There was a time when...

[Miles]

There was a time when I was able to pull an engine from one of my cars, and overhaul it that day, and reinstall it the same day, and be done with it.

 

Apparently, those days are gone.

 

I just spent the last 3 hours out in my shop, removing the engine from my little pocket rocket, because I made the error of going a little too deep into the simple repair job I had started, and now I have to do a major job on the engine. A short history...of life...about 3 weeks ago I was driving my little pocket rocket down into town to get the mail, and I blew the cam belt. This little pocket rocket (decribed later) has a non-interference engine, so no damage was done to the engine when the can belt broke. I immediately called a friend, we towed the little car back up the hill to my place, and I diagnosed that it was in fact a broken cam belt/timing belt. Now that I knew the problem, I decided to take my time with the repair, and not rush through it like I normally would have...30 years ago.

 

I ordered the new belt, and I already had a full OEM gasket set sitting on my shelves, so I was ready to go once the new cam belt showed up. A couple days later....I start doing the cam belt, but once I get all the covers off, and the old belt off, and I replaced the Cam seal, and the Crank seal...I made the error of trying to replace the "mechanical" seal of the waterpump, from the Cam belt side...and I forgot that to do the "mechanical" seal, it would require that I also remove the oil pan, to fully remove the front gear covers...a much deeper job than I intended to do.

 

Then...I tried doing all this in the car...second error. Now I was frustrated with myself, and disappointed that I made such an error. I vowed to take my time, not hurry the project, and to that end, I let the car sit in my shop, taking up space on my car lift, for the last 2 weeks. (that bugged me, as I am an efficiency expert at heart)

 

Today, I removed the engine from the little pocket rocket, and it is now sitting on my new engine stand. The car is now parked outside my shop, all closed up, ready for the rain to come tomorrow. At least now I can take the Winter tires/wheels off my wifes' car, and install her Summer tires/wheels, and change the oil on her car.

 

I don't like having a car stranded on my car lift. I don't like taking so long to do work like this. I have worked very hard to keep my plate as clean as possible, so that there are no projects that are undone.

 

I made the decision that if I have to remove this little engine from this little pocket rocket, now is the time to install all new seals, including a new rear main, a new clutch, new throw-out bearing, new oil pan gasket, etc, etc, etc. But I am going to take my time. I don't need to have this car to drive anywhere, as my wife and I both have other cars that are our primary cars. This little pocket rocket is for fun, and...sometime economy, depending on who is driving it.

 

The little pocket rocket...a 1991 Subaru Justy GL, 1.2 liter, 3 cylinder, that used to be a 73 HP engine, and was changed to a turbo engine 124 HP 6 years ago when a friend gave me the car, . I did all the turbo install work, as well as all new struts at all four corners, all new paint, all new exhaust, new American Racing summer wheels and tires, and had the OEM wheels sand-blasted and Powder-coated Gloss Black...of course, with new Winter tires mounted on the black wheels. It is a 2 door model, not 4wd, and it is the 5 speed trans...not the crappy ECVT trans.

 

I knew in the back of my mind, that I should go through this engine when I installed the turbo, to replace things like the cam belt, etc, but I also knew it was a non-interference engine, so...(my bad...and I hate that saying)

 

So, now with all the engine work that is going to be done this time, along with all the work and money spent on it before, this little pocket rocket will be even better. There is no real resale value for a 22 year old Subaru Justy, other than fanatic value for those that just love these little cars. I could never sell it for what I have into it, but my wife and I love this little car so much, we would have a hard time parting with it.

 

Before the turbo was installed, even with 150,000 miles on this (previously 73 HP engine), this car would smoke the tires in the first 3 gears. Now, with the turbo, and pumped up to 124 HP, it will smoke the tires in all 5 gears, and it scares the heck out of corvettes at a stoplight, once the light turns green. They alwasy give me a look like...did that little car really just do that?

