MY08 GTB TBSTI Engine Rebuild

[Deeks]

Hey all,
need some advice, if I may....

Just got my car back from Subaru after a minor service appointment
Engine started to overheat a few days ago, with what looked like coolant fumes and vapour emanating from the slot in the hood. So I reported this to them.

After a few hours, they called with the bad news.

Radiator:
Bottom End Noisy and 2.2L low in Oil Recommend replacement of Short Block with Heads Full Repair $12000-$12500.
AUD12,499.74

Radiator:
Coolant leaking from Head Gaskets, Radiator and Oil Found in Radiator which indicates Head gasket leak would need a full Engine Reseal
AUD6,499.90

Replace Radiator
AUD1,688.46

Damn!!! Over $20K!!!!
Fix is worth more than the car itself.

Amy recommendations?
Need some sound advice on best options please.

Thanks in advance

[bigBADbenny]

There’s nothing particularly special about the my08 tbSTi engine apart from the loom is specific to say my08 & my09, with a change related to the two main engine harness plugs.

As such, you can use any ej255 short block and potentially an ej257 short, the latter with a tune due to the slight differences in compression.

Or use a used ej255 long motor, but retain your engine harness.

You’ll need to get the heads checked and decked along with a potential reconditioning based on clearances etc.

A new oem equivalent radiator is around $200 from burson or repco.

[Stifull]

LOL.. We've had between 4-6 subarus at a time for the last 10 years or so and the ONLY time we would ever take any of them to Subaru was to get the airbags replaced. There are plenty of good subaru workshop trained mechanics working for private workshops that can do the same repairs for a LOT LESS even though they use Genuine Subaru parts.. Get a 2nd opinion from a NON Subaru , subaru workshop. In NSW contact Michael South Engineering here...https://msengineering.com.au/contact in QLD contact Subievolution here...https://www.subievolution.com.au/ .. There other such reputable professional Subaru specialist around but these two companies BOTH get 4.9 star rating from customers .. Even if you have to flat top you Subi to one of these workshops it will still be cheaper and there will be more options, eg performance enhancements etc to really improve your driving experience.

[bigBADbenny]

If you’re in Vic I’m happy to provide a second opinion on the engine, and put your rad in and bleed it.

I gotta do my rad, based on km…

[Deeks]

Thanks for the response guys.

I'm in Melb and so far, have managed to speak with Got it Rex & Lucas Auto.

Haven't had any detailed options yet other than confirming the repair bill will be significant, but not as much as Subaru.

@bigBADbenny,

Sure, I'm open to all suggestions.

DM me with your details and we can initiate a discussion.

Thanks again

[bigBADbenny]

PM sent!

[Deeks]

Further to my OP, car has recently died. See the Buy/Sell section for more info....

[Stifull]

Hhhmm.. So you never actually replied to the original post as to what the 'other' workshops found to be actually wrong with your car and what you ended up doing to fix the problem.. I fo r one am curious as to what they found and what the did and how much did it eventually actually cost you..

[Deeks]

After the Subaru diagnosis, took it to a local semi-specialist whom changed a small part which seemed to fix an occasional "knocking" issue. He also recommended replacing the engine with a 2nd hand one with a quote of around 8-9K installed.

Then suddenly, the car died!

Spoke to the same local semi-specialist again whom advised to take it to an expert for piece of mind, which I did. Lucas Auto never got back to me. I think they weren't interested but did indicate a cost of around $13-15K if it needed an new engine. Gotitrex immediately diagnosed a new engine - no more than 15K.

Too rich for me.

As you may appreciate, the car will garner interest from an enthusiast that knows what they're doing or to a wrecker. Otherwise, I'll put it in storage and deal with it some other sunny day!

At this stage I'm appealing to the enthusiast.

[Stifull]

Even a broken 08 Lib Tuned by sti has got to be worth something , especially to someone who knows haw to build an engine. You can get 2.5 short engines for less than $5k and get old heads checked and rebuilt with new valve seals etc , gasket set and maybe while there at it , put on a 2nd hand vf52 etc and get it performing better ..

[Yowie]

"Even a broken 08 Lib Tuned by sti has got to be worth something , especially to someone who knows haw to build an engine. You can get 2.5 short engines for less than $5k and get old heads checked and rebuilt with new valve seals etc , gasket set and maybe while there at it , put on a 2nd hand vf52 etc and get it performing better .."

That exercise (with a few nice engine parts) is still about $15k. Ask me how I know.

Deeks makes a fair point though, someone with a good 2.5 litre engine (or willing to build one) might want one of the nicest-looking iconic Subaru bodies to put it in.