jmickelct

Roger on the haggling... (have some basic skills....).. some of the sources are a bit squirrly seling me a 95 unit to swap into my 96 (if I tell them, something I may just stop doing), even refusing to warrantee it "for an off applications" (too bad, found a 2.2 in RI for $275....) So far my Impreza is still running, so hopefully have a month or two to "shop"... have learned a few online tricks of getting quotes.... What are the sources for complete wrecks? (will obviously need to get ones within driving ranges... still a bit iffy on my ability to pull everything out and get it right...). Found a complete removed 95' 2.2\4EAT engin\trans set in Brewster (~1hr) for a grand, could pick up and can probably squeeze a bit. On the rear differential, I saw a post here that said the 4.1's were 5speed and thd 4.44's were Automatic and that, short of puliing the plug and counting the teeth, that theres really no way of knowing what I have... So how is the matching suppose to go? Also see that swapping isnt a huge deal, should I crawl under, see if I can count the teeth (is a drain\refill involved) and buy "the other", just to have it on hand? (how many teeth relate to 4.44 or 4.1?) And finally, is there really anything to govern how close to the mileage that a shop quotes is on an engine\transmission re: how much it actually has? Seems like a *lot* of units stating ~80-90k miles, which seems just about enough to be possible though not too much to be too worn.... Without knowing a guy or shop, (have already been strongly warned away from the folks down at Hunts Pt here in NY as being complete sharks...), is there any convention that would suggest any unit had the mileage stated? (he asked skeptically)... Also saw the post on the little melty deals, to tell if an engine had been cooked.... are these on all engines? If so where? Is this a useful diagostic? -John

Hi, Engine (and tranny) hunting now, wanted to make best use of the experience here... To review: A 1995 EJ22 will direct bolt into my 1996 OBW (currently with a dying EJ25 4EAT) and, the dual port exhaust and EGR on the 95 2.2 should make the swap nearly "perfect" (no need to rewire, no computer issues, etc...). I will be trying to get a paired EJ22 \ 4EAT set, out of the same car, but if I can only get seperately, a 1996 4EAT (my production date is 12/95) out of a car with a production date of 06/95-06/96, then there should be no problem matching that up with a 95 2.2? Having never bought a used engine, have folks found that haggling tends to be part of the process? Should I go in cold asking for "their best price", especially if I have several options. Dont want to be overbearing *or* stupid on either side (not that I'm too worried about taking advantage of anyone!...). Have just found that experience means a lot and, without it, want to go in with my eyes as open as they can be. -John

Pardon my ignorance, but are the Thrust bearings or Main Shaft Snout things that would be contained within a used tranny (which a swap for would replace)? Wow... actually lived in downtown Florida (NY) for about 8 months.. really sweet little town (though a group of neighbors from hell drove me further East, into Monroe). The Subaru Master Tech guy is from Kolb (I think), have only had phone conversations with him but *really* like the idea of someone working on my car who looks at these all days (versus someone who wants to use my engine compartment as his class-room). So far he seems pretty up on a 2.2 for a 2.5 swap on a 96 OBW (including the exhaust and EGR configs) and the prices we've discussed are in the ball park, so will see where it goes. Thanks for the update. John

Hi, Roger on all that. It sounds very close to what I've got (only my growl is still at a pretty reasonable level...). Have found a local Subaru Master Mechanic who I'm talking to about my EJ25 swap, so may see what he might charge to swap this MT... The old girl actually drives strong and swift... so wouldnt at all mind having something that'd take me through the Winter.... Thanks again, John

Anyone care to speculate as to how chop shops are able to charge anywhere between $200 and $1500 for (by description) virtually the same engine? Started looking for a 1996 EJ25, bailed on that, now feeling happy to have settled on a 1995 EJ22 (going into my 96 OBW AT) . (2.5's are consistently pricier). Who the heck would pay $1500 when they can pay half or a quarter of that, or am I missing a legitimate break point issue? Do auto insurance markets have anything to do with it? Bottom line, I realize that no matter what I end up with is going to be a gamble. Doesnt really seem to be any way to ensure much beyond the engine going into the car. Is there any way to help tip the scales in my favor of helping to find a unit that might be in better shape and will the price I pay have anything to do with it? (will spending $900 suggest that the engine is in anyway better than one I pay $250 for (beyond mileage and the short amount that some shops actually cough up (broken parts, etc...). -John

