Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Long story short my engine decided it was bulimic and spat its contents out.. :( got it recovered but basically engine is dead dead dead :(:eek:

So need to know if you had to replace/repair your engine anyway, whats going to be the best option.. Not bothered about price really as its going to be a few months before I can spend the money anyway so will have a few k spare then.


Its a v4 type R btw.

and before anyone asks it went without warning.. the oil light and engine temp went up literally as it went bang.. and I was already pulling over as one min it was okay next it suddenly started growling and then dumped its guts over the grass verge. :(

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Sorry to hear about that.:( Not having a lot of luck with this one.

Speaking personally, i would go for a rebuild with uprated, stronger internals. Not keen on the idea of 2nd hand engines as you've no idea how it's been treated. Also would be worth uprating your oil pump to a Walbro or similar as Impreza ones are often the culprit when it comes to engine failiure. Not saying this is why yours has gone but the suddenness with which it went pop suggests something pretty catastrophic.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

rebuild will be your best bet, second hand engines are just that, a good specialist will sort you out no probs.

try Scooby Clinic | The UK's Largest Independent Subaru Specialists | 01246 590 807 - Chesterfield S42 6QX but then you know i use them anyway lol

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

I would rebuild anyway, sent out a few emails giving my contact number. Sadly I know it wont be cheap and as I have summer hols I dont think it will be till after then.

Dont call it bad luck to have an engine on a car like this go. after all just because I never thrashed it from cold doesn't mean that previous owner hasn't. If I wanted something with guarenteed reliability I would have bought a avensis or something. :D :D I do tend to think it was the oil pump that just gave up without warning for it to suddenly go like this. As I had checked the oil that morning and it was lovely and clean, smelled just right and wouldnt of given me reason for concern. The oil light also didnt come on till it went bang.

Rest of car its self is okay and I was lucky that I managed to get a flat bed that was able to get it on as its quite low. Car is home safe, got me and the kids all home safe so thats the main thing. What is annoying me a little ( and I am glad my hubby was in car too on this) was the NO warning.

I hadnt got any music on as kids were sleeping and was talking to hubby... one min the car was fine, and then on a38 we heard a very quiet but unmistakable sound of a small rattle. I saw parking in 1 mile so figured I would get to their and check oil and stuff.. No oil lights, temp didnt go up or anything.. Just as I was almost on the parking bit the car made a VERY LOUD rattle and bang and then stopped running.. I managed to get it on the grass verge just as it started and on looking luckily the oil had gone on the grass not the road. We pushed it a little further to the parking spot and waited. Got a recovery truck from a mate to come get us and got home about 11:30 :(

I am dreading putting it on the ramp as I have had a car make a noise like that before on me and that was a 1380cc metro turbo and that put a rod through the block. :(

Either way I know I have a big bill coming. lol

I thought about scoobyclinic tidgy, but on my first time up there I was met with very poor customer service and attitude and wasn't happy, so may look at going to xspec. I know scoobyclinics work is good just first impressions last.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Zen performance/Tractive solutions for me-everyones got their favourites ;)

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Oh so many ppl feel the same way-you werent singled out :lol: i know alot of ppl thats been an thought that-some have bought stuff but has really been a last resort place for future purchases/work based on this Tidgy like i say youve spent alot of money there an the chances are will in future-i just prefer places that treat you equally wether youre spending £10 or 10 grand-its not too much to ask.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Scoobymania`s fairly local now aswell ;) Area 52 Autosport On-line shop

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

I just prefer to be made to feel welcome and that my custom is appreciated and I was ignored for 25 mins.. Then when booking my car in was messed about so in the end I took it elsewhere, and the whole time I was there the guy was either on the phone or making me walk around following him. It wasn't a major amount I was spending that time but thats why I am a bit Hmmmm about going to them. Also I have rang for advice a few times and been made to feel silly or that I was wasting their time.
So after that I rang other places and was treated better.

Either way I got atleast 3-4 months of driving the zafira.. lol

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

seen a few exhausts and stuff that they have fitted and to be fair seen better work.. :D I am picky aren't I.. lol

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

yeah, you are.;)

You've every right to be though when you are about to lay out significant cash for some major repair work. Think you are definitely going about it the right way.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

If ya want customer service at possibly the highest level Go to Roger clark motorsport-dont get me wrong you pay for it but definately the best place ive been to.

Dropped mine off when i first had it for cambelt service hesitation and possible lamda fault-rang me whilst doin cambelt to say tensioner werent great its not nackered at the mo or would replace but gave me the option to decide yay or nay/same with idlers gave me a run down of costs etc-when i went to pick up the next day(as i dont do waiting around :D)had all the old bits there sat down on sofas with olly in their reception an explained what were up with them-got tour round their small however clinically clean workshop,were asking about their oilpumps-went an fetched one to show me.
If the money didnt matter that would definately be the only place i`d ever take my car as lets face it most ppl going there spend thousands-i didnt but it made me want to just by how they were with me.


Many ppl will say well you always get the odd few ppl thats dissatisfied with anywhere but i reckon you`d be really hard pushed to find anyone with a bad word to say about Roger Clark Motorsport.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Now Roger clark is tempting as Daz actually Knows roger so could maybe ring him first.. :D I will have to get the cash together first. Its just all happened at the wrong time as I am not normally quite this skint. :D

but moved house, got married and then impulsively bought the type R. Still I have a perfectly good car that is now just awaiting a new engine. It can be exactly as I want it and better than it was before.

Yes I will miss driving it and I am not going to get to much this year now as I will need to tighten everything up so I can get it back on the road quicker.

