middleclassic

I just got off the phone with JDM west coast here in So Cal and was told by the guy the 2.5i is a much rarer engine and therefore commands a premium when buying such a JDM motor. As an example, they have a 3.0 motor same year for my car (but I’m sure would not work without some probably major modifications) but nonetheless that engine with the same amount of miles as the 2.5i they have is going for $1200. Whereas the 2.5i they want $1750 for. That just seems bass akwards to me that the larger engine would be cheaper. Anybody here know better than me? Is this guy blowing smoke my way or being perfectly honest?

OK, I’m a bit confused by your response. You say the short block rebuild is easier than a JDM swap? 2 previous posters said pretty much the opposite. Can you elaborate? I found a place one city over from me that has loads of JDMs for sale though not my exact motor. But just seeing as they have loads of motors I do not doubt they could come up with what I need. I’m going call them and get their take on my situation but would like to hear back from you if you think a rebuild is easier than a swap.

I do like the sound of the JDM engine since it sounds like a simple swap of engines. Something I have never done before, but does sound simple enough that I could do it with some help. Only problem for me with a JDM is since I am new to them is where to get one reliably. I figured JDM was something Subaru specific only to discover JDM means Japanese Domestic Market and means ANY Japanese manufacturers motor. Ugh! And the first website I went to jdmwestcoast.com listed no 2.5i's for sale. That was rather disheartening when I figured this was a sort of slam dunk answer. Nonetheless I shall keep trying unless someone answers back with a definitive answer. But stumbling around that website right now I do see they have a 2003-2009 3.0L engine for sale. And it ios located in Santa Fe Springs which is one city over from me.! Is it possible to simply swap out a 2.5i for a 3.0L? Because if there were one complaint I have about my car is the power. I'm used to driving cars that when I hit the gas, it answers back immediately and takes off! I'm not sure if that's what I would get with a 3.0L, but seeing as it is the largest engine made for the car, I'm guessing if would have a lot more get up and go.

Really? A new engine is the better way to go? Or factory rebuilt? Any idea how much something like a factory rebuilt should cost? Because if that IS the way to go, then maybe I could hire my next door neighbor to do it, or help me swap engines. He is a mechanic and a nice guy. So if it isn’t rocket science (I used to work at JPL btw) this may be a DIY project after all. Also, that’s funny (to me) about the ex. No worries as I never hit it off with any girls I grew up with now that I think of it. Once I got a job at Ralph’s one city over in Downey and moved there too, my dating life changed dramatically! Damn, and you are in or from KY and your ex is from Pico? Small world fer sure.

Hello and please forgive me if this posting should have gone elsewhere and please do move this post to wherever it needs to be. I am the owner of a 2009 Outback 2.5i automatic. I live in Pico Rivera in Los Angeles and am looking for a reputable Subaru repairman / place to diagnose my Outback to find out exactly what is wrong with the engine and then proceed with the repair of the vehicle. Any responses will be greatly appreciated as I have not the slightest clue who to go to for what ails my vehicle. But let me first point out that at the time the damage occurred to this vehicle in 2016 I looked around for a Subaru mechanic and it seemed the closest good ones were located in Costa Mesa, CA. A bit of a haul from me, but if that's where I got to go to have quality honest work done at a good price, then that is where I will go. I am just hoping to find someone much closer as the car currently is not driveable. Also, I am very well aware of the consequences of letting a car sit for a long amount of time (deterioration of rubber parts to start with) and for the most part am very handy when it comes to turning a wrench. I have worked on all the cars I have owned throughout the years, so I do know a thing or three about working on cars. But I cannot work on cars in my current physical state. Fortunately I am currently going through rehab for a broken hip / back injury, but unfortunately in the next month or so should have surgery to repair 3 deteriorated discs in my neck. Yes, I do hope to walk, and talk, and move freely again, but working on cars ... nope. Anyway wish me luck ... please! Saying this, let me get to the meat of my other dilemma. My Outback has currently been sitting for over 3 years even though the engine will turn over and run. But upon starting a loud knock will be noticed by anyone within earshot. The knock is the result of the engine unfortunately being run for too long of time with I'm guessing about 2 quarts of oil in the engine. I say this because when a quart of oil was added the oil still did not even register on the dipstick.** And filling the engine to its recommended level had no result on quieting the knock. So what I am told is that this has more than likely damaged a rod or rods, burnt a bearing(s), and heck, just nothing good to cut to the chase. So what I am in need of is someone familiar with the internals of the 2.5i and how to go about rebuilding / repair of such an engine. So, all of that said, can anybody out there recommend a mechanic or even yourself as long as we can come to an agreement on a price? Ah yes, that being said, any ideas on a ballpark figure on how much I should be looking at for such a repair with the limited info I have given? Ask away if you need any more info about … anything. I plan to glue myself to this forum for the next month or so until I get the answer I feel comfortable with. BTW, I should also point out that I do plan to have the Outback towed on Subaru’s dime to Timmon’s in Long Beach on April 11th to have a recall device (Passenger side airbag) replaced. The original idea being to have them crack the engine open for possible diagnostic and repair. Diagnostic costing $125 (no problem) and guesstimate for engine repair by Timmons to be in the $5000-$11,000 range. Uhhhhh … say what?!? 5Gs to 11Gs? No F’n way! I know, dealership pricing is ridiculous at times. Anyway, I know what I was told over 3 years ago does not apply to a dealership, but anyway, I was told over 3 years ago a new engine installed I should be able to have done for around $4000. So is 4Gs way too low or about right? Please let me know because I am honestly a babe in the woods at this moment and really have no idea exactly how much any of this should cost. I just know up to $11,000 sounds like way too much. Or is it? And as far as the airbag goes, I can still have Timmons do that for free and even have the Outback towed back home for free. But I’m more than likely going to have them skip the diagnostic for $125 if the diagnostic can be done by a recommended mechanic. To wrap this up, sorry for writing so much but I do hope what I have written goes to good use and I get the answer I am after. And I do hope to hear back from you all very soon. Thank You. **I know curiosity gets the best of anyone at moments like this (How the heck did the oil get so low?!?) and if you do feel you need to know how this all came about, just ask and I will tell about anything you may have a question about.