547 replies to this topic

[Jimbo]

Jimbo makes good timing.....

[Lukeoly]

Jimbo makes good timing.....

 

How much easier is it out of the car!!

I've done a few in car since but I'm glad my first attempt at a Subaru timing belt was out of the car.

[Jimbo]

It's piss easy.

Only thing is the passenger side ex cam likes to spring off the buckets while you're doing it. Good old clamps (I have some plastic heavy duty hand clamps) keep the cam wheel from turning. Once that's secure, it takes like 2 minutes.

[Jimbo]

Starting to look like an engine again! Been tidying and painting a few bits and pieces in the down time while I'm fighting with the transmission...



These are the assholes that stalled my weekend of happy broom broom..



Also had a can of heavy duty foaming BBQ cleaner in the garage. What better application than using it to clean the engine bay!! Not worthy of any pics and didn't have the time or patience to get it as good as what the Mexicrew can do, but eh.

[motoboy76]

The engine is looking very tidy Jimbo....

 

BBQ cleaner hey, may have to try that when the time comes....

 

So those are the culprits hey.....

[Jimbo]

This is what happens when you get impatient, buy a shitbox auto and don't read the FSM before you fork shit up!

[Robert]

Good time for manual conversion

[cowie165]

Sorry mate, I missed what's up with the transmission. What happened? Is it just being a general pain in the ass?

[Jimbo]

I didn't realise you had to unbolt the TC from the flex plate on the back of the engine before you remove the engine. (You unbolt it via the little access hole under your intercooler to the back of the motor).

The TC is supposed to stay connected to the trans unless there's a reason you have to remove the TC.
I removed the engine with the TC still bolted onto the flex plate, and as such, I damaged the circlip which keeps the TC secured to the oil pump shaft. 

I tried to get the torque converter back in after reading a few DIY's but I didn't know what this clip was that the FSM mentioned. Had a look down the shaft tunnel and found the clip! So I tried again to get the TC seated and just couldn't get it in. It was sitting about an inch proud of the bell housing where it's only supposed to be about 2.7 to 2.9mm proud. At this stage, I didn't realise the oil pump shaft was supposed to come out with the TC, I was getting the input shaft confused with the oil pump shaft. 

Retrieved the clip to find it damaged. Also damaged the oil seal which sits around the whole shebang.

So now that I understand what the oil pump shaft is, along with the circlip, I removed the oil pump shaft and connected it to the TC as per the FSM. I obviously didn't have a circlip and a new seal (already emailed Docklands), but I wanted to have a crack or a "dry fit" per se.

Connected it up, aligned the tabs on the end of the TC with the oil pump shaft and began to slide it back into the transmission. Bit of a push and a wiggle to line up the input shaft and bang, it went home! Checked the clearance and it was spot on. Now I know how to get this bastard in, so I just need to wait on a reply (hopefully a successful one) from Docklands and get the goods, bang on the new seal and get the circlip on, and I'm done.

Only thing that's going to be pain is once it's all in, I have to line up the flex plate and TC bolt holes via the cramped and small service hole (without dropping the bolts!).

If I get one in, it should be easy to line up the rest as the TC will spin and I can just turn the crank via the big pulley bolt.

AND THEN

Connect all the other crap up bolt everything back in, fill the engine with juice and hope to buggery it fires up first go. Once it fires and hasn't exploded, I'll bleed the ol' coolant system which is a piece of piss now with the new radiator which has the second cap at the front. Then, a good UEC as it's very oily and gunky (hasn't been driven hard enough). My intake manifold on the dead engine is spotless but this one in the new motor is looking nasty inside there! 

It's been a much longer journey than I had hoped, but shit happens. I have learnt alot about slush boxes in the last few days that's for sure. Never again!

[Jimbo]

This might explain it a bit better, the oil pump shaft is highlighted.

Note that the input shaft (12) also comes out of the box, which is what initially confused me.

Also note on the pump shaft (7) there's locator tabs, this is what makes for a hard time trying to get the TC in without sliding out the pump shaft first. If you leave it in, you have to match the splines on the input shaft, the stator shaft portion of the oil pump cover AND the locator tabs on the oil pump shaft itself. Total cubt of a job. Once you actually remove the oil pump shaft and connect it to the TC outside of the transmission first, all you have to do is slide it on, match the splines with a bit of a wiggle and a push and it's done.

[cowie165]

Wow.

 

I hate how DIY learning hurts. Dude where are you doing this? Hoping not solo in your driveway or something.

 

Hey can I ask what you paid for the new motor? Just wondering about motor vs. 5MT halfcut for me one day if/when this one goes.

[Jimbo]

Yup, solo in driveway!

I've done engine swaps and pull outs more than I can count on my hands. However, this was the first AT I have ever dealt with. Never again!

New motor was from SSS Automotive in Girraween, dude named Joe, top bloke. Cost me $1400 which was a bit more than I wanted to spend but SSS only 15mins from home and he had plenty of them in there.

[cowie165]

I'm impressed. That'd be a horrible job. Hopefully you've got a decent jack to get the car up reasonably high.

 

Thanks for the price info. I was expecting higher but I was also thinking of complete motor, not a short block. Cheers Jim

[motoboy76]

Cowie I'd say that is a full motor....


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[cowie165]

Cowie I'd say that is a full motor....


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Wow. That's pretty cool. I remember buying a full EJ25 (JDM because it was cheaper!) back in 2009ish and paid >$3000 installed. Must've seen me coming!

[bigboyscottyb]

Geez Jim you not done yet?!? Haha jokes!

I've made the same mistake with an auto box before! It wasn't a pleasant job fixing, more just time consuming and you never 100% know it's fixed! I see a manual box on the way

[motoboy76]

Yeah have to check with Jimbo but I'm pretty sure he picked up a full motor as he was not sure how bad the valves were.


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[Jimbo]

Yup, full engine inc turbos, accessories etc. Basically as it was, then yanked out of a car. All they do is cut the body harness and ancillaries away and lift it out, obviously leaving the engine loom intact.

It's good, this way I have my old accessories and turbos as spares, or if anyone needs something it's here. Thinking of re-building the old engine over time and then just either selling it or keeping it as an insurance policy. New engine has to last me 2 years and I'm out of the woods.

All I'm waiting on now is for Docklands to get their shit together and tell me if they can get these parts I need. They asked me for a VIN today, lol. I gave them the damn part numbers.

[Jimbo]

Aw yiss!

Overnight parts from Ja.... Melbourne. 

And they weren't overnight.

However, all I need now to get this giant purple turd back on the road.



 

[cowie165]

choo choo!