What would you do?

[redlegacygt]

So just the other day my luck ran out an after around 133,000 miles, i blew a head gasket. SO now i have to decide whether i should ditch it and get a new car, or fix it and sell it out right, or fix it and drive til she wont drive anymore. I've found a couple places and have 2 lined up to do the change. One is an uncle of a friend of mine who will do it for 600 at the most, but he's doesnt work with subaru's that much. The other is a dealership (williamsport auto) that said it would be 900 and they know what their doing for sure. So if you were in my shoes, what would u do? Trade it in for a new one? Fix it and sell it? or Fix it and keep it?


P.S- The body is in mint condition and the interior is just as nice. The front end of the car just got redone (bumper, headlights, radiator support, ac unit. and fresh paint)

[legacy92ej22t]

I'd just do it myself and save the money. :-D

Headgaskets aren't that bad, especially on a N/A. suprisingly, the hardest part would probably be the timing belt, if you have DOHC.

[redlegacygt]

id do it myself if i knew what i was doing and had the resources. If i had the tools then i definelty would be. But i dont and dont really know what im doing...

[phi11]

Fix-it


Yourself

or


Pay $900?


(can't I choose both)

I would do both.

fix it keep it.

[Pwise2326]

It depends on what you want and how much you'd be willing to spend on a new car. If you didn't ahve the resources to do it yourself, i'd have the person that knew how to do it do it over your friend that will save you money, unless you know no matter what they do awesome work.

[Huffer]

Cost of repair vs. cost of a new car?

At 133k, there should be a good few miles left in it. My Legacy has 180k on it, original motor too. Just did a timing belt etc change on the weekend.
I had a mechanical friend helping and a very good Haynes manual to walk me through it.

I wouldn't spend $6-900 on fixing it and then just sell it though, that's a bit much. If you sell a car you shouldn't put more than $500 into it to get it back up to spec.

Remember - $900 is more than halfway to a replacement engine! (Brand New)

[legacy92ej22t]

I smell a swap! Throw an EJ257, w/sti 6mt, in that bad boy! 8)

[redlegacygt]

thats what i thought about doing to, making it a sweet as project. But there where the resources come into play again. Id be taking out a loan either way and luckly i have a great paying job to pay it off pretty quick. However i dont know what all id need, where to do it, and even people that could do it. I know people that could easilly drop the motor and tranny in, but the wiring is a different story.


P.S- How about a SL-I project car? lol jk :D

[Huffer]

Here's an idea. Buy a cheap runabout, save up and then have the car swapped.

If the chassis is solid, and there's no rust on the frame, then take the time and have it done right. :)

[redlegacygt]

yeah thas not a bad idea either. Thas the whole reason for this topic. so that i know all my options. I really dont wanna drop 600 and up when i can get something just as good. If i sold the car, i would by a newer legacy or wrx. i love the power of the wrx, but hate its size. if i could do a swap, i could have the best of both worlds and have something different....


keep the ideas coming, the more the better..haha

[Huffer]

I'll buy the car off you for $200.
I have a hybrid EJ25 that I need a reason to put together. :lol:

[ivwarrior]

Remember - $900 is more than halfway to a replacement engine! (Brand New)

From where? I went and checked Jasper, and they want over $5k for a REMAN 2.5L

www.subarugenuineparts.com (http://www.subarugenuineparts.com) says around $1800 for a SHORT BLOCK.

Both for 1998 2.5 L, for reference purposes.


Now, as to the original question, there's only 2 choices in my mind. Trade it, or fix and keep. No way would I spend the money to do a head gasket, then turn around and sell the car. (Well, there's engine swap, too, but we'll lump that under "fix and keep" :D )

[redlegacygt]

well ill most likely be getting it fixed here in the next couple of weeks. Im still searching around to see if i can get any lower prices but i doubt i will. However a swap might not be too far away. I want to keep my car because everything but the engine is great. Now i'll just need to find different setups and see where i can go from there. Also hopefully i can find some good help or a shop in the area that will do it but of course my bill would be outragouse.... so who knows...lol

[Huffer]

You could temporarily swap in a 2.2L. There's two people here selling them.
NewSTi and Insane Azn Kid.

[Sarra]

I'd sell you my EJ25, but it's a crap motor.

Um, I'd just have the dealership do it, then decide what to do from there. Engine swaps aren't something you just decide to do one morning, unless you have 3 other cars you can drive. :p It takes planning, time, and money.

Just get the gasket fixed. You could even save some cash, and get a ultra thin HG put in, a Cosmetic gasket. It'll increase your compression ratio, you'd have to run 89 or 91 octane gasoline, but it would be worth it powerwise.

[Huffer]

Cosmetic gasket.

Cometic Gaskets. www.cometic.com (http://www.cometic.com)

[Reason]

Have a suby dealer do it. It will be more money but, You will be better of trust me. While it's in make sure they change your front crank seal and water pump and timing belt.

[Huffer]

Have a suby dealer do it. It will be more money but, You will be better of trust me. While it's in make sure they change your front crank seal and water pump and timing belt.

+ oil pump ($??) and thermostat ($13).

Might as well get new AC and alternator belts ($19), and new radiator hoses ($20).

[Wiscon_Mark]

swap, this is your opportunity.

You have Matt near you, don't you? I bet he could help you out at very little cost.

If you don't want to swap, I bet he could still help you repair the gasket.

[strat81]

fix it and keep it.

i'd be willing to help out but i've never done headgaskets so i wouldn't be much help. depending on how long of a job it is, i might be able to offer a warm garage to work in though. :-D

[Reason]

Have a suby dealer do it. It will be more money but, You will be better of trust me. While it's in make sure they change your front crank seal and water pump and timing belt.

+ oil pump ($??) and thermostat ($13).

Might as well get new AC and alternator belts ($19), and new radiator hoses ($20).

Yes them too

[ivwarrior]

Hmmm, just noticed this last night, reading SCC.....following the "run it 'til it breaks, then upgrade" theory, how about new heads, while you're getting the gasket(s) done? Cosworth is now doing performance heads for the 2.5L among other applications.

Linky (http://www.cosworth.com/shop_item.php?productid=345) I don't have an idea on price, as it says "contact us" on the website

[Huffer]

TWE's heads are cheaper and probably just as good. The cosworth items are high priced.

www.techworkseng.com (http://www.techworkseng.com) -> they built a 300hp 2.5L NA racecar during the winter.