So if your in or around Derby notts and get a woman in a zafira flash you its me forgetting I am not in the scooby.. :D

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Think he`s a few yr too late pmsl ;):D

See link Roger Clark Motorsport - Home

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

:D okay knew him then but he knows the family so maybe can still talk to someone. :D He hung around with him 10 years ago.. lol I know someone from Roger Clark was talking to him when we went to the Mcrae gathering asking how he has been doing.. but I was busy not paying attention. :D

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

rodger clarke are very very very very very expensive lol

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

:D most places scooby related are very very expensive. I will have a better idea of whats actually gone by the weekend. May just bottom end rebuild for now if I can get away with just that to at least get it back on road... but it may not be economical.. think it depends how much damage is done.

It really really didnt sound good and from the amount it spat everywhere I am thinking its not going to look good when I get it on the ramp.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Ive not used tractive myself just going on recommendations from scott/lee and phil one of their mates who all rated tractive an knowing them all trust their judgement.


Have used Roger clark and Zen and i know at both if you ever went back with a problem later would have no hassles-not convinced i`d want to spend alot of money at scoobyclinic to be ignored when i went bk with a problem-(should one arise) thats my problem-scoobyclinic wouldnt even be on my list of possibles.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

what if any are the differences to my engine with it being a Type R.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

sorry to hear about car,got to go with dave roger clarke all day long
did like scooby clinic long time ago but dont seem to have time for people
that are not spending a s--t load of money,did your car still have standard
ecu or a uprated one or had the standard one been remapped?will say to all that buy jdm cars budget for ecu,remap,and uprated fuel pump and get it done as soon as you get the car its a must,good luck.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Its been in this country for 3 years so dont know whats been done already and had planned to get it taken in somewhere at somepoint and looked at.

I am hoping time flys while waiting to be able to afford the repairs. :D

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

API engines in Leamington Spa warwickshire?? a bit of a journey though, must be at least 50 miles??

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Do rate API meself goin on what ive read before on SN but no first hand experience.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

I feel your pain! My wrx did a similar thing a few months back. I bought a recon engine from Home - Mr Engine.net Specialists in Engines Gearboxes and Cylinder Heads although i have to say their customer care is pretty f-kin poor to say the least.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

None whatsoever, you have a standard STi engine in there, same as the RA as well.

Engine code = EJ20KDW7PR

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Sorry to hear about that:( once you get her back on the road that big engine bill will be forgotton about;)

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Is there any difference in a the engines between the years then... :D as some places are listing 92-97 and then 98-2000.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Think the inlet manifold changed 97/98 and the ecu is different i.e 3-plug instead of 4-plug.......note i say 'think' lol

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

see thats the thing.. when looking at bits for my car on ebay my car needs the later dumpvalve if i were to change it.. so a bit confused.. lol Its only been 24 hours and my resolve to wait and just save for mega engine have gone.. :D

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

An impatient female, would you believe it??!!? pmsl I know the feeling mind, was without mine for a couple of months and a pajero doesn't quite cut it lol. Too cold to get the bike out as well! Don't stress though, the longer it takes the more you'll enjoy/appreciate it when you get it back!!

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

He has been and got me a 106 1.1 from his mates garage to tide me over... I have sent him to work in it so I at least have the zafira.

and I wont rush it to much but have reconsidered my original idea of not getting a recon engine.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Version III's on had an up-rated engine: Lower compression ratio, different turbo (VF as opposed to the TD05) and few other bits and bobs. Oh, and more power.:D

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

so do I need to go for the later engine then??? as mine has subtle differences between the ones listed as 92-97 even though my car is a 97 v4

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

'98 engines are mechanically the same (more or less) as '97-'98 engines. Differences are largely aesthetic I believe (if anyone knows more sure they'll pipe up). If you're getting a re-build then wouldn't worry about the differences too much. If you're getting another engine then I think you'll be ok with any of the later STi engines.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Now have a mate who has garage space and he is going to take it in and strip engine down so at least I will know exactly what is what. He dont have much experience of subarus but is a very good mechanic. At least then my car is stored somewhere too.

He also may allow me to pay him weekly which would get my car back on road much sooner.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

oh Cock!!!....
i would suggest one of the engine builders down here,but distance would be a problem...hope fully you'll get it sorted asap.....but the big question is......

are you goin to keep it a 2.0???
or gor for a 2.1 or 2.2 stroke kit..
or go for the 2.5 build??.....lol

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

going to keep it 2.0 :D although tempted to going 2.5 bottom end, as I think I have something through the block to be fair....

its going to my mates garage in the next day or two, he is going to strip it down and keep it there for me and will go from there. He doesnt have much back ground with subarus but has rebuilt some bloody nice performance engines in his time including a few evos and skylines and has worked on most of my cars in the past.

Okay if I was selling the car on people may be put off but at least for now I will know what level of repair I need and whether a engine swap would be my best option.

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

all depends how long you want to wait,Grade A subaru will supply an engine, for a reasonable price,but if your going for a full build,it'll be a while..lol
at the end of the day its your choice and your money ;)

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

Right. had a mate offer me a engine taken from his wrx v4. Its all been uprated and was running over 300bhp( forget exact figures) before he replaced it with a 2.5. Basically says its laying about not doing much and if I want it I can have it for silly money.

Its been fully serviced with history by Zen ( who also did its rebuild and mods)... would this be worth looking at as it would mean I could be back on road in a week.???

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

do it:)

Re: Engine rebuild recomendations.
 

take it there isnt really much difference then if its been uprated from the import wrx engine to the sti engine ????