Got a spare Subaru EJ253 in the garage... what to do?

[Mckinleyvillian]

Recently I purchased an excellent JDM EJ253 for my 07 Outback after it gave up the ghost in the high Wyoming desert. the EJ253 was an exceptionally easy to work with and the engine I purchased for $2000 was confirmed to have less than 30k on it. Score. deck heads, checked tolerances, new MLS gaskets, ASIN kit, and this car is excellent. quietest subaru I've driven...

So now, I've the Subaru knowledge and an engine I could work with sitting on a pallet in the back of the garage. do I embark on a swap?

it was eating some oil, so the rings are toast, and while I probably could have kept driving and managed the fiddling temp gauge, the HGs were on their way out, so I Uhauled it in rather than break town with a rig full of precious merchandise in the middle of nowhere...

That said, the old engine will need a full split and rebuild. my BIL who is primarily a diesel mechanic owes me a favor or 2, is very, very adept with the EJs, could rebuild it, or I could buy another JDM from a company I very much trust and use that for probably a lower cost.

Then comes the whole, is the gearing on the post 05 EJ253 too much on the gearbox of our vans, so then am I looking for an EJ22 to rebuild.

I realize many don't care for this swap, but many do, so I want to hear what y'all have to share
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so many roads i know
all i want is one to take me home

85 Vanagon GL 1.9 stick

[skills@eurocarsplus]

1800 bux gets you a BRAND NEW short block from subaru

it makes it almost foolish to rebuild one at that price.

I don't even bother rebuilding them anymore (unless I'd doing something exotic like a stroker or something)
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[Sodo]

I'd use the EJ25. If there was a way you could attenuate the power that's probably a good idea for your gearbox. Easy to do on a cable-operated throttle, you just limit the throw, prevent it from mashing full-throttle.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

I have a shop account...so there's that

but come on...2200 bux for an off the street guy to but a new SB?

you can't buy a set of GOOD heads for a WBX for that.

if you don't value your time then yea, rebuild one. I can make 20x the money doing other things than building a 2k engine.

I just don't see the value in rebuilding one when they are so cheap new
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[Mckinleyvillian]

[vanis13]

[mitch5]