Huffer's Dilemma - have your say!

[Huffer]

Situation: 98 Legacy GT needs clutch and t/o bearing. Multiple small oil leaks plus a rusting oil pan. Timing belt needs to be done also (along with water pump etc etc). Car currently has a 2.5" midpipe, Borla headers, GFB lightweight crank pulley, STi axleback, Kartboy short shifter, 16x7" wheels, lowered ride height, 24mm RSB.

Style of driving: Spirited, but I like to cruise on the highway. You would call me a canyoner, but the most I see these days is the on-ramps.

Timing Belt Parts $628
Oil Pan & Misc Parts $111

PLUS

Option 1: Pull engine, replace all seals, timing belt etc, replace clutch w/ Exedy clutch and Exedy Lightweight Flywheel $815 + labor
Option 2: Pull engine, replace all seals, timing belt etc, replace clutch w/ Exedy clutch and install torque 260 grind Delta Cams $722 + labor

Option 1 TOTAL: $2254 approx (inc labor)
Option 2 TOTAL: $2161 approx (inc labor)

Cams or Flywheel?

[impreza_GC8]

I'm gonna have to vote cams but dang son, what all are you replacing that your total is $600? I've done a timing belt on my 2.5RS and it was about $200 in parts. About to do one on my Outback along with replacing a leaky crank seal and it still shouldn't cost more than that!

[rougeben83]

youre going through all that work anyway, cam it. You could always go to a lw pulley in the meantime...

[d1giPhux]

Are you going to have to get a tune with the cams your talking about? I'm gonna get the flywheel done here myself as I also have a new clutch / flywheel / TO bearing + all that good stuff to install. Got all my parts for around.. id say.. $700 or so.. so right in your ball park. Just think of all the EXTRA stuff you might need doing those installs.. cause that will obviously add to the cost.

What do you think the difference of doing each will be? (more rev speed, or more torque.. etc)

What fits YOUR driving style better?

I guess in the end.. its your call. I just wanted to chime in to say I will be doing the flywheel / all that junk here pretty soon.. hope its worth the money and doesnt make my car too unstreetable.. or else I myself will be kinda pissed. Good luck either way.. engine re-seal is ALWAYS nice..

[Sarra]

Cams. Why? Because some people experience issues when they run lightweight flywheel, and lightweight pulley sets together. ;) That, and the cams will really be the most fun.

[Reason]

I say cam it, slap in a Exedy OEM clutch kit resurface the flywheel. Next time it comes up for an overhaul that the engine needs to pull or what not then reconsider the lighten flywheel.

[4n70n1n0]

Cams, but not both. I've read enough people having CEL for misfire while running LW crank pulley and LW Flywheel with cams.

Cams over Flywheel. Im impressed that you are going to go and do cams on the DOHC

Good luck! :smt023 Keep this wagon alive long enough and little huffer will have something fun to drive in 16-18 years :smt005

[Huffer]

Thanks for all the responses guys! I will let the poll run a little longer... :smt005

[Airgne]

do the damn labor yourself.

the only labor i pay for is electricel. i know you can do alot of that yourself a few buddys and some beer.

i have the lw flywheel and lw pullies. i love them, but i dont know if i will after the cams. codes or no codes we will see.

cams will be more fun in the rpm range.

lw flywheel will make a big diff in rev time up and down.

i say do both or get a jdm engine without all the damn leaks you have.

[Huffer]

I don't want to do the "damn" labor myself, because I don't have a "damn" garage nor do I have the "damn" time nor do I have the entire "damn" toolset to cope with issues that will come up. ;) :P

I'm planning on being part of the process for a good portion but most of it will take place while I'm away - the car is daily driven so downtime isn't really an option. It makes sense to get it down while I'm not needing it unfortunately.

Believe me, the rate I'm getting on labor is more than fair - especially given this guy's mechanical pedigree and know-how. Think "drove to Topeka AutoX Nationals, broke car during first round, fixed car that night in motel parking lot with home depot supplies and handtools, went on to place third in class". He's done enough motorswaps and hybrid setups to make my head spin.

[rougeben83]

I don't want to do the "damn" labor myself, because I don't have a "damn" garage nor do I have the "damn" time nor do I have the entire "damn" toolset to cope with issues that will come up. ;) :P

I'm planning on being part of the process for a good portion but most of it will take place while I'm away - the car is daily driven so downtime isn't really an option. It makes sense to get it down while I'm not needing it unfortunately.

Believe me, the rate I'm getting on labor is more than fair - especially given this guy's mechanical pedigree and know-how. Think "drove to Topeka AutoX Nationals, broke car during first round, fixed car that night in motel parking lot with home depot supplies and handtools, went on to place third in class". He's done enough motorswaps and hybrid setups to make my head spin.

real men don't need tools Roger, real men would just rip the engine out with their bare hands and use their teeth as wrenches! :smt005

[Grafton]

I don't want to do the "damn" labor myself, because I don't have a "damn" garage nor do I have the "damn" time nor do I have the entire "damn" toolset to cope with issues that will come up. ;) :P

I'm planning on being part of the process for a good portion but most of it will take place while I'm away - the car is daily driven so downtime isn't really an option. It makes sense to get it down while I'm not needing it unfortunately.

