All posts by Subaru Idiot

EJ257 Block info

So you bought an EJ257 block to build on the side. The seller says it’s “good” and “was running.” I mean, they can say anything, right? That is until you pull the engine block apart and the crank suffered major rod bearing damage from either oil starvation or debris from other failing components.

Here we go to look at the bore housings of the main bearings on the engine block. They look perfectly round to the eye but only measuring tools will reveal how oval they really are. Heat isn’t your friend and is the major cause in warping the bore housings. Rod bearing failure will cause excessive heat if driven on. Even brand new blocks from Subaru can be out of round.

The pictures show the honing marks after a pass on the honing machine. You can see where the color is more dull and has minimal light reflection. There was no contact there with the honing stones. You can see the dark defining line, which was where the bearing sat. Half of the bore housing number 3 (middle) didn’t make contact while honing as with bore housing number 4, which did not make any contact except where the block halves met.

What do we do now? The issue here is you’ll have bearing clearances that are too small or too large. This will cause oiling issues to areas where they most need it. Also the warped mains will not be straight. This can cause bearing to crank journal contact. So when looking at a block to buy, ask about the block’s history. If the seller has the block apart, look for yourself before purchasing. An experienced machine shop that has an align hone machine will be able to straighten the bearing housings as long as they aren’t too out of round.

EJ257 honing Marks
EJ257 honing marks

Subaru Headlight idiocy continued

Let’s make our Subaru completely useless at night and attract the attention of local law enforcement. Please just stop doing this.  The only reason you should have red lights on your car if your an authorized emergency vehicle which this Subaru certainly isn’t.

 

Easiest way to get a ticket from the local police.

Better hope those poorly made Chinese lights don’t fail and cause a electrical fire.

 

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5spd Subaru WRX five speed manual tips and tricks

5spd Subaru WRX five speed manual tips and tricks:

So you’ve got this noise coming from your 5spd transmission. It is starting to whine when you’re on/off the throttle. The sound seems to come right from below like around the shifter area. You may be a victim of the infamous falling apart center differential!

Don’t be too worried, transmissions are a dime a dozen! You still have the option to go 6spd or another 5spd transmission with different gear ratios if you choose.

5Spd: The damage. Most times the rear cover will back out minor like this photo. Other times it will completely come off. You can see the circlip survived this incident on this WRX

How to not tow a Subaru like a idiot

If there is one thing you never do with a manual all wheel drive Subaru is tow it with car dollies without removing  the drive shaft. Really the preferred way of towing a Subaru is putting the Subaru on a flatbed or a car trailer.

 

Kind of a bad idea.

 

Having the Subaru towed on the two rear wheels is asking for the all wheel drive system to die a horrible death and to leave a trail of parts and tears on the road. It’s a great way to need to install if you are lucky a new center differential or if you are unlucky your transmission will need a complete replacement.

 

If you have to ask you can’t afford a engine swap

A simple google search would have answered this guy’s question.  LS swaps on a Subarus are known to be able to be done, but it seems like this person is more of a dreamer than a doer. Anything can be done with time, talent, and money. However, if you have to ask random people on Facebook how to do something as complex as a engine swap you might be over your head in all three areas.

 

 

 

Brembo (STi) caliper idiocy

I’ll spare you the long sting off comments after this got posted. Basically people were telling the poster that he can do it himself(which is true) and that buying a whole new brembo caliper would be a massive waste of money.

You can go to any machine shop and they will happily take care of the snapped bleeder screw for $20 or a case of beer and you can be sure that your expensive Sti brembo calipers aren’t going to be ruined. Well besides you fucking them up yourself.

 

Brembo caliper in question

 

Now let’s look at the picture of the rear Brembo the OP posted. Hmmm doesn’t that brake rotor look a little small? (The answer is yes.)  Always double check part numbers even when you are buying from the OEM/Subaru. Triple check whenever you buy from an aftermarket supplier. It’s very easy to get a WRX sized brake rotor instead of the correct STi Brembo sized brake rotor.

Let me blind you with my Subaru Forester

Nothing quite like getting the attention of every cop in your city with your blue tinted headlights with your Subaru Forester.  If a cop doesn’t pull this clown over he is going to blind and piss off every motorist this clown drives by. Someone needs to tell this guy its illegal to have blue and red lights on your vehicle.  I’m sure that this Forester is a rally champion and needs all the light it can get for those dangerous night time rally stages at the Rally America events.

 

 

Oh are is that a LED light bar in his hood scoop? Talk about obnoxious.