nervous, luckily I managed to only strip several along the way.

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2664&pictureid=12158

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2664&pictureid=12160

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2664&pictureid=12161

 

From here, I went about removing the heads and the upper (large aluminum block) oil pan and lower oil pan. The only other hiccup I had during the teardown process was removal of the flexplate. Subaru decided to ditch the normal hex head bolts and replace them with a specialty size Torx T50 bolt (a standard torx socket does not work). Company23 luckily sells the Torx T50 plus for this exact purpose. Unfortunately two of the bolts still stripped and I had to take an angle grinder to them to remove them.

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2664&pictureid=12162

http://legacygt.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2664&pictureid=12163

 

At this point the engine is fully disassembled and awaiting the next steps. Need to determine if an engine that has undergone so much use is worth investing the money into for a performance rebuild where reliability is my number one priority.

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FWIW, you can get a T50+ at many places.

 

Good luck going forward.

 

 

Also, hit the end of the breaker bar holding the hex head bit with a hammer while pushing in the off direction, making a home made impact wrench.

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

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FWIW, you can get a T50+ at many places.

 

Good luck going forward.

 

 

Also, hit the end of the breaker bar holding the hex head bit with a hammer while pushing in the off direction, making a home made impact wrench.

 

I guess I haven't worked with torx enough to realize there was a plus variation. After I stripped a few hex bit heads, I figured out a similar solution that saved the rest of the bolts.

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Not sure what replacing stock pistons will bring if some forced induction isn't added.

 

You may want to check engine subforum on sb9t.com (Tribeca forum). They have multiple engine threads, including one I posted with part numbers. Also, on this forum there are threads about adding compressors to 3.6 H6 on 2010, it may be of interest to you.

 

I do have a long term project in the future to have boosted H6 with 6MT. Will watch what you end up doing.

2005 LGT Wagon Limited 6 MT RBP Stage 2 - 249K

2007 B9 Tribeca Limited DGM - 272K

SOLD - 2005 OB Limited 5 MT Silver - 245K

SOLD - 2010 OB 6 MT Silver - 205K

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Not sure what replacing stock pistons will bring if some forced induction isn't added.

 

You may want to check engine subforum on sb9t.com (Tribeca forum). They have multiple engine threads, including one I posted with part numbers. Also, on this forum there are threads about adding compressors to 3.6 H6 on 2010, it may be of interest to you.

 

I do have a long term project in the future to have boosted H6 with 6MT. Will watch what you end up doing.

 

Forged internals on the EZ30 mated to a garrett turbo (undecided on which one) and a 2004 STI 6MT. This isn't remaining NA

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