 

 

 

 

Edited March 26, 2013 by Miles

[Carbon_One]

Loved your report on the car. Sorry you have to do/redo some things but better now then later.

Pics of the car would be cool too.

Larry

[Kregerdoodle]

Do it up right!! Sounds like a Blast!!

[Flyinfool]

Well as long as you in there anyhow.........

Might as well toss in a set of rings and bearings. Maybe some new pistons to bump the compression......

[eusa1]

Pictures man, pictures!!

And you know better!

[playboy]

Some Bandito has his camera sorry I couldn't help it Miles it was just to easy.

[Miles]

Some Bandito has his camera sorry I couldn't help it Miles it was just to easy.

 

 

I did already buy a new camera, after the bandito ordeal. I honestly went looking for pics of the Little Pocket Rocket, as I thought I had some on my 'puter. None to be found....Hey, who stole my pictures?

 

So I will take some pictures tomorrow, and post them. My hesitency is...the car currently has the Winter tires on the blac powder-coated wheels on it...and it looks even better with the American Racing mags, with the summer tires on it.

 

[playboy]

Just glad it was a non interference engine my daughters Hyundai was not

[ragtop69gs]

While you have it apart you may as well add a little nitrous kit to it .

[Miles]

While you have it apart you may as well add a little nitrous kit to it .

 

 

You know...I would...except this little motor does not have the lower end that can handle nitrous. These engines were originally designed by Subaru to last 100,000 miles, and that was it. This puppy now has 176,000 on it, and is still running on original bearings, pistons, rings, etc. It has been resealed, but other than that, all original. It was a gamble to put the turbo on it, but I keep the boost down to 7 pounds.

 

[ragtop69gs]

A TBI Chevy 350 will fix that Or maybe a V6 out of a Buick Grand National

[dacheedah]

When I started my job on the police dept I drove a 1950 Studebaker Champion. I decided it was time for a new car so I went to a Toyota dealership. I wanted a Celica and I had been pre approved by my credit union, fresh out of the service and I had no bills. I went to the Toyota dealership and was looking at the Celica and the salesman had me step back and wiped my fingerprints from the car and asked me not to touch it. After an hour in the dealership I got nowhere and was very mad, I went across the street where a Subaru dealer had opened up and the salesman was very accommodating. I drove and then bought a Subaru and drove through the lot of the Toyota dealership to "wave". The car was totally awesome, my dad bought it from me and he had it turn over 300,000. miles before my sister was in an accident and it was totaled. I was just talking to my dad about that car the other day as one of the best, behind the Studebaker, that was just an awesome machine.

[Flyinfool]

The flat boxer 4 cylinder Subaru engine is a popular engine for use in home built aircraft.

[Miles]

A TBI Chevy 350 will fix that Or maybe a V6 out of a Buick Grand National

 

 

Yeah...if only. Actually, as Jeff (flyinfool) said the 4 cyl boxer engine from Subaru is a great engine, used in home aircraft. There have been many techs that have tried to install a small flat 4 boxer Subaru engine in one of these Subaru Justy cars, but they will not fit. If I could make one fit, without changing the entire front structure of th car, I would. This car would be very fast with a 2.5 liter flat 4 boxer, and even faster with the WRX 2.0 liter turbo engine. Subaru has made this boxer engine in many different sizes, from a 1.6 to a 1.8, to a 2.2, to a 2.5, and the 2.0 turbo, but none will fit inside the engine bay of a Justy, and still allow it to be a front wheel drive car.

 

Now, you could install one of those engines, if you wanted to only have rear wheel drive, by simply leaning off the front stub axles and CV axles, but that would mean having to start with a Justy that was originally an 4wd car, and mine is a 2wd car...front wheel only.

 

This poor little 1.2 liter, 3 cyl, origianlly 73 HP engine is working pretty good to go as fast as it does. With the turbo I added, making it 124 HP, it winds the engine out to scream mode, but the little car does fly. When I am feeling more sedate, I drive my Subaru Forester S, that I have tweaked with much bigger diameter swaybars, allow the engine to breath easier, and the willingness to drive on the edge.

