Serious question for SoCal Jalops, on Subaru engine swap

"505 - morphine not found" (morphine500)
09/21/2013 at 16:57 • Filed to: None

So, here's the deal. My sis, who lives in San Diego bought the pictured Outback last year, when they moved there. It had a lot of miles (>230.000 IIRC), but looked very well kempt, and was exactly the type of car she was looking for. Not a car girl, my sis, so it's not about being a Subaru Outback, but as she's a dog trainer, and a painter and an all-round bohemian, she needed a wagon, and an interesting one at that. It's a 2.5 auto, and she's completely head over heels with the car ever since.

I told her it'll cost to keep on the road, and so it turned out - there were brake works, half-shaft works among others, and it had its unresolved problems too: it was getting the heat if standing too long in LA traffic (though turning on the heater saved it from overheating every time), also the cat needed a replace, but that didn't happen yet. And then finally yesterday one of the "cylinders blew" or whatever, in short, the eninge's now scrap. It turned out that the sump was dry, and this with my sis checking the oil level periodically, and without the warning light comming on. The car was booked for an oil change on monday... the mechanics told her it's not her fault, but still, bye-bye 2.5.

The car now sits at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and they offerd her money for the remains of it, if she buys a replacement from their lot, but i was thinking: if there is a good 2.5 out there somewhere, that someone knowledgable wouth be able to swap in, it could still be saved. I know this won't be the end of this cars' service history, but that's probably still cheaper, than buying something that's newer and lower-mile enough to be a truly safer bet.

Or maybe i'm wrong, and this'll never be good, and she should let go. Then what do you say, what should she get? Her credit still not that strong (though it's getting better), so i don't think we can be heading north of $10k, but i'm yet to ask how much she can spend on this.

DISCUSSION (7)

JasonStern911 > 505 - morphine not found
09/21/2013 at 17:34

First question to ask is - what do you mean by "cylinder blew"? Cylinders don't blow. Depending on what specifically was damaged, the original motor might be salvageable.

That said, yes, you can pick up a junkyard motor ( http://car-part.com is a good source) to replace the existing motor. Whether it is worth it or not depends on the shape of the car, how long she intends to keep it, etc.

505 - morphine not found > JasonStern911
09/21/2013 at 17:41

I would give a more precise description, but my only source is my sis, and she doesn't really understand these things. I gather one of the pistons seized, and the rod broke, because the sump was dry and the motor had loud clamping noises, but that's just what i gather.

Thing is though: getting the motor is one thing, but do you have any advice on who to ask to install it? Neither she, nor her husband can do that, and even if i could, i'm 9 timezones away.....

Takuro Spirit > 505 - morphine not found
09/21/2013 at 17:53

Unless you know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy, I wouldn't stick the money into it. At MOST you're looking at finding a used motor, re-freshening the headgaskets, timing belt, etc in that, then the labor to install it.

If the motor in the car is salvageable, and you want to chance it with that many miles, the cost will be less.

So long as the rest of the car is in good shape, and it can be budgeted, keeping the car around isn't a bad idea. The problem is finding decent parts in good shape if you need a complete engine.

desertdog5051 > 505 - morphine not found
09/21/2013 at 18:55

When the 98 Buru my housemate drives threw a timing belt and destroyed the engine, I bought one from a company out of Denver that rebuilds them. $3k, with your old. But they pay for shipping to and from. I thought it was worth it. Me and her and another guy put it in on a Saturday. I will find the invoice to get the name of the company if you are interested.

desertdog5051 > 505 - morphine not found
09/21/2013 at 19:06

Forgot. They also included all gaskets that would need to be replaced.

505 - morphine not found > desertdog5051
09/22/2013 at 07:52

This sounds awesome. It seems my sis will change rides, but this would still be interesting, if not too big a hassle, then please get me the company name.

MonkeePuzzle > Takuro Spirit
09/23/2013 at 09:34

I'm with Takuro, unless she knows someone to help after the engine swap, with the dozens of niggling little fixes that usually follow an engine swap, then I'd say its time to find a new car.

My further advice would be to sell it on Craigslist, not to the dealer. Plenty of folks are into the subies for their engine swap easiness, so there is still good money in a good shell even when not running.