Sorry bout wrong spot... (to me 93 is but a blur..)... Well, only from the general location (and again, 2 mechanics, one from a local tranny shop whom I'm considering doing the EJ25\4EAT swap on my OBW) have indicated tranny... sure its not wheel bearings or differential (it growls in neutral when I let the clutch out... goes away when I put the clutch in). Any way to tell about throwout or pilot bearing? Car shifts fine (no grinding) Really seems like it "drags" (somehow seems hung.... getting rotten mileage and it doesnt seem to be coasting well...), almost feel like something is dragging.. Would a pilot or throwout make it easier (cheaper) than just swapping a used tranny in? Gary, you continue to amaze.... (and I actually consider myself resourceful!).... starting to get into "reasonably priced" EJ25's... Thanks, John

Hi, My 96 OBW bought the farm (shopping for engine and tranny now) and am driving the escape pod in the mean time (93 Impreza 5sp). Hoping to be able to keep it going until I can come up with a reasonably priced\respectable 2.2 for the wagon, though have had a growling coming out of the tranny for the past couple thousand miles (different mechanics have waxed differently as to possible causes...), the one that sounds most likely is a bearing.. suggestions: "New tranny: $1800", "Rebuild:~$1k"... Since its got 210k+mi (and needs struts all around), I am mostly just want to get myself back and forth to work for a couple months. Any chance that a bearing (or other patch) could be done on the cheap (<$1k), to give let me breath a bit more comfortably through the New Year? Does this always dropping the tranny? -John

Well, I keep hoping you might be wrong Nipper.... but fear that you are right... My 96 OBW started sounding very similar to JPXs...(several months ago) now has grown to frightening proportions.. http://media.putfile.com/1996-Subaru-OBW-engine-knock Am glad to hear all of your earnest efforts JPX, am still rooting for you to find a solution that doesnt mean a new engine!

Hi, Wringing my hands over a possible rod knock problem (read: death knoll for my 96 OBW EJ25)... had this passed on to me.... (Thanks johnceggleston!) , really usefull tutorial on how to listen to your engine and figure out what happening.. http://remanufactured-engines.com/page4.htm http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?p=540878&posted=1#post540878

Yes, Was all over ebay, craigs and crazed list today (nada so far). The engine noise diagnostics site is *great*! Thanks! (will pick up a stethescope tomorrow!)

Any reason why, if I found said models (1996) with a 2.2 and 4EAT they wouldnt go into mine? Any issues with my current computer governing DOHCs all of a sudden looking a SOHC? This also begs the question that I'd have to pull the units out which, again, if I had a friend with a barn (or even *heated* barn) and a couple of months, would actually love to jump into, but, (even though, short of the lift I have a pretty thorough tool inventory), would need to do some serious boning up on.. Should the unspeakable happen and I bail altogether (and end up with my frinds 93 Honda), how hard is it to part out the old girl (to be able to recover something for my Credit Union...). Or would some industrious sole be interested in doing the whole thing for the right price (still running, but will keeps the chickens awake...). -John

Point of protocol.. Being new to the list, I've be noticing a core group of folks (at least ones weighing in on issues my OBW has) who seem to have quality time in the trenches.. When I come upon an issue which involves time sensitivity (gotta do something soon!), temptation is to personal message them. But want to make sure I'm following protocol and not filling folks personal boxes with unwelcome yanks from newbies (versus just posting and hoping someone with the right "insight" will cruise though and post...). Are these kind of subtleties or expectations covered in any faqs? (have looked, couldnt find).

Yeah, thats about where I am... Yes 96 OBW EJ25, 4EAT, (bought in June w111k, now @ 122k)... seemingly still so fresh....! Have been digging into more and more of the older posts.... Nipper had discussed the precise location (rear, passenger side, and why and described his diagnostics (pull a plug wire and listen to the change) and others have independantly described the rod knock sound ("card in the bike spokes").... which is dead on... I've been listening to it long and hard enough to be able to (he posits) seperate the more metallic, ticky kind of valve chatter with this deeper, lower (*louder*) more central engine body knocking.... really more like a hammer on metal though one of the shops today also mentioned wrist pins, so who the helll knows...... if its piston slap, its frighteningly loud (esp. when cold) and is getting louder and is staying much longer (at idle when warm)... really doesnt sound good (metal on metal.. kind of yikes! sound..). Walmart guys actually refused to change the oil today (after I ran Seafoam through for a couple of hours), it scared them that much... "we wont even tough it"! Jiffy Lube didnt blink... *Would* very much like to have a better understanding of what might have led to the rod knock\failure (assuming thats what it is...). if the oil pump has been wimping out (without throwing codes or low pressure lights), since I havent overheated at all (though again, just had it ~6mos), and have been very on top of oil maint. marvel mystery did not much, ditto for SeaFoam (though it was a bit quieter while it was washing around... but speculating that that the thinned oil may just have been dampening the sound. One post, (the poor guy who is on his second engine after a TB break), metioned that a shop *could* do a "partial" repair for $1100, which is something I'm going to check... Still trying to talk myself down off the ledge, of being hit (potentially) with both a bad tranny *and* engine... and the cost (still paying for it, having financed thru credit union)... and have taken Nippers advice and renewed AAA... So am dusting off the old 93 Impreza, and gearing my loins for what may come... Would be happy to record and post, have seen pics posted, not any audio files, is there a favored standard and size? .MP3, .WAV?

