Engine out...how long?
 

Well lads,

Just a quick question. Roughly how long would it take an experienced subaru mechanic to take out the engine for the likes of fitting new head gaskets etc. Just engine removal time only though, and assume it doesn't take any longer to refit?

providing the downpipe comes off ok 45mins but some say will take 2hrs+ auto data says 5hrs+ to remove and install

Couple of hours max, as long as no issues along the way!!

A good mechanic who has done these engines before can have a classic Scooby engine on the floor in 2 hours. Some specialists reckon they can do it in less and I will not dispute them as it is a surprisingly easy engine to get out.

One comment I will take issue with is the refit. It always takes longer to refit something than remove it.

Personally I am fairly handy with spanners and have easily replaced a Scooby engine (drive in/drive out) in 7 hours with plenty of coffee breaks/chats with neighbours.




:)

My record taking the engine out of my own rally car is 40mins from driving it in, to having the engine on the bench. The last engine I took out was a 2002 STI last week and that was 1.5 hrs, always takes longer to go back, I recon on about 4 hrs from having it ready to go in, to driving the car, if all goes swimmingly of course. All depends how quickly the damb thing mates to the box, god i hate that part of the job!

Thanks for that lads.

So to cover all eventualities a good mechanic could budget 3 hours out & 3 hours back in.

Its just for labour costs I'm trying to get a handle on it.

Won't be far wrong with that. Good luck.




:)

ive spend 4 days getting mine out of my GT legacy twin turbo and still cant separate them....any ideas?? was told about the clutch fork but cant shift it...

How long for a first timer at home with a hoist and no compressed air tools etc.

took me 3 hours doing it by hand on a drive while looking after my youngster aswell and making her dinner.took bloody ages to refit due alignment of box and block

have you checked on UKlegacy.com? I'm doing mine at the moment but haven't got as far as that yet.

Have you removed the clutch fork pivot pin?

Yeh as above.....there is an allen key bolt covering the pin, at the starter motor side......the pin also has a threaded hole in it so you can screw a bolt into it to help you slide it out, as it can be quite stuck if its been in a long time!!!

Jase

took me 6 hours to take my engine out change the clutch and flywheel ad put it all back in, just need to fill it with water and done LOL :) oh an was in a foot of snow :)

Very few people will take an engine out in 45 min. If someone does it correct without butchering stuff off, i'd say roughly 2 1/2--3 hours, most decent mechanics dont race to take them out and like anything you are better getting someone who will take there time and do it correct and not break stuff which in the long run you will have to pay for as they wont.

totally agree 2-3hours, no rush, less risk of stuff going wrong.

yep take your time, make a note of what goes where, take reference photos if it's your first time (you single turbo guys have it easy though!).

i appreciate what you are saying, but why wouldnt you be able to take a subaru engine out in 45mins? as in my post assuming the downpipe comes off without hassle, after all they do have very little to remove before being able to pull the engine out, and dont forget they are designed to be taken apart quickly.

2 hours to get it ready to demate from gearbox, then best part of 3 hrs to separate from the left hand gearbox alignment dowel. It was stuck fast in block and g'box. Ended up with one in the gearbox, and one left in the block
about 4 hrs to put new one in including new timing belt, clutch, flywheel and an oil change. Did it over 3 evenings as i had to make a new alignment dowel.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...s/P1090746.jpg

Jamie