Replacement Engine for 1999 Legacy Outback

[Foster Perry]

Son blew 2.5 liter engine (had 150K miles) in our 1999 Legacy Outback wagon. Would like to explore putting in a new/rebuilt engine as the vehicle is still good shape otherwise. Anyone have any experience in doing this? Can anyone recommend a reliable source for such an engine? Thanks in advance!

[jarl]

Be careful... you may end up opening a can of worms

There are plenty of threads in here about replacing the engines (usually EJ25's) out of these cars. Many here will tell you to replace the engine with a 2.2, since the general opinion is that the 2.5 is sort of delicate. You can essentially:

 

a) Go to a junkyard and pull it yourself from a wrecked car. Prices will start from $150

Check Car-Part.com. Prices will be a little higher, and you need to make sure the car it came from died from anything but an engine problem

c) Get an engine from Craigslist.

d) Buy an engine from a rebuilder. Depending on the kind of engine you want to put you will probably be talking about $1800+ for an engine.

 

On anything but (d) you should expect to have to replace the timing belt, water pump and seals (except rear main... depending on who you ask). And be prepared for the "since I'm there".

 

As for specific rebuilders, one that comes to mind is CCR Engines. Other people may chime in about this.

 

Finally, take it easy on the kid. Unless he redlined it or did something utterly stupid, he most probably didn't "blew the engine". My guess is that he just happened to be driving when the engine got messed up... usually from overheating.

 

EDIT: the '99 is a transition year for the Legacy/Outback. When was your car made? there should be a badge around the driver's side front suspension tower. I think you can find that information there.

EDIT2: How much do you like your car? http://www.ccrengines.com/id17.html

Edited May 29, 2012 by jarl

[johnceggleston]

several possible directions to go:

 

rebuild existing

buy and install rebuilt - CCRengines.com

buy a japanese import engine

 

or swap in an ej22, 2.2L, engine and let the boy drive it through college.

 

the last option, the ej22 swap is probably the most economical. probably not quite as reliable as a ccr rebuilt engine. but not a big risk either.

 

the import engine has more risk, in my opinion, than the ej22.

 

CCR isn't perfect, no one is, but they are damn close and real good.

 

rebuilding your engine is only as good as the shop doing the work. and depending on what ''blew'', will determine what all must be done.

 

i have done 2 ej22 swaps and highly recommend it. the ej22 is very reliable and very durable. it will take a lot of abuse and keep running. this is the perfect engine for a kid. install a 150k ej22 with all new timing parts and oil seals and it should run another 150k miles (with timing belts every 60k). he will be out of school and earning his own money before that happens.

Edited May 29, 2012 by johnceggleston

[chucktile]

I have done several 2.2 swaps and highly recommend this option. I also beleive the 2.5 to be a very good engine when the head gaskets are replaced properly. I just put a EJ25DOHC from a 97 legacy GT in my 98 forester six months ago and love it. Somewhat noisy when cold but when warm can barely tell if the car is running. The last 2.2 I got had 124000 miles for $100.00 bucks at Harrys u pull it in Allentown PA. It went in the 97 Legacy GT(my friends moms car).

[afterbang]

just a note from experience, JDM engines aren't equipped for an EGR valve. You would need to drill and tap threads in the driver's side head for the EGR valve pipe if went this route.

[1997reduxe]

I came across this place recently here in houston that sells tested used engines from Japan. i called them they don't have vin numbers on the engines and no exact mileage, which I don't like. He said estimated around 40-60k, for like 1200 including a 100 core charge, but you'd have to pay shipping to Ala.

I was really only interested because they're not very far from the guy who I can get to swap the engine for 350.

http://www.usedjapanmotors.com/

[johnceggleston]

I came across this place recently here in houston that sells tested used engines from Japan. i called them they don't have vin numbers on the engines and no exact mileage, which I don't like. He said estimated around 40-60k, for like 1200 including a 100 core charge, but you'd have to pay shipping to Ala.

I was really only interested because they're not very far from the guy who I can get to swap the engine for 350.

http://www.usedjapanmotors.com/

 

these engines can be used but they do not have the needed EGR system. you will have to drill a hole in the driver side head and tap threads in ti for the EGR pipe and then use your original intake manifold.

 

or live with a CEL for the life of the car.

 

and you still do not know the condition of the head gaskets. all ej25 engines tend to have head gasket issues. they could last the life of the car or go in 30k miles?? so for the money, in my opinion, you would be better off with different solution.

 

rebuild yours or swap in an ej22.

 

by the way, you said your engine blew, what blew????

[Fairtax4me]

Rod through the block? Classic story for the DOHC 2.5. Happens all too often with that engine so don't blame your son for it.

 

Replace it with a 2.2 and enjoy driving the car to 350k miles. Get one out of a 1995 Legacy and it's a straight drop in.

[Mike104]

Having gone through this myself a couple of years ago I can say that the options available have been stated earlier. One of the main questions to ask is are you or someone reliable that you going do this job or are you going to pay a shop to do it?

 

If you are going to do it yourself I would recommend the 2.2L swap from a US sourced yard. If you know someone that can comfortably do the sway, it may make some sense to go that route.

 

If you are going to pay a shop to do this job either find a Subaru specialist (not sure too many in AL) and have them use a CCR rebuild. The downside is it will probably cost almost as much as the car is worth but the upside is that the replacement engine will be essentially turn key, just needing the intake manifold and accessories from your current engine. The CCR unit will have new head gaskets, valve covers, timing components, water pump and timing belt. Its not the cheapest way to do it but if you have to pay a standard shop to do the job it may end up being a similar cost.

 

If you lived in the PNW I would suggest you contact one of the board members that does this work daily and have them swap in a 2.2L engine as that would be the cheapest option.

 

Any used engine be it JDM or from a yard should have all the timing components replaced, valve stem seals, gaskets, seals, HGs etc. done before you drop the engine in. If there is some place local that can do that work get a price estimate and go from there.

 

A CCR engine is around $3500 (maybe more now) so its not the cheapest option but you have to look past the price and make sure that whatever $100 or $1800 engine you buy has the cost of the required maintenance done before you put the engine in.

 

If I had to do it over again, I would probably do the 2.2L swap if I could find someone other than a shop do the job for me.

[nipper]

How did he blow it?

 

[JPX]

I replaced the long block in my Legacy 2.2L with a rebuilt motor from CCR.

 

It wasn't the smoothest operation since it was my first time working on a Subaru engine swap (had done VWs before, though) and there were some technical glitches that CCR prompted corrected.

 

If you were curious about the work involved from an amateur's perspective, here is the write up from my 2.2L replacement experience.

 

The CCR motor has been running for over 60K miles (6 years). So I think this was a good solution for my situation and CCR was eager to make sure this thing worked.