Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS

Why not.

I always liked these cars and over the past few years, several of them have popped up on CL with various mechanical failures.

Here we go - I was third in line to buy this one then talked my way up to #2. #1 guy was a younger dude who wanted to give the seller money down and weekly payments. Needless to say, I showed up with a trailer an hour after that dude was turned down.

On the way back:

It wasn't everything I wanted but it was cheap and that's all that matters sometimes.

Finally home:

The problem was obvious with this one - a big ol' hole in the top of the block. It must of had a bad rod bearing for a long time to eject the rod & piston bits all over under the hood.

More details to follow.

Up next - the disasembly...

Nice!

I will be watching this very closely. I hope to bring my engineless Legacy GT home on Sunday.

Love the RS. Late great David E. Davis once proclaimed the RS one of the most underated sports cars.

One of the cars I have owned and actually miss. I sold it for racing money and to get a bigger truck.

Jealous. I've wanted one of those cars for a while.

Loved our non-RS. Handle great and actually have some personality. All they needed was a bit more power. NASIOC classifieds are your friend.

I have always wanted one of those and still do. I honestly think they look better than the WRXs that we got here in the states. If I got a job that required alot of driving that car would be at the top of my list.

I loved mine, and would own another in a heartbeat, if I could find a rust free one, for a reasonable price.

Fire in the hole!

Messed up crankshaft: At least the pistons were salvagable for future projects.

I picked up a used short block for $150 and reused these heads. Spent most of my time cleaning everything up inside before bolting it all together.

She fires and runs!!!

Updated pic...

Dern, that was fast! Congrats!

Also my favorite Impreza - did you manage to find one in black? It's a little hard to tell from the pics, but all I ever see are the common dark navy blue.

Yes, its black and after a few weeks I love driving this thing!

I'll add some more motor assembly pics when I can get them organized.

fornetti14 wrote: Fire in the hole! At least the pistons were salvagable for future projects. I picked up a used short block for $150 and reused these heads. Spent most of my time cleaning everything up inside before bolting it all together. She fires and runs!!!

Holy hole Batman!

Already running? I was hoping for more suspense.

Now swap an STI drivetrain into it. Nothing could go wrong!

Now for some Rallycross!!!

You can't have a Subie without running it though the dirt every now and then...

Man, those cars look so good doing that! Good job on the quick rehabilitation, and for using it as intended :)

Nice!!! how is the fender rot?

Love that last pic.

I may have that one hanging in my office by the end of the week.

JtspellS wrote: Nice!!! how is the fender rot?

It's there but not too bad.

Makes it the perfect RallyX'r. I had so much fun that I may run the entire Detroit region SCCA schedule next year.
Wife has given the green light!

nice find and great shots! i'm in the same position...going to get my RS dirty for the first time rallycrossing later this season. looks like so much fun.

Time for a quick post -

It has rained all week while the colors were changing here in Michigan. It's one of the things about living in this state that you have to see to appreiciate.

Time to get the tires dirty...

I grew up in the "U.P." (Yooper for those who live near Michigan) and I've learned that two trackin' is all about tire placement... or you'll get stuck.

As you can see I sold the aftermarket wheels that came with the car and scored a set of perfect WRX wheels with good tires on CL!
They are 2 lbs per wheel lighter than what was on the car.

Winter mode will be Forester steelie's and Dunlop snow tires.

Next up, decent mud flaps and maybe some body work.

fornetti14 wrote: I grew up in the "U.P." (Yooper for those who live near Michigan)

Pasties

fornetti14 wrote: Now for some Rallycross!!! You can't have a Subie without running it though the dirt every now and then...

I'd always wanted one of those,couldn't bring myself to bash it or nearly any car in the dirt like that though.

Time for an update. I had a CEL for a while now and it was finally time to fix it:

There's a plastic gas filler neck guard that tends to fill up with dirt and debris over the years. All this stuff packed up under the filler neck will rot it out and cause a CEL.

Picked up a new looking filler pipe at the salvage yard (from a Forester) for $14. Good as new!

$14, the price is right! Is there enough room there to do it without dropping the tank? My Outback is probably past due for the same.