I have a UK 2000 scooby (Impreza turbo) and looking to change the engine. My budget isn't the biggest but enough to do something useful. My thoughts were to buy an engine ready to drop in and use. I'm guessing my choices are a RB5 engine, a STI 5 engine or possibly a RA engine. The budget can go to 1k if I can see it is worth it. I'm not too keen on changing the wiring but not ruling it out if it is worth it. So which one is best?
Thanks

 

How long's a piece of string?

Seriously, first off, WHY do you want a new engine? Do you NEED one?

Secondly, dropping an engine in isn't as easy as all that unless you go for one the same as the one coming out, and then, what have you gained?

If yours is fekked, why not get a decent new bottom end and away you go?
The problem with "new" old engines is that you REALLY don't know what you are buying: it could last you 30,000 miles, it could go pop in 30 miles And the latter is expensive

If you are just after more power, why not contact API, or Alan Jeffery, and ask about drive in-drive out deals.

But to be safe, you will need double your budget at least

 

Yes the bottom engine has gone on the current engine, hence time to take engine out, else it was fine so thought well may as well go for a cost effective upgrade while doing it

 

any ej 20 turbo bottom end will do m8 up to about 2005

 

get a closed deck bottom end and rebuild from there i have a second hand crank for sale that is perfect and never been ground and never knocked so standard size acl race bearings etc and you have begginings of a good strong motor ripe with tuning potential

 

The rb5 engion is just a uk turbo engine the sti wood be a good up grad to put in you will nead the ecu as well to get it running to sti spec I think you wood get an sti engine for around 1 k just get a v5/v6 1999/2000 engine so it will mack life easyv

 

why stick a RB5 ? just a uk turbo 2000 engine....

i'd go 2.5 jdm with vf43

 

What about using a RA engine? they are a closed deck engine??? liking the STi 5 or 6 engine idea. Which engines have the closed deck?

 

New age STI (2ltr) bottom end, but then you have this little thought in the back of your mind on how long it will last.
First thing you need to do is find out what went wrong with your engine in the first place, was it just a mechanical failure or was there another issue that caused the failure.
Then its actually best to rebuild from scratch (I would look at places like API or Enginetuner to do the rebuild), as this will give you confidence in the engine knowing its not a 100k er out of a new age sti with no history.
Also what is your budget? for a GOOD engine rebuild you are looking 2.5k+, but its best to do it right first time rather than do it wrong 2-3 times and spend alot more than 2.5k.

Tony

 

Closed deck engines were the early blocks, note block not engine, the internals were chocolate compared to a new age STI, it also is over rated, if you want 500+ bhp then going for a semi closed or close deck would be preferable to an open deck, but not always necessary.
RA engines are no different to any other engine in the range, also over rated.
STI 5/6 engines, exactly the same, goes for the P1 which is based on a version 5 STI.

My advice above is the best possible

Tony

 

^^

JDM = 2ltr only...

 

Hi Tony, what would you say about STI 3/4 engines

 

Realistically?
I wouldnt put a 2nd hand engine in a car, waste of cash full stop.

Tony

 

Got to agree with those words

 

Second that.

As Jeff and Tony have said, get it rebuilt properly once (even just with standard parts if you want) rather than several times on the cheap.

 

aren't jdm foresters 2.5's? But back to thread, i believe a v7 sti bottom end was the last of the forged internals. But as Tony says a full rebuild would be best

 

So a STI 5 or 6 engine with the ECU is the best way forward by the sounds of it or is this just over rated again?

 

Now you got me thinking, that's very interesting, i've nearly orgot bout STI Foresters... Would be interesting to know TBH....

 

This is a bit of an odd one i think! If your budgets £1k then theres no benefit of using forged parts or CDB's other than future proofing against going further in the future!

For your budget, your best option would be to just get yours rebuilt by a reputable company so you can have confidence in the fact it will take a licking and keep on kicking!

If you wanted to "uprate" it, then theres additional parts which you probably havent considered! Biggest of these is probably ecu and mapping which would gobble up at least half your budget straight away! The engine itself, turbo, injectors maybe, exhaust, bigger IC ..... no one part is worth doing without the others and it all adds up!

My £0.02 is that in the real world, a tight and fresh chassis'd car is alot quicker on the twisties where it matters than a ropey old slack one with a big engine in it! I dont know the state of your car so i cant really comment, but id be suprised if bushes/brakes/ARbars etc werent a wiser investment with any remaining budget after the engine rebuild than chasing bhp's.

 

Whatever else happens £1000.00 isn't going to go far even if you do all the mechanical work yourself. A new crank, bearing set, partial gasket & seal set, and a conrod is going to come up close to budget, with nowt left for upgrades worth having / doing.

You might find you need a clutch and a flywheel skim too. Change the cambelt for peace of mind.

So even if you do all that at good prices the only way to wring more power is to remap, but that would be best done with a decent panel filter and decat exhaust system to gain anything worth spending the money for.

Up the budget to £2000 and you will get a result worth having. Used engines are a No-no - as are engines from; SMC, Ideal Engines, Engines Direct etc., etc Make sure you seek advice on here before buying a ' rebuilt ' engine from anyone. If it looks a cheap deal, it is probably just a coat of silver paint on a breakers yard engine.

Good Luck, David APi

 

Sorry, just reread my last reply and it sounds like im suggesting an engine rebuild is do-able for alot less than a grand ..... didnt mean to imply this!

David@API knows his stuff

 

Heed the above advice from David..........

 

Bring me the engine out of the car with the external cr*p [ sorry; accessories ] stripped off and l can do the above work for £1000.00 + VAT.

David

 

Good god, there is an offer you cant refuse

 

There you go!

You'll have piece of mind that your engine has been rebuilt by one of the best specialists about

 

 

i actually ment to write jdm 2.0 or 2.5 sti


it was late and i was

 

That is a very good offer, I have stacked up the part costs for rebuilding my engine and that's £500 minimum thank you for the offer. i will have to think it over the weekend as I rip the current engine out this weekend.

 

Always best to have a rebuild if engine broken, at least you know it will last, unless you can find a used one with known history and still in the car so can be tested, if this is the case it's no more a risk than buying a used car. But peace of mind if you can afford it just go with a rebuild.

 

I'd suggest you rip davids arm out the socket.

It's a no brainer.