Engine Replacement or Rebuild

[Mk1_oz]

My 2004 Outback 5sp has 302,000km on it and the engine is very tired. It uses slot of oil (although does not seem to blow smoke) and is down on power.

I have never pulled a boxer type engine apart so as thinking maybe a2nd hand engine might be the go. Which of the EJ25 engines is suitable? Could I put a later generation engine in? Would it be plug and play or would I need to replace the computer and other stuff?

Is there anything special about rebuilding or of these engine? Special tools or techniques?

[bigBADbenny]

Very roughly, you grab a more recent version of what’s in your car now.

That’s a “long engine”: block and heads.
If your car is 4 cylinder single overhead cam, generally you’re looking for the same engine.

Then swap your old engine loom, inlet manifold etc.

Or find a same running wreck and do a drop in swap.

See the FSM link in my signature for the how to’s.