Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

(Sorry if you have already read this, as I have also posted this thread in the general buletin board)


I really need some help!

I have a MY94 WRX which is my pride and joy. I have spent loads of time on the car - colour coding - 17' Prodrive wheels - loads of HKS stuff - spotless inside and out... You get the picture.

I have had it for 4 months it has 56,000 miles on the clock
I have looked after it. Not trashed when cold - use a turbo timer - always use super unleaded and so on. It may have had a hard life in Japan - but no sign of that when I bought it.

Any way the big end shells have gone and therefore probably the crank shaft.

This means an engine rebuild

My local Subaru dealership is going to charge approx
£2,500 inc vat (parts and labour)
Plus I need a new radiator £400.00 inc vat (parts and labour)
- I recon it could be perhaps repaired -

£3,000 grands is going to hurt.

Please can anyone help?

Do you know of anyone who
1. Could do the work for me
2. Knows Scoobys inside out
3. Will do a very good job
4. Will charge me less than a dealer ( I accept that it will be a pricy job)
5. Is honest
6. Is based in the south (Sussex - Surrey - Kent - Essex)

Really will apreciate any advice on contacts you may have

Best wishes
Steve

RON

Steve,
If your car is as you say a WRX then your local dealership 'shouldn't' touch it!
You could always try Scoobysport in Basildon, or maybe get another motor from a breaker. Just a thought!
Ron

Stuart Knight

iTrader: (2)

Try speaking to my mechanic. Ring Dave at Risboro 4 Wheel Drive. He charges a lot less than you've been quoted. Tel: 01844 343947

Adam M

First of all, I would consider sourcing uprated parts yourself and getting some decent engine internals.

Other option is to buy a second hand engine from grade A subarus.

UK engines of that age are exactly the same as wrx engines (to my knowledge) and will cost you £1000 plus vat or so. All you then need is to remove the old engine and insert the new.

I know several who have done this, especially pat. A complete engine swap for a certified to working and guaranteed grade a subaru engine will require much less labour, as it does not require the complete engine to be stripped and split, then rebuilt.

You could have a replacement engine in and assembled for much less than £2k.

Give Steve Lawson a call, he is a great subaru mechanic, perfect for this kind of thing and he is based in surrey.

If you dont take this route, it would be foolish to buy new standard components, saying that if only your crank is damaged then bearing shells and cranks in parts shouldnt cost much at all.

If you need rods or pistons, then dont get standard ones again. Most of the cost is in the labour so you would just be wasting money.

Grade A would definitley be the way I would go.

93wrx

Had exactly the same problem on my 93 wrx - 2 months after I recieved it from japan no 3 big end went.
Luckerly I caught it reasonably early did the complete rebuild myself getting away with just regrinding the crankshaft and fitting new big ends and mains - took about a month but all is ok now - car had done similar milage - 52,000 mls.
Total rebuild was around £700 - bought all gaskets and seals from midland impreza.
hope you get things sorted.

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

Thanks for all the replies, support and suggestions so far.

Cheers
Steve

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

I see Town End garages have a couple of engines for sale.