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$400 WRX build Thread [Update 01/29 now with video!!]

B

Black2na

Senior member
with as much anger and trolling thats been going on lately i figured ATG needs a build thread sooo....
back in july i had a customer that had a WRX sitting in his back yard that he wanted out so i bought it. i picked it up to just sell it but decided to go though the process of putting a motor in it. JCH13 stopped by about a month ago to help me start pulling the motor.
Pulling it into the shop
WRX+075.JPG

Another
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Removed hood to help access everything
WRX+083.JPG

IC removed
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Labeled for ease of reassembly
WRX+091.JPG

Turbo removed
WRX+094.JPG

Motor Free from it cage
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Empty Bay
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Of course the required Standing in engine bay shot
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stuff cleaned up and put it in the trunk
WRX+102.JPG

Old and new Motor on the table swapping good bit from old motor onto new
WRX+103.JPG


Now with the motor out and saving up for the parts has WRX part are not cheap by any means. Timing kit W/water pump,oil pump,New clutch lots of seals. i Decided to tinker with some of the needed body work
Fender off to fix damage.
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Big dent Hammered and dollied out.
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Body work done and primered
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then Focus turned to the headlight that was broken
WRX+106.JPG

2 part epoxy and some plastic mesh made it stong as it was before
WRX+108.JPG

I did Clear the headlights to get rid of the Fog and they look good just have not taken pictures yet.

When pulling the motor james and i found out the Subframe on the car was destroyed. Thanks New England Winters! ordered one from Subaru love having a wholesale account saved me 120 over retail!
Car up in the air to help me crawl under
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Old vs New
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Subframe Installed
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Today all my vendors were closed so i decided to put some work getting the motor. Started with the Valve cover gaskets only to take them off and find this
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Amazingly Clean Engine this motor seemly was nicely taken care of! im very happy
Valve covers new gaskets installed ready to go back in!
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Then on to the Rear Main seal before installing the clutch.
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Pretty and new!
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And now For the Clutch Spec Stage 2!
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Did the pilot bearing on the Flywheel
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Freshly Resurfaced Flywheel installed and properly tq'd to 52Ft/lbs
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And Clutch Installed!!!
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WOW really glad i saved this forth post! from the Rear and sides i worked to the Front to the Timing belt water Pump oil Pump and crank gaskets.
Tensioners off belt removed and waterpump uninstalled.
WRX+134.JPG

Now onto Oil Pump
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And thats all i got through today parts dept didnt give me the needed seal to be able to reinstall the pump. and the crank sensor from both motors were siezed and broke trying to release. so short parts/to do list to finish motor Before install include
1.Spark Plugs (NGK variety)
2.Crank Sensor (OEM)
3.Install New Killer B Oil Pan and Gasket (thanks Jlee)
4.Seals for Oil Pump
5.Reinstall timing setup
6.Shell Rotella T6 5w40

After that i get to put the motor back in and install turbo and bleed coolant then the break in for the clutch and the body work gets kicked into high gear! hope i can have the car on the road by the end of the month!
 
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Great thread, that will be a fantastic and fun little car.


It still baffles me with all of the hosing/tubing/etc on a wrx.. Never in my life have I seen such a rats nest of stuff on a mass produced car.
 
With that extensive fender damage I say you shoulda just gone for a hawk eye conversion 😀

jk

Was the motor the only issue with it?
 
HarryLui said:
What killed the motor?
Click to expand...

The PO Spun a rod bearing so i could very well rebuild it but found a killer deal on a used motor so i went that route.



MotF Bane said:
I came in here thinking you'd made a typo and missed a zero. This should be a fun build thread.
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Sadly ive been keeping a running tab on what ive spent on this car. with car included i have about $4271 so Far but thats ok with a value in the 7-8k Range im still well below buying one in good shape and i know all the services will be done!
 
bbs lm-r said:
With that extensive fender damage I say you shoulda just gone for a hawk eye conversion 😀

jk

Was the motor the only issue with it?
Click to expand...

For me it goes Bug,Hawk,08+hatch and its cheaper for me to fix everything vs Replace it i own my own bodyshop what kind of body man would i be if i couldnt fix it properly! lol and the motor and the body being rough were the only issues with it.

ballmode said:
wow I need to check my subframe. Did you consider spraying it with anti rust material before putting it on?
Click to expand...

no i just put it in for now once i get it on a friends lift to do the brakes im gonna use some panel wax inside the subframe to keep it from rotting from the inside out. and also gonna have them do the controll arm recall after i get it on the road. and yeah check subframe from the bottom mine looked great once i pulled the radiator the whole story changed as you can see!
 
whoa! what a score! Good job with the details. I should be taking more pictures for my build... if only I could find my damned camera.
 
That engine bay have so many hoses, I'd imagine it would be a nightmare later down the road.
 
Great find!!!!
I live for deals like this!!!!!!!!!!

Can you delete any of those hoses like I did with my Z? I deleted egr and 8 different vacuum hoses on my 300zx. Do you guys have emissions tests there or are you FREE like I am here in Indiana?
 
Kroze said:
That engine bay have so many hoses, I'd imagine it would be a nightmare later down the road.
Click to expand...

anyone that has worked on an MR2 can handle the pipeworks of any other car.


ok ok ok, maybe not ANY other car. but most modern cars.

manimal said:
Great find!!!!
I live for deals like this!!!!!!!!!!

Can you delete any of those hoses like I did with my Z? I deleted egr and 8 different vacuum hoses on my 300zx. Do you guys have emissions tests there or are you FREE like I am here in Indiana?
Click to expand...

makes working on the car a million times easier for sure!
 
manimal said:
Great find!!!!
I live for deals like this!!!!!!!!!!

Can you delete any of those hoses like I did with my Z? I deleted egr and 8 different vacuum hoses on my 300zx. Do you guys have emissions tests there or are you FREE like I am here in Indiana?
Click to expand...

96+ is OBDII check plus safety inspection, so as long as it doesn't throw any codes it should be fine.

FuzzyDunlop said:
anyone that has worked on an MR2 can handle the pipeworks of any other car.


ok ok ok, maybe not ANY other car. but most modern cars.
Click to expand...

Haha, everything else seems easy to work on, doesn't it 😛
 
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