Believe me, the rate I'm getting on labor is more than fair - especially given this guy's mechanical pedigree and know-how. Think "drove to Topeka AutoX Nationals, broke car during first round, fixed car that night in motel parking lot with home depot supplies and handtools, went on to place third in class". He's done enough motorswaps and hybrid setups to make my head spin.

real men don't need tools Roger, real men would just rip the engine out with their bare hands and use their teeth as wrenches! :smt005

that's how i did my first clutch...
























really






















roger, cams ftw you'll get more out of them...

[lewisd]

dang, now I'd feel really embarassed if I didn't do my 99 2.2 timing belt myself.... :roll: I'm kinda newbie to this stuff otherwise I'd help and vote on your choices.

[greenspeed]

You should really try and do the work yourself. And don't buy oem parts save using after market parts

[Reason]

You should really try and do the work yourself. And don't buy oem parts save using after market parts


:shock: Nothing but OEM parts bro

[greenspeed]

There is nothing wrong with a gates timing set from importimageracing!

Some people are poor brah

[4n70n1n0]

You should really try and do the work yourself. And don't buy oem parts save using after market parts


:shock: Nothing but OEM parts bro

I second this ^

Nothing but OEM when it comes to maintenance parts I with nothing but OEM. I prefer to pay the extra money for know for sure that it will do what its suppose to.

[99gtlimited]

cams! DAMN

i want to see a how the EJ25D does with them...

[Huffer]

Looks like it's going to end up being cams. But probably not till I get back from Hawaii. So it'll be January now. :D

I'll have a lot of feedback to give people, as it'll be assembled and tested by Storm, who is a nationally ranked auto-x competitor. And all around nice guy too. I may give the car to him in the spring to see how it does on street tires in a local event. I'm nowhere near the driver he is, so the potential will be realized by him much quicker than me!

[Custom Import Heads]

Can you guess our vote?!?!? :smt017

[chuckthefuk]

Option 1:replace clutch w/ Exedy clutch and Exedy Lightweight Flywheel $815 + labor

More responsive revs. Downshifting will be your new best friend.

-Chuck

[Huffer]

Can you guess our vote?!?!? :smt017

Flywheel? :smt006 :smt005

I really hope it works like I'm envisioning. I want to get on the gas, and stay on it. Throttle input is where it's at!

[4n70n1n0]

Looks like it's going to end up being cams. But probably not till I get back from Hawaii. So it'll be January now. :D

I'll have a lot of feedback to give people, as it'll be assembled and tested by Storm, who is a nationally ranked auto-x competitor. And all around nice guy too. I may give the car to him in the spring to see how it does on street tires in a local event. I'm nowhere near the driver he is, so the potential will be realized by him much quicker than me!

You sure you can't speed that up abit

Delta is having a holiday sale until 12/24

PM them for details

[hellaGT]

I can't stand the light flywheel shutter sounds and possible CEL. To me they aren't worth the added shifting speed benefits especially for a daily driver. Delta cams would make a very happy engine and driver.

Just my vote

[Huffer]

Looks like it's going to end up being cams. But probably not till I get back from Hawaii. So it'll be January now. :D

I'll have a lot of feedback to give people, as it'll be assembled and tested by Storm, who is a nationally ranked auto-x competitor. And all around nice guy too. I may give the car to him in the spring to see how it does on street tires in a local event. I'm nowhere near the driver he is, so the potential will be realized by him much quicker than me!

You sure you can't speed that up abit

Delta is having a holiday sale until 12/24

PM them for details

It's fine - they have deals all the time and I already have a quoted price so I'm not concerned. With a build you have to be patient and take ones time. They're good guys and I'm sure it'll work out.

[Custom Import Heads]

It's fine - they have deals all the time and I already have a quoted price so I'm not concerned. With a build you have to be patient and take ones time. They're good guys and I'm sure it'll work out.

Yep, we got you hooked up!

As far as the LWFW goes... It is an art to leave the line without shutter. I won't run mine without one ever again. It just revs way to well to go back to that heavy anchor.

[wrxya33]

How bout both since its a few hundred bucks differance and your makeing the excuse to do all the other work anyways

[Huffer]

Nope. Budget restraints. A completed project sticks to a budget, one that is worked out in advance. ;)
Thanks though!

[rougeben83]

I think a 14lb flywheel is a great upgrade for any subaru - I went out of my way to get another 14lb fw when I went to my sti 6 spd fwiw. BUT, you're not going to be tearing open your engine as often as you would changing out your clutch, so cams are a better option at this point in time IMO.