Nash_Rambler

So what is the benefit vs. cost of this? I can shop around for an ej251 block, so I'm assuming what you do is swap on the valve heads and some new gaskets and away you go. But why bother when the valves are already tired at 167k?

To answer some questions, yeah, it's the early phase 2 ej25d engine. While I can't rule out that the HGs weren't replaced, the folder of service records I got from the original owner do not indicate it ever happening. Which doesn't matter, since the motor is blown. Thanks for the advice re: the swap, but I absolutely can't get into the weeds in terms of an exotic rebuild ("EJ251 block from an early 2000s, 04-06 STI MLS headgaskets"). I either need to find and swap in another motor and get this car moving again, or take a deep breath and rebuild the engine using a proven guide and a full rebuild kit. I'm leaning away from the rebuild option, as the few kits I've found for the ej25d are ~$500, and the machine work will likely be another $400 - $600. With 167k on the body, dropping $1,100 to make the motor fresh, only for the drive train to die on something else is a serious fear for me. We won't even discuss the insane-o prices on a remanufactured ej25d. So I think I can convince my wife to take a chance on a $400 - $750 investment in lieu of a fresh car payment, but beyond that, it's a tough sell. $1,200 to freshen up the engine sounds better than the $4,000 - $8,000 I'd spend on a new beater, but still. There are no easy answers here, are there.

Hello everyone, just had the ej25 motor blow up on my 99 OBW, manual transmission, this past Tuesday, May 30th 2017. The headgaskets never failed me, oddly enough, but a rod or something else internal did at 167k. High pitched whine, sudden loss of power, and hey, I'm running on two cylinders and burning oil like a lamp. I limped it home from the garage (3 miles) after they confirmed that no, your wish that it's merely a bad ignition module cannot be granted. I knew it, but I had hoped I was wrong. Still, I paid $4,000 for it in 2012, so I got my monies worth out of the car. So. I'm considering swapping in a newer running motor. I can't say I've read every post connected to the 2.2 vs. 2.5 swap, but I get the gist. 2.2 is less power, but many less headaches and lower risk of failure. Thanks for posting about car-part.com, that has been invaluable in opening up the possibility. I've never swapped a Subaru motor before, most of my experience there has been in classic cars. But I have the tools, the talent, the access to a chain hoist and an engine lift, and a burning desire to not have a car payment. I'm going to consider my options for another couple of days, but with the body/interior/tires and transmission in good shape, I'm loathe to have it crushed.