Question about engine at local u pull it

[brentlysubaru]

Found a low mileage 2.5 dohc at the local pull a part. Its a 97 outback It has 119k on the odo. The only problem is the front of the engine is taken off the covers,timing belt,tensioner,pulleys are all gone rest of the engine is complete. All the cams turn without any resistance I just couldn't get a good grip on the crank to turn it. The oil that was left in it looked nice and clean. From what I could tell underneath the head gaskets weren't leaking. My question is do you think that it would be worth taking the chance that the engine is good? The rest if the car is pretty clean for an ohio car. Looks like the car was taken care of. Think its worth the risk?

[Flat4Power]

If you have the parts on your other car to swap then yes. Timing belt kits are cheap, covers are about the same as the timing kit, if you had to buy them new.

 

Just my thoughts. I would probably try it if I needed an engine. I'm sure you're getting a great deal, and even if you were worried about the head gaskets the engine is out and ready to tinker with....

[Crazyeights]

I wouldn't turn it over anymore without putting a timing belt on it. The valve timing is already off and these are interference engines. I would probably grab it.

[desertsubaru]

I would bet that it is in the yard because of bad HGs.

[Rooster2]

I would bet that it is in the yard because of bad HGs.

Maybe so, but worth checking with the yard to see if the car is still there and not crushed. Maybe the car was wrecked, so the HGs are still good. Nice to know the car was being driven up, and until it was sent to the yard.

[Bushwick]

If you are willing to watch Pull A Part's website for Canton, Akron, and Cleveland, they get a LOT of EJ22 and EJ25 engines. Last I checked, I think they run for $150 complete.

 

If willing to wait, I suggesting passing and getting a complete EJ22. I've even seen running Legacys for under $900 with a bunch of rust on CL. You could yank engine, trans, rear, etc. and scrap the body after selling off parts and possibly come out ahead or barely break even, otherwise drop $150 for a complete engine at PaP. From what I can tell, many of PaP cars are running when brought in. Usually when the rear crossmember rots out and there is a bunch of rust elsewhere, people junk them.

[brentlysubaru]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going there this weekend to get it. Its too good of a deal to pass up even if it has bad HGs. I'm going to take a timing belt and put it in time to turn it over just to make sure it turns over freely and so I can get to the flexplate bolts safely.

[Bushwick]

Were there any bolts or anything left over from the timing cover under the hood? Like say laying around the engine?

 

Reason I ask is it's possible previous owner dropped a belt, started tearing down, realized it was junk, and scraped the car instead of repairing. I've seen quite a few 2.5 and 2.2 up around here for the $150 price, and the 2.5 engines are almost complete. Even the EJ22 engines are normally all there.

[idosubaru]

if the car is pristine and has no cancerous rust or body damage - then there's no compelling reason it went to the junky yard.  usually that means something major is suspect - usually the engine or transmission.  given the propensity of headgasket failures in those engines, that's a good possibility.

 

those engines don't leak externally so a visual inspection doesn't tell you anything.

 

if it was for a daily driver i wanted to be reliable and maintenance free for 5 years, i'd pass.

[mikaleda]

Personally I would pass on that motor.

Are you set on putting another ej25D in or do you want to put a bit more work in and have a little less powerful but way more reliable motor?

You might want to look into doing a 2.2 swap.

 

As said above the EJ25D has a internal leaking head gasket so you won't be able to visually inspect it.

If your set on grabbing a junkyard 2.5 then you may want to spend the time and money and throw the updated head gaskets in before you install it.

[brentlysubaru]

Ya its probably a good idea to pass on it. Not knowing if it runs or not and if it does what it sounds like. The engine is nice and clean. That should've been my first clue. The other was the body was really nice and the interior is about spotless so something is majorly wrong with it.

Well anyhow I found another one that has about 130k on it and has a 90 day warranty for about $100 more than pull a part that's my best bet.

Its for a impreza i was swapping the 2.2 out for a 2.5 give it a little more power. Thanks for all the advice

[matt167]

There not worth a 35hp hassle. Put a 4.11 or 4.44 5spd in it instead. That will give it more zip

[lmdew]

Yards:

 

Is the car hit hard on the body somewhere?

If so, check the condition of the car other than the accident.  Is it well maintained?

What the mileage?

Does the engine turn over well by hand?

How does the oil look?

How do the plugs look?

Check the overflow coolant for HG oily stuff on the DHOC 2.5

 

If everything checks good than it's worth pulling it.  Otherwise move on.

 

I like the 2.2 swaps, easy to do and a much better engine IMHO.

Larry