this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2024
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I've kinda been looking at the price of used cars and have started thinking -- I'm an engineer, I can probably learn how to replace my Subaru's engine myself. I'll just ride it til the wheels fall off.
As an engineer with a Subaru that needs a new engine (among other cars in various states of disrepair) I can tell you that, at least for me, the problem isn't necessarily knowing what to do on a conceptual level. The problem is the physical difficulty of removing and installing parts (contorting yourself to reach a thing deep in the engine bay and then having the strength to break free rusted bolts, etc.). If you go for it, I highly recommend having an actual garage with a roof and a door you can close instead of trying to do it in your driveway, so that you can walk away from it and come back later without having to worry that your tools will get stolen or rained on.
Hey that sounds like building a PC only with rust as a bonus challenge!
Yeah for sure. I get frustrated and walk away a lot. But then I get frustrated with giving up and go back. Actual garage is a must lol. I'd probably get a car friend to come help where Im struggling.
You will never get sprayed in the face with hot poison fixing your PC. You will never have to apply a torch to your siezed up cpu. Your PC falling on you won't kill you. You will never have to replace your PC component in -15° weather.
Rust, grime, heavy shit, bending over/crawling under, and weather, yeah. It's much more physically challenging than building a PC (and a little more technically complicated too, since you have to worry about torque specs and such).
I'm not trying to discourage anybody from doing it, just saying not to underestimate it.
As someone who is seemingly constantly working on computers and has done a ton of engine building and other deep car stuff, in addition to the garage mentioned previously, I'd recommend buying a buildable engine core for your subaru, getting that built (either do it yourself - recommended, or by a machine shop - will probably work well, but will cost a lot of $$) and having it ready to install rather than trying to pull the existing engine out and rebuilding it - especially if the current engine still runs.
Unless your plan is to make a hobby of having exploded cars in the yard, this'll go a long way towards putting an end in sight for an engine rebuilding venture.
Also fuck all car subscriptions - that's some gross profiteering right there...
How do you feel about those 60k miles used engines from Japan?
(My engine appears to have that "spun bearing caused by cornering-induced oil starvation" problem that's apparently common to EJ205s.)
Meant to mention those and forgot! As long as it's got some kind of decent guarantee that's a great way to go. Should be plenty of them out there, as I'd imagine most of those vehicles end up getting totaled in accidents of varying severities rather than dying from engine problems. I do believe the Japanese engines are available as a result of their having stricter emissions requirements, BTW..
I was under the impression that it was because of expensive inspection requirements based on mileage (or maybe age, sources I found are unclear) that cause a lot of cars to get parted out at 100,000 km regardless of their actual condition.
Could be - tbh it's been a minute since I looked into those. Either way, a low mileage pull is an excellent option and will last the life of the car if well maintained..
It's like 2k for an engine swap in an easy vehicle.
By the time you purchase tools, a half ton lift, etc you'll be halfway there.
Unless you hate life I'd save up for the professional swap. You're already find to attend 3-4 on a used engine.
Building a PC is something like .1% the effort IMO.
Edit: in fact, what about it do you find pretty hard? I can't think of anything I've ever done that made me frustrated enough that I felt like I needed to walk away. Or even took particularly long. Maybe I'm just building crappy machines or something.