it's been a while but I have an engine related question

Discussion in 'All Things Technical' started by fozziepaul, Jul 7, 2010.

  1. fozziepaul

    fozziepaul Member

    Okay, it's been ages since I've been on the forum but them I haven't owned a subaru for some time. The thing is that I have seen a phase one Impreza wagon for sale pretty cheap so I could probably afford to buy it at the end of this month.

    Now this leads me to my question. The thing is that it is only a 1.8 non turbo so pretty poo hats I know. Would it be worth buying with the intention of swapping engines in the future. I'm limited to autos and on a crappy budget at the mo' but am I being a numpty?

    Looking on ebay turbo lumps seem to go between £300 and over a grand depending on the spec. Does this sound about right? Could I get one cheaper?

    Also, how hard is the swap? Could it be done over a weekend since ideally I would not want the car off the road for long. I know Adz knows his way around Subarus like the back of his hand so perhaps I should get in touch with him.

    By the way, please tell me if I'm talking crap or wasting my time. It's just that it has been way too long since I've been behind the wheel of a scoob and I miss the flat four sound.
     
  2. Slik50

    Slik50 New Member

    Im sure it wont be as simple as just buying a turbo engine and dumping it in. Im know expert but I could have a guess that the wiring loom would be completly diffrent for a start. Then there is all the little things that you would need that you dont tend to get with just an engine of ebay like the turbo, intercooler, boost selonoids ect ect. Im not saying it cant be done just that I think you would strugle to do a conversion over a weekend on a drive with nothing but an engine.

    There has been a few tried it before and it has ended up costing more in the long run then just going out and buying a turbo version.

    I know someone near Oxcliff rd thats selling a turbo saloon cheep enough. Mechanically sound but a bit tatty. PM me if you want to know more mate :wink:
     
  3. scoobyupholland

    scoobyupholland New Member

    Ask http://www.imprezasport.net a few have done it on there. Everything needs to be changed though basically anything associated with the running gear as non turbo gear boxes cannot cope with the extra power. A lot of people who have done this kind of conversion have had a turbo donor car that has been in a smash. Don't know if its a weekend of a job.
     
  4. TunnelMeister

    TunnelMeister Lifetime & Founder Member

    £ for £ it's not worth it imho. Wait a bit longer and buy a turbo version?
     
  5. Scooby Stevo

    Scooby Stevo Well-Known Member

    just buy a turbo and save the hassle - you can pick up a decent wagon turbo for cheap money
     
  6. njberrie

    njberrie New Member

    best bet is to buy a turbo car mate, im saying this from experiance too.

    theres a lot more work than just an engine its all the running gear, looms and most of interior bits.

    if youy are serious in doing this i would advise buying a crashed wrx wagon tht go for pennies on fleabay and use the whole car for the conversion.
     
  7. fozziepaul

    fozziepaul Member

    yeah I figured as much. Being a disabled driver, cheap auto subaru's don't show up very often.
     
  8. markscooby

    markscooby Active Member

  9. lee928

    lee928 Member

  10. njberrie

    njberrie New Member

    if you keep scanning ebay and autotrader bud theres allways some there and allways go for botoom price to as there not as desired but like i say you will need a full car or it will cost you a fortune in parts
     
  11. fozziepaul

    fozziepaul Member

    cheers guys, actually Leggys are becoming more and more tempting. I would have considered another fozzie but after the last one blew up it put the missus off for life. Guess I'll just keep looking.
     
  12. Slik50

    Slik50 New Member

    There are a couple of nice leggys around morecambe at the minute. It would be nice to see another 8)
     
  13. TunnelMeister

    TunnelMeister Lifetime & Founder Member

    :idea: What about a decent Impreza Sport, turbo bonnet and used aftermarket backbox :?:

    Decent panel filter and a good tuneup to get the best from the engine. :wink:

    Gary (Moderator) had one for a while which ran and sounded amazing. :shock:

    Compromise I know, but you get the looks and the sounds without the costs. :D

    Just a few examples;


    http://pistonheads.com/sales/1786394.htm
    http://www.imprezasport.net/forums/inde ... opic=24470
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :MESELX:IT
    http://www.imprezasport.net/forums/inde ... opic=24424

    Autotrader search returns 16 Auto's nationally, example;

    http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p
     
  14. scoobyupholland

    scoobyupholland New Member

    I'd second getting a sport if you find it too hard to get an auto tubby. Brilliant cars, I had one before my turbo..off boost and cornering doesn't feel any different.
     
  15. Greyscale

    Greyscale 2011 Focus 1.6 Ecoboost Estate Titanium X

    As above. I actually miss my old auto sport. Drove great and with Borlas fitted sounded like a turbo too. With the amount of traffic and speed cameras around I don't get to go any quicker now with a turbo.

    Steve
     

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