Is that a function of the cars computer?

Wow! That pretty astonishing... I fully admit to being a novice, but nearly 2months of search time turned up a $250 4EAT as being way far as the cheapest I could get (most online guys were looking for $1-1.5k! Have to assume that, if I were to find a 2.5, it's gotta be a lot easier to put in head gaskets outside of the car, and would obviously pull the new timing belt\water pump out of my current unit. Wouldnt mind geting some phone numbers for your local guys (even though youre quite a hike from here...). Any idea of what years EJ25 will go into mine (would very much like to get an engine\tranny pair)... possibly a 2.2\4EAT.... On the tranny, how far back do I need to go (with a 2.2\4EAT) before I hit compatibility with my current 2.5\4EAT (the rear tranny\clutchpack part )?

Sounds like I should be driving north... (though who knows what HLS would do with a car full of Sube parts...

Love the thought (and the price), but I have to admit to being pretty close to my pay scale just doing the timing belt... after 3 days and some wildly stupid mistakes, (am still head scratching wondering if I some how precipitated this units early demise with some unseen oil pump blunder).. and with Thanksgiving upon us, I'm guessing that willingly committing the next 3-4 weekends to a rebuild might not be the smartest move for me... Still like the thought of ending up with a 2.2 MT....

Hi, Got a second and third opinion... pretty much unanimous for piston rod bearing.... And, yes, even though I havent had to do the heads, (yet!?!) feel like I've shared the collective pain, so immediately went to thoughts of a 2.2, except for... The 2.5 they've offered me for $1k, comes stripped of a bunch of stuff (starter, etc... seems what most chop shops do..) so theres the expectation that I'd need to scavenge these off of my current unit... skeptical (read:inexperienced) if a non-OHC will have the same\needed stuff.. To be honest, I'd love to end up with a 2.2 manual..., but, unless I end up shelling out even more of the buckaroos that are already way short to have someone do the "conversion", I'm already on the thin part of my knowledge ice... (which you no doubt already suspect..)... And yes, have searched For Sale sections (as well as off-site regions...), seems like a grand is a pretty fair price.... Have to say, for the $2k that it'll cost me to get this back on the road, I'm having some might sweet thoughts of my old Honda(s)....

This just keeps getting better.... May need a new engine (2.5) as well as tranny (clicking may be a rod bearing). Getting second opinion today.. Same place that had a 4EAT tranny ($250, local guy will swap for $450)) offering me an engine for $1k. Suggestions as to cost to swap engine (assuming doing the two may be a bit cheaper...) and if these look like reasonable figures? Not very happy to be looking at this order of repairs (bought it in June with 111k, $700 timing belt job in July) and wondering of folks take on worthwhileness of putting this much in.

Yeah, thats my thought... I hate to ask, but suggetions as to where to start looking? Took me ~2months to find a (cheap) used tranny...!! Your impressions of what they might run? (squint..)

Rough cost?

So, assuming I'll need an engine (possibly a whole car, if the trannys shot too), do I have anything to gain from parking it (sounds like I'll need a whole rebuild anyway). Are the folks in Colorado (CCR) the cheapest way to go for a rebuilt engine (or can a used one be cheaper, as per the tranny.. (cant believe I'll have to start the whole frigging search all over again...)!!!

Did your knock kind of "float" at different RPMS? guess I better get my old 93 Impreza back on the road... Thanks for your insights... -John

Any idea if these tend to go relatively quickly? (unit was reasonably quiet a week ago). Noticed a slight tick (seems to "float" at different RPM, in and out...). Now is frighteningly loud.. Speculate a cause?

Tried it again.... It does seem to change if I leave the wire off for a few minutes.... The knock is really a lot deeper (and louder) that what it would seem a valve assembly could produce... have a bad feeling... Rechecking the location with the bar, I guess it could be coming from deeper in the engine.. Can a single connecting rod be replaced? or is the the "while youre in there" routine... Bummer, how the heck could a tranny *and* the engine go all at once.. Bummer, seemed like a really clean car in good shape....