rogue

Update: I put the heads from a 1990 Legacy EJ22 FWD auto in the car, after thorough cleaning. The exhaust ports were different (dual instead of the 97's single port on each head) and I swapped the cam angle sensor over... and that's it. Oiled it up, hand-cranked it a few times, started. Runs like new. Will wonders never cease. +17 for Subaru and their interchangeability of parts. And thanks so much to everyone here for your help and advice!

Further update: Tore the motor down today in-car. You can see where the valve tips hit the pistons, not much damage but I guess enough to bend the stems or the guide. I'll post up pics later. I have new (old) heads that're getting refreshed this week. 1990, baby! I'm going to redo all the soft bits on them, transport my cam angle sensor over, and bolt them up. In theory, the Brighton will be running again by the end of the week after only some gasket work. Wish me luck! Better, wish that I never do the series of stupid maneuvers to destroy a motor that I did a few weeks ago!

Update: I started the car up on the bad motor, pulled out into the road and turned it around, then backed into the garage. It runs, but badly. Last night we finally did a compression test on the motor before I pull it, just to see what we're up against. I started a pool on the results over at NASIOC... no one guessed right The car has compression of: 0 psi 0 psi 0 psi 200 psi. Yes. One cylinder good. The rest, ZERO. How it can still drive is beyond me! I'm looking at both sourcing a new engine and some used heads to fix this one right now, I'll let you guys know how the teardown goes when I get this motor out.

Yes, was thinking the same thing However, it looks like I'm 99% sure I'll need the hoist anyway, and they're only $100 so it's not a big deal. I'm going to try to turn the car around and reconfigure the garage to Swap Mode, since I hadn't planned this path... Thanks again to all for your advice and help, at least now my options are clear Will let people know how it goes. At this point I'm looking for a DOHC EJ25 to drop in there so I can at least feel like this ordeal was WORTH something (more torque!) but it may end up being just an old EJ22 that keeps it going for now.

Putting it as the very first 2 letters (numbers) in the title wasn't enough? It's interference. We can tell because 1) it's a 97 and 2) I seem to have smashed the valves into the cylinders

Thanks I'll figure this beast out... somehow. I'll be sure to post pics whenever I get the heads off, too.

Yes, thank you, I appreciate the help and advice I know how much shop-work will cost. But I've tasted of the $200 private-party engine sale, and it tasted sweet... now I'm spoiled.

Yipe! Well, that's pretty far from VA... and I paid $200 for a DOHC EJ25 from a 98 Outback with 110k on it in good running order last year...

Sanjay: thanks... That's basically where the swap option would leave me. I also have a 96 Outback that takes an EJ22, 140k on that car and the motor is starting to eat oil. If I swap, I'd like to fix THIS block to eventually throw in THERE... How expensive are we talking? Minimal research suggests $150 gets me gaskets and valves, if I feel up to doing the work myself. If I need valve guides, that'll be more... but how much overall do you think I'd be running?

Sorry... yes, I corrected the belt error and cranked it around by hand. It cranks smoothly, but when it starts it sounds like it's trying to run on 3 cylinders or something... very shaky, rough idle. I'm not 100% sure it's bent valves, but i'm 95%. I need to do a compression test, then pull the heads. Just haven't had time yet this week. Right now I'm weighing options. I want to stay inexpensive and end up with something reliable (commuter car, doesn't have to be fast) and I don't mind doing work myself (from now on with someone to tell me when I've done stupid). 1) Pull heads, replace valves. Seems like the least parts to buy and I can leave the shortblock in the car. No swap compatibility issues. 2) Pull heads, replace heads. I can get rebuilt heads from CCR or someplace... but for how much $$? 3) Motor swap. Could find a motor for $200ish in theory, either an EJ25 or EJ22... but then I have to wonder what condition that new motor is in, and deal with the physical swap. The car is nose-in to my 1 car garage right now, so it might be a bit of a puzzle

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=820061 Howdy all. Keith sent me over to post here... I feel so old-school now Basically I screwed up a timing belt change on an EJ22, mistaking the piston position mark on the crank sprocket for the timing belt alignment mark. I did not detect my mistake and tried to start it... it wouldn't start, obviously, and I think I've bent valves. I would imagine the block/pistons wouldn't be hurt too badly since I was only running on the starter, but what do I know? Looking for advice and help... I'd like to fix this motor if it's possible, pull the heads myself and get new valves in there... but I may be looking at a swap as a cheaper and safer option now. Thanks all, -Ted