To build or not to build...

[Ablaze]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

 

I've got an 05 LGT that I'm at a crossroads with. The car is a black, 5EAT with 194k miles which has been my DD for 3 years / 45k miles. It has a hallman pro manual boost controller and BNR 16g turbo and was protuned by the previous owner for a mild power bump over stock (DD tune).

 

Recently, it developed a rough idle and started throwing misfire codes on #4. After some troubleshooting (new plugs and coils), the misfire is gone but has trouble revving and making boost under load (between 2-3.5k).

 

It runs and drives but has 90 psi in #1-3 and 40 psi in #4. Removing the oil filler cap while idling, white puffs of smoke are visible and there is plenty of oil blow by in the intercooler / throttle body. Its also leaking oil from various locations. Seems like combustion pressure is getting into the case.

 

I've loved driving the car but am struggling to find a way to reliably (and hopefully economically) get it back to working order.

 

The big issue I have is that I don't have the space or equipment to pull the engine and work on it myself (plus it's winter here in Northern Indiana; no heated garage) and I haven't been able to find a good builder / tuner in the area.

 

I did take it one place who pushed an IAG build starting around $9k (new shortblock only). Too rich for my blood.

 

The strangest thing about this situation is that my wife loves the car and insists that I keep it and get it fixed.

I'm just really having a hard time justifying the investment in a 15 year old, 200k mile turbo Subaru. If I had a solid builder / tuner to work with (at reasonable costs) maybe things would be different.

 

So I put it to you, to build or not to build?

Should I dump it and run?

Take my chances on a salvage engine?

 

Anybody know of a reliable builder / tuner who specializes in EJ motors in the South Bend, IN area?

 

Thanks for your time!

[VespaGTS]

40psi is no good dude.

 

$9k is just crazy. Do not do that!

 

I am not there yet myself, but I am already looking at the options.

 

Good luck!

[08SpecB_DE]

Buy a new shortblock from Heuberger and find a good machine shop in your area to go over the heads. I don't see a need for a staged block especially if your tune is conservative. I think you can expect a price north of 5k for everything.

[gkinslow]

You won't find a shop that knows what they are doing with Subarus AND is reasonably priced.

 

Expect to be north of 5k (realistacally closer to 10K) for having a shop do it. What really adds up are the "while I'm in there" costs.

 

Unless the rest of the car is in pristine condition or it will cause your wife to divorce you, I'd cut my losses and get another vehicle.

[whitetiger]

dump it and run. at 194K, the trans is next to go. so at that point, the required investment is way more than you'd ever get back.

[Chocoholic005]

I did take it one place who pushed an IAG build starting around $9k (new shortblock only). Too rich for my blood.

 

I realize that's probably an installed price, but its still insane. You can get a brand new longblock from IAG for $8k.

 

You can give these guys in Kalamazoo a shout. I personally haven't worked with them, but I've never heard anything bad either:

 

https://www.synergyengines.com/ej255

 

dump it and run. at 194K, the trans is next to go. so at that point, the required investment is way more than you'd ever get back.

 

You mean my engineless legacy isn't currently worth the $25k I've put into it?

[GEE-OTTO]

dump it and run. at 194K, the trans is next to go. so at that point, the required investment is way more than you'd ever get back.

 

This is the best option and there are newer Subarus or other vehicles to be had for $9k down/outright:redface:

[Ablaze]

40psi is no good dude.

 

Indeed not. Is there any way to diagnose the compression loss short of a complete tear down? I've read about ring lands or possibly valves being the culprit in #4...

 

Buy a new shortblock from Heuberger and find a good machine shop in your area to go over the heads. I don't see a need for a staged block especially if your tune is conservative. I think you can expect a price north of 5k for everything.

 

I've looked into an STI shortblock build. Ultimately comes down to space, equipment, and time for me. I just don't have any of the above.

 

Also, $5k is pretty much the max I'd be willing to invest in this car.

 

You won't find a shop that knows what they are doing with Subarus AND is reasonably priced.

 

Expect to be north of 5k (realistacally closer to 10K) for having a shop do it. What really adds up are the "while I'm in there" costs.

 

Unless the rest of the car is in pristine condition or it will cause your wife to divorce you, I'd cut my losses and get another vehicle.

 

Well, she said she won't divorce me over it so there's that...

 

My "while I'm in there" items would be an EBCS, oil pickup / pan, catless uppipe, downpipe, accessport (maybe), TMIC, and a dyno tune (possibly multi-map since I commute 52 miles a day).

 

Unfortunately, the car is not pristine.

Exterior I'd say 7/10. Has a quarter sized rust spot on the passenger side rear rocker and plenty of stone chips and dings.

Decent for a 15 year old car with 200k miles. Looks great from > 10 feet away.

 

Interior 8/10. A little dirty but a good shampoo could probably get that to 9/10. Rear cupholder is broken (show me one that isn't).

 

dump it and run. at 194K, the trans is next to go. so at that point, the required investment is way more than you'd ever get back.

 

This matches my thinking... Too bad I just put new brakes and half-shafts on it 5k miles ago

 

Do the automatic transmissions have a well known mileage limit?

 

I realize that's probably an installed price, but its still insane. You can get a brand new longblock from IAG for $8k.

 

You can give these guys in Kalamazoo a shout. I personally haven't worked with them, but I've never heard anything bad either:

 

https://www.synergyengines.com/ej255

 

I reached out to the Synergy guys late last year. Never heard back. Reached out again this week. Still nothing.

Their FB page has gone radio silent as of late November 2019. Some additional research shows that the owner may be a scammer with a host of failed auto businesses and pissed customers behind him. Check out Google reviews on "Overnight parts from japan kalamazoo".

Currently running a minimum of 4 business out of that one location.

 

It's too bad, I was really hoping they could help me out. Only an hour away from my location.

 

This is the best option and there are newer Subarus or other vehicles to be had for $9k down/outright:redface:

 

I was actually looking at listings for shiny Spec B.s for awhile last night. Most are on the far side of the country... A gently used and/or tastefully modified example < $10k would get my attention.

 

Thanks for your replies and advice!

 

Anybody want a roller that is in decent shape?

[gkinslow]

Yeah punt that baby.

 

Those added "while I'm in there" parts just put your build well over $12k.

 

Might be different if you could do the work yourself.

 

You won't get much out of the roller being an auto but every little bit helps.

[Ablaze]

Some (old) pics:

 

 

 

[08SpecB_DE]

You won't find a shop that knows what they are doing with Subarus AND is reasonably priced.

 

Expect to be north of 5k (realistacally closer to 10K) for having a shop do it. What really adds up are the "while I'm in there" costs.

 

Unless the rest of the car is in pristine condition or it will cause your wife to divorce you, I'd cut my losses and get another vehicle.

 

There's nothing special about Subaru's. If anything, they are easier to work on than most cars. It gets more complicated with aftermarket internal bits but he doesnt seem to want to go down that road. I agree with the "while you're in there" part. Avoid any machine shop that "doesn't work on many Subaru engines". Every machine shop should see their fair share of Subaru motors.

[gkinslow]

There's nothing special about Subaru's. If anything, they are easier to work on than most cars. It gets more complicated with aftermarket internal bits but he doesnt seem to want to go down that road. I agree with the "while you're in there" part. Avoid any machine shop that "doesn't work on many Subaru engines". Every machine shop should see their fair share of Subaru motors.

 

That depends entirely upon where you live. There are plenty of shops around me (Louisville) that have never rebuilt even a stock Subaru, much less a proper build using aftermarket parts.

 

I'd much rather have a machine shop and mechanic that isn't doing things for the first time and using my car as their guinea pig.