 

[GAWildKat]

[SilvrT]

Was manager for a car rental agency back in the 70's ... in 78 we had a variety of new vehicles from Firebirds and Camaros to Chrysler LeBaron's and Mercury Grand Marquis.... and 2 Subaru wagons. Those 2 cars were constantly on rent, had the most mileage put on them, and literally had the crap run out of them.... they never broke down once, never had any problems whatsoever, and we had no trouble selling them when we needed to downsize. Almost all of the other cars had been in and out of the dealer shop at least once and some several times. We kept our cars for only 6 months ... except the Subarus ... we ran them for 2 years!

[Miles]

 

 

 

Tomorrow...I promise...tomorrow. I know I said that yesterday, but it is pouring rain right now, and...your posted should have said..."this thread is STILL worthless without pics".

 

And, your post is worthless with so many little signs being held so high above those little smiling faces.

 

[Wade 2000]

Miles, if only someone made a high reving V-4 that would fit in that engine bay:whistling:

[Miles]

Miles, if only someone made a high reving V-4 that would fit in that engine bay:whistling:

 

 

Wade, I see your point, and I know you are referring to the yamaha V-4, but...Saab also made a nice V-4. The problem is hooking it up to the transverse mounted 5 speed tranny.

 

Besides, the Yammy V-4 produces less HP than my current engine.

 

 

[Wade 2000]

Wade, I see your point, and I know you are referring to the yamaha V-4, but...Saab also made a nice V-4. The problem is hooking it up to the transverse mounted 5 speed tranny.

 

Besides, the Yammy V-4 produces less HP than my current engine.

 

 

 

How about the V-max

[Miles]

 

 

 

Okay, as promised...here are the pics of my little pocket rocket. It may not seem like a big deal, but with all new paint, new OEM struts at all four corners, black powder-coated winter wheels, and American Racing summer wheels, and an added turbo, this is a fun car to drive.

 

The pics show several shots...the black wheels are powder-coated, and have the Winter tires on them. The silver wheels are American Racing mags, with the Summer tires on them. Shots outside and inside my shop. The galled enclosure next to the shop is our greenhouse.

 

And, before you ask...Subaru did NOT make a WRX version of this car. That is my doing, after I added the turbo and other fixin's.

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[bongobobny]

When I started my job on the police dept I drove a 1950 Studebaker Champion. I decided it was time for a new car so I went to a Toyota dealership. I wanted a Celica and I had been pre approved by my credit union, fresh out of the service and I had no bills. I went to the Toyota dealership and was looking at the Celica and the salesman had me step back and wiped my fingerprints from the car and asked me not to touch it. After an hour in the dealership I got nowhere and was very mad, I went across the street where a Subaru dealer had opened up and the salesman was very accommodating. I drove and then bought a Subaru and drove through the lot of the Toyota dealership to "wave". The car was totally awesome, my dad bought it from me and he had it turn over 300,000. miles before my sister was in an accident and it was totaled. I was just talking to my dad about that car the other day as one of the best, behind the Studebaker, that was just an awesome machine.

Sooo, where's the Studebaker???

[dacheedah]

It was sold by my father in the Edgewood / Ft Mitchell area of Kentucky

[Freebird]

Miles, to me, what makes that car COOL is that it is such a little "sleeper". I'm sure you have surprised some people with it. That would be a lot of fun. Really does appear to be in great shape though.

[Yammer Dan]

Wade, I see your point, and I know you are referring to the yamaha V-4, but...Saab also made a nice V-4. The problem is hooking it up to the transverse mounted 5 speed tranny.

 

Besides, the Yammy V-4 produces less HP than my current engine.

 

 

 

 

My Saab 900 Turbo is Almost as quick as a....... But its a in-line 4

Edited March 30, 2013 by Yammer Dan