I've got a 2002 Forester S/Limited with about 120k miles(can't remember what it's called, too lazy to go trudging through the snow to look. Power everything/Keyless, heated mirrors and seats, limited slip rear end, etc. Very nice ride). To make a long story short I've paid over $10k for the car with the loan, new clutch, etc. It's been sitting for the past two years as it needs serious engine work/engine replacement, and all of the front end plastic (something I can do myself for <$500, more on that later). I want to get it on the road again, but I need to know if it's worth it. It burned a serious amount of oil (1 qt/week) from day one, then started misfiring, tuneup+new coilpack didn't fix the misfire. The shop I took it to said that the piston rings are bad on 1 cylinder, and likely were from when I bought it. What they told me was that subaru doesn't have sleeved cylinders, so if the cylinder walls are damaged (which they said is likely) then I need a new block, you can't hone subaru cylinders. How accurate of a statement is that? Is it possible to just do a bottom end rebuild, or do I need a new block? What engine does it have? EJ251 is what I've found online, is that correct?
Assuming I need a new engine, I'm trying to get an idea of what would be more cost effective (if the car is even worth putting the money into). Should I try to get one similar to mine complete that got rump roast-ended, and take all of the plastic and engine and swap it over, or pick up an engine from eBay or whatever. A 'short block' would get me block, crank, pistons+rods and I use my existing heads, alt, power steering etc correct? Should I be looking at just the engine block itself and reuse crank, rods, pistons and EVERYTHING else, or should I try to get a short block? Any idea on a rough idea on a price break between them? If I get an engine from a junkyard I'm going to do head gaskets, water pump and timing belt for peace of mind anyway, so swapping from old to new isn't a concern by any means. What about engine swaps? If it isn't too much more going to an H6 from an outback or a tubocharged 4-cyl from a WRX or STI I would love to do it (I have no idea if H6 is even possible, just throwing it out there). I've seen writeups on cutting and splicing engine harnesses together from a WRX, and it's something I could do as long as there's a writeup for my application.
Last question, it has a limited slip rear differential (I think it uses a viscous coupling, but I can't be sure.) This car has always been uncontrollable on snow/ice when trying to powerslide through corners. I've driven 4WD and AWD's before and had no issues throwing them through corners sideways, but in this car any time I give it extra gas the rump roast end tries it's damnedest to come around front, which typically resulted in me doing a 180 and going off the road (hence why it needs all new plastic on the front end). Is it because of the LSD in the rear, or do I just not 'get' subaru's? How big of a job/how much does it cost to swap to a traditional open differential? IE do you have to swap the whole rear differential case, or is it just the pumpkin?
Thank you for any and all comments.
