Engine replacement questions

1249 Views 13 Replies 4 Participants Last post by oniell121, Jul 18, 2016

oniell121

Discussion Starter · Jul 15, 2016

Good evening everyone.

I've been a lurker here for a while and always gotten great info! This place helped me solve several misfire problems and various stuff and things. I have a 2002 WRX that I bought used at 109k and have owned for several years now with no major issues. Now here at about 150k miles, I did an oil change today and found fine metal shavings in my oil.

This is totally over my head and I consulted those that know more than me. I'm going to be doing an engine oil test here locally with a Mass. Spec. in a couple weeks to determine exactly what might be happening, but while I wait for my oil to have bad things happen I am trying to research new engines.

I have a few questions.

This vehicle had a professional tune and several mods done before I owned it. It was professionally done and I have never had any issues. It is tuned for stage 2 with a Accessport. I have been looking at JDM engines on ebay and other sites and I just don't know some specifics. First, Any suggestions?
This car was originally bought and all owners have been in California (I'm from there, now live in New Mexico). Will my ECU have any problems? I have searched for anything relating to any California specific ECU programmings or engine incompatibilities, but I have not found anything concrete. Are there any...I dunno, extra sensors my ECU from California will look for?
Does it matter if my replacement engine came from a manual vs. auto? I have a manual 5-speed.
How can I tell if my WRX has AVCS? Found a few replacement engines claiming to be from 2002 WRX's that say they have it.
Are there any other things I should be aware of as I embark on this journey of replacing an engine? This car is older, but I don't mind investing a few grand to have my car running fine and own it for a few more years before getting something newer.

Thanks everyone!

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XJman

· #2 · Jul 15, 2016

Jdm engines can be iffy. Knowing the real history of it is a crap shoot. It's not uncommon to have one doa. As far as I know the ecu will need changed or modified to work with the jdm engine, especially if it has avcs and you don't.

To be honest and as I've said in other threads of this nature a new from the factory ej205 shortblock is about 2k and is plug and play. It's also more reliable than anything rebuilt or used.

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oniell121

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 15, 2016

How can I determine if I have AVCS? I've been googling a lot today and I haven't found anything. I may be an idiot. Or I may just not have asked the right question.

As I understand it, if I go with a new block, I would just need to swap the good parts from my current engine to the new block to make a complete unit? Of course, wouldn't it be a good idea to get new heads/pistons? Especially since this started with metal in my oil? I'm sorry for these dumb questions, I'm trying to learn as fast as I can.

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XJman

· #4 · Jul 15, 2016

A shortblock is everything but the heads and oil pan. Basically case halves, rods, pistons, crank, bearings.

I don't think the us vehicles had avcs. You'll have to wait on someone more familiar to answer that question. If there is no damage to the cams, heads and valves there isn't much point in replacing it if it isn't worn out or broken.

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SD_GR

· #5 · Jul 15, 2016

1. Your car runs. You may not need an engine. I'd not buy anything, anywhere, under any circumstances that is "JDM" and that's not only because everything "JDM" is tasteless, but also because I question the quality.

Do you have a control sample from your actual batch of oil for your MS run? You can imagine sample purity and the control are both crucial. Otherwise you'll assay the filth of the container and drain pan, plus have no reference values.

2. Good news: All bugeye cars sold in the USA met California standards.

3. You'll need a flywheel that fits and you'll need to make sure your gearbox to ECU connection is not for the auto or you'll get a CEL.

4. If your engine and chassis plaque numbers match or if your engine is correct for the car, there is no AVCS.

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oniell121

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 15, 2016

SD_GR said:
1. Your car runs. You may not need an engine. I'd not buy anything, anywhere, under any circumstances that is "JDM" and that's not only because everything "JDM" is tasteless, but also because I question the quality.

Good to know. I want to do this right! I'm not buying anything until I know a little more of what is going on.

SD_GR said:
Do you have a control sample from your actual batch of oil for your MS run? You can imagine sample purity and the control are both crucial. Otherwise you'll assay the filth of the container and drain pan, plus have no reference values.

Sadly, no. I have no oil from the last batch. I didn't originally see the sparkles until I got out from under the car and back into the sun. By then it was all on the drain pan. I'm planning on doing another oil change in a couple weeks and doing a clean catch from that. The local Wagner Equipment does the testing fortunately. I don't know if they'll want a control of the same oil or not. I'll ask.

SD_GR said:
2. Good news: All bugeye cars sold in the USA met California standards.

Awesome.

SD_GR said:
3. You'll need a flywheel that fits and you'll need to make sure your gearbox to ECU connection is not for the auto or you'll get a CEL.

With any luck, I won't be swapping gearbox, but I'll double and triple check anything I buy.

SD_GR said:
4. If your engine and chassis plaque numbers match or if your engine is correct for the car, there is no AVCS.

Fortunately, it does.

I'm just not sure where to go from here. I'm told locally that since the car is running fine, I should just wait for the oil test. I'm fine with that, but just not sure about after. Any thoughts? The MS I was seeing were very fine sparkles that were noticeable not only in the top of the drain pan, but also as a poured the filter out. I did not have the presence of mind at the time to try a magnet on them.

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MainFrame

· #7 · Jul 15, 2016

oniell121 said:
How can I determine if I have AVCS?

If your car was originally sold in the US, then it does not have AVCS.. no 2002-2005 USDM WRX came with AVCS. If the car was imported from Japan or Europe, you can simply look at the engine and see if it has AVCS solenoids installed on it or not.

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oniell121

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 15, 2016

Fortunately, this was originally purchased new from the Bay Area of California. I'll go take a look at the engine anyway, just to make sure since I'm not the original owner. Thank you for such a clear picture. This lines up with what I was finding online. Just out of curiosity, if they were doing AVCS anyway, was there some reason they were not made for the US models?

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MainFrame

· #9 · Jul 15, 2016

Personally, I wouldn't spend my money on a used engine from a different market. Wayy too many horror stories of JDM engines either not working at all, or failing after a couple hundred miles. In your situation, if the engine fails, I would either replace it with a new, already assembled shortblock directly from Subaru. Either that, or I would sell the car.

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MainFrame

· #10 · Jul 15, 2016

oniell121 said:
Just out of curiosity, if they were doing AVCS anyway, was there some reason they were not made for the US models?

Tough to tell, but if I had to guess I would say the decision probably came down to emissions regulations and/or cost. If it cost more to build the engine with AVCS, but sales numbers wouldn't be effected, then it only makes sense to build the cheaper engine.

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oniell121

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 15, 2016

Just so I'm clear, this is what you guys have referred to, right?

https://www.subarupartsdepot.com/pa...mber=10103AB330&vehicleid=45003&siteid=215079

Not the entire $5000 engine assembly. This is if I need to.

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MainFrame

· #12 · Jul 15, 2016

oniell121 said:
Just so I'm clear, this is what you guys have referred to, right?

https://www.subarupartsdepot.com/pa...mber=10103AB330&vehicleid=45003&siteid=215079

Not the entire $5000 engine assembly. This is if I need to.

I guess.. but it can be had cheaper elsewhere. WRX EJ205 Shortblock

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SD_GR

· #13 · Jul 16, 2016

Upon your next oil change, send a virgin and a used oil sample to Blackstone. You can skip TBN if they charge extra for that. Call and ask if they need the virgin sample; they may have data already. They'll interpret the data from your sample for you.

Meanwhile do nothing.

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oniell121

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 18, 2016

Awesome! Thanks everyone. I'll report back in a few weeks with results. Fingers crossed.

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