'94 WRX reliablity declining...rebuild options???
06 November 2002, 07:34 AM
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My '94 WRX has at least 70k miles (115,000+ kilos) on it, and I'm considering a partial or full rebuild.
1500 km ago (two weeks time), a double gasketed oil change nearly lost the motor. By the time I pulled over and shut it down, 1 quart of oil was all that remained, which means I may have scored bearings, and risk spinning a bearing in the near future. Everything seemed fine, but yesterday upon startup I noticed blue smoke (oil) in the exhaust, and again today. This motor never did that before. I also have an oil leak from my passenger side valve cover. Plus, the motor has seen more than its fair share of detonation events. Yesterday Rallispec, a highly respected Subaru tuner in the USA, inspected it, and said that a lot of blow-by is occurring, and this is probably due to the age/milage of the motor.
On the plus side, it seems as strong as ever.
I don't have much $$$, and probably won't until April or May, so any $$$ I spend between now and then will have to be on my credit cards.
Nevertheless, I'll probably have Rallispec overhaul the motor and fix all the problems in December or January. If the bearings/crank suffered any damage, I'll do an EJ25 crank, new bearings, have the block bored, and drop in some forged pistons + rings (I'll probably lower the compression ratio a bit from the current 8.5 to 1, too). But if the bearings and crank are fine, I think I'll just have the block bored, and do forged pistons and new piston rings, but maintain the stock 2.0 liter displacement.
I'm also trying to source some '97 WRX heads (solid lifters) to upgrade my '94 WRX heads, while we're at it.
Now, here's where you all come in...does this plan make sense? Am I leaving anything out? I'm looking for feedback and suggestions, and words of advice/caution, etc. I have a pretty extensive list of mods, which are listed on the page below.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Mark
"Don't hate me because my Impreza's beautiful."
http://www.subarureview.com/bio.php?name=annointed
1500 km ago (two weeks time), a double gasketed oil change nearly lost the motor. By the time I pulled over and shut it down, 1 quart of oil was all that remained, which means I may have scored bearings, and risk spinning a bearing in the near future. Everything seemed fine, but yesterday upon startup I noticed blue smoke (oil) in the exhaust, and again today. This motor never did that before. I also have an oil leak from my passenger side valve cover. Plus, the motor has seen more than its fair share of detonation events. Yesterday Rallispec, a highly respected Subaru tuner in the USA, inspected it, and said that a lot of blow-by is occurring, and this is probably due to the age/milage of the motor.
On the plus side, it seems as strong as ever.
I don't have much $$$, and probably won't until April or May, so any $$$ I spend between now and then will have to be on my credit cards.
Nevertheless, I'll probably have Rallispec overhaul the motor and fix all the problems in December or January. If the bearings/crank suffered any damage, I'll do an EJ25 crank, new bearings, have the block bored, and drop in some forged pistons + rings (I'll probably lower the compression ratio a bit from the current 8.5 to 1, too). But if the bearings and crank are fine, I think I'll just have the block bored, and do forged pistons and new piston rings, but maintain the stock 2.0 liter displacement.I'm also trying to source some '97 WRX heads (solid lifters) to upgrade my '94 WRX heads, while we're at it.
Now, here's where you all come in...does this plan make sense? Am I leaving anything out? I'm looking for feedback and suggestions, and words of advice/caution, etc. I have a pretty extensive list of mods, which are listed on the page below.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Mark
"Don't hate me because my Impreza's beautiful."
http://www.subarureview.com/bio.php?name=annointed
06 November 2002, 09:32 AM
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Hi,
Well, if you need a re-bore, it means new pistons, and if you're going to the expense, you may as well do the rods too. Then, an EJ25 crank will cost very little second hand, so WTF......
If you do go this route, I'd suggest using the Phase 2 EJ25 crank with the stronger 52mm bigend jounals. However, the block will need modifying, and your engine builder would REALLY need to know what he's doing.
Whilst the later heads are more readily available over here, they aren't cheap, and weigh a lot. I dread to think what they would cost to ship.
Mark.
Well, if you need a re-bore, it means new pistons, and if you're going to the expense, you may as well do the rods too. Then, an EJ25 crank will cost very little second hand, so WTF......
If you do go this route, I'd suggest using the Phase 2 EJ25 crank with the stronger 52mm bigend jounals. However, the block will need modifying, and your engine builder would REALLY need to know what he's doing.
Whilst the later heads are more readily available over here, they aren't cheap, and weigh a lot. I dread to think what they would cost to ship.
Mark.
06 November 2002, 04:58 PM
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Is it noticeably using oil or showing any signs of wear?? I have stripped engines with 130,000 miles on them, and the pistons/bores were immaculate. The original honing marks were still as fresh looking as ever.
But if rebuilding, always worth upgrading in the process.
But if rebuilding, always worth upgrading in the process.
06 November 2002, 09:16 PM
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Why ? Personally I'd be going up in compression
hehe!
I considered this. If I find enough in my research to run over 8.5 to 1 CR, and still boost to 15+ psi, believe me, I will. Truthfully doesn't seem to be the norm, though.
Why ? Personally I'd be going up in compression
hehe!
I considered this. If I find enough in my research to run over 8.5 to 1 CR, and still boost to 15+ psi, believe me, I will. Truthfully doesn't seem to be the norm, though.
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