So, here is the problem... I have a 2002 WRX with around 104,000 miles on it, and it is coming up on it's timing belt service. The motor runs like a champ, and I don't really consider 104k high milage, but I am the 4th owner of this car...which gives me some uneasy feelings from time to time. These feelings have lead me to prepare for the inevitable and purchase (for a steal!) an STi short block that will eventually be going into my car as a hybrid swap. My original plan was to build the entire hybrid without cannibalizing my 2.0. I was going to buy a blown doner 2.0 motor for as cheap as I could find one, and pick the parts off of it that I would need for the swap. I would have a complete long block ready to go. The idea was to have as little down time as possible with my car. This is important because I do not have a spare car. It would also give me a spare motor to rebuild and either keep or sell. That is an ideal situation that saves time, but requires spare money. My other plan was to go ahead and cannibalize my motor, tear it down, send my heads out to be worked over (ported, polished etc...) rebuild it, and install. Depending on how long it takes to get the heads done...this could be about 2-3 weeks. In this case I would need to borrow a car from someone. This is an ideal situation that saves money, but it requires spare time. Simply put, the problem, as it always is, is time and money...and I have neither. One question that keeps floating around in my head (and is the reason that I am typing all this crap) is that I feel like I am wasting money if I do the timing belt service on my car because I will be buying parts that I also need for my hybrid swap. (timing belt and water pump) Does this make sense, or am I being silly? If I do decide to go ahead with the timing belt service, would it be okay to re-use the timing belt and water pump when I get around to my hybrid? I guess it would all depend on how many miles I put on the parts. Ideally I was hoping to use all new parts for the pumps and timing components of the new motor, but I am also on a budget. So, I am forced to look at prioritizing my expenses. The third and final scenario is that I try to get as much life out of my 2.0 as I can. I do the timing belt service, continue driving my current motor around until the day it decides to quit on me, and then worry about all of this. In the meantime I can save money and pick up the parts that I want to use for the swap as I can afford them...rather than make sacrifices because I am impatient and want a 2.5 hybrid. Anyway, I know this is kind of a rant, and I am not sure that I actually asked any specific questions, but I hope that it is apparent that I need some advice... maybe from someone that has been in my position.
i'm sure you can find some used high mileage 2.0l heads cheap if you look hard enough. i'd buy them and do like you said originally. but only if you're 100% that your current motor is still good. i'd recommend buying the timing belt and taking it up to SOG or Classic and having them do a leakdown check before they swap the new timing belt in. it would be a complete waste of time and money if you did the new belt and the 2.0l was bad. the reason i say to go ahead and buy a new belt is that you're gonna need one anyways for the swap.
Honestly, I am more concerned about spinning a rod than the condition of my heads. But regardless...you are saying that I should buy a belt because I am going to need one anyways, and then determine the health of my engine to decide wether or not it is worth doing the timing belt job on. but then, what if I can't afford to do this swap for another 10k? Then I run the risk of the belt breaking.
It will take you a weekend to pull the motor, pull the heads, and put them on the 2.5 block. Sending them off for PnP is another story though.
What Dana said. If the existing motor blows, so what?! Swap in the new block over a weekend, and you'll still have the aforementioned heads getting built that you could use when you have more time and money. The car will run fine with just a block swap. Sure it makes more sense to do it all at one time, but the reality is like you said not everyone can afford that.
With the timing belt you also want to replace the tensioner and NOT reuse it. Many do but the tensioner is very querky about being recompressed. If that tensioner fails so do your valves and more. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm trying to pay off credit cards so I can have the cash to do my 2.5L build. However I'm at 105,000 miles and my timing belt is due. I have spare heads that I bought from LiquidForce and I have the shortblock at the house in great condition. The cheapest timing belt service would be to replace just the belt and the tensioner. The 2.5L will get a Greddy Kevlar belt and new pumps, tensioner, etc. But just the timing belt and tensioner is $200+. I just may take the risk and see if the timing belt will last me since I have all replacement parts sitting at the house if the belts do break....it's a tough decision.
yeah i forgot to mention you should def. buy a new tensioner as well. but if you took it to Classic they would've told you that anyways. on my hybrid swap we replaced all the rollers up front as well.
steven (kingwrex) recommended not to use the greddy timing belt or any aftermarket belt. because they aren't always marked like the factory belts, and sometimes don't have the right amount of teeth.
Markings on the belts do help but isn't the right way to do it. Put the engine a TDC and use the cam markings instead.
yeah, but if the belt doesnt have the right amount of teeth, it doesn't matter where you put the crank and cams.cus they'll still be out of line.... just going by what i was told when we did the swap on dana's (youngdz's) car
thats what he was saying i think, steven feel free to chime in. he was saying that apparently some aftermarket timing belts for WRX's and STi's don't have the right amount of teeth. meaning the manufacturers screwed them up.
I was in this exact same position but opted to go ahead with the new belt...lots money for labor...yeah, but I still don't have enough saved for the 6 speed or ppgs And those WILL be required before long after doing the 2.5...I am almost sure of it!
This is the case for on aftermarket belts for ALL cars...from time to time we get bad belt here in the shop. If the belt doesn't have the right amount of teeth, you will know it way before you have a chance to start the car. Regardless, the Factory subaru belt is just fine.