Donor update

[Innkeepr]

You would think after all these years I would have learned. About that donor I thought was a good deal.

Background on the donor.
04 Impreza 2.5 auto trans.
Guy I bought it off of had it for the last 10 years. Recently had head gaskets replaced, radiator, water pump, heater core, and timing belt. All work was done by a Subaru mechanic---- NOTE - not the Subaru garage.

As a precaution, I added the Scoobie coolant additive to be on the safe side. We purchased a 01 Forester back in 06 that had the gaskets replaced and no additive was used, 3 months later we replaced the head gaskets again - expensive lesson.

SO the boy puts on about 500 miles this week and it over heated. I burped the system and added Subaru coolant. Today I drove it to work and it did it again. Found the radiator cap gasket was hard as a rock and cracked - hence the geyser from the cap.
Replaced the cap with a new one, added fluid and burped it again. Drove 15 miles home and it over heated in the last 500 feet from the house. It will sit and idle without over heating, ran it for 15 minutes and no problems, then after a drive ( 45 mph back roads ) I pull into town and the temp spikes.

There is no antifreeze in the oil ( at least not on the dip stick ). Going to pull some spark plugs in the morning to check for the tell tale white haze. A co worker followed me home and said there was a puff of white smoke when I left a red light - about 20 minutes into the drive.

Could it be a bad thermostat ? it was replaced with the water pump.

Considering the state (Pa) goes by NADA for tax purposes and tried to ding me on a $4400 vehicle, I thought I got a good deal at 2300. Like I said earlier, the car is solid ! just driven. This donor was not bought for the engine/trans - I have an ej207 & 5 speed sitting in the garage.

SO, what headaches am I looking at if I listen to the wife and put the 207 into this 04 RS and mate it to the auto trans ?
The motor came with the engine harness, fuse block, and computer. Just need to pick up a stock top mount cooler.

Any advice, tips, tricks or general input is appreciated.
Be safe,
"E"

[TouchStone]

Sounds like you still have air in the coolant system. If the coolant return pipe (driver side) is only warm to the touch after the engine has warmed up then you have too much air in the system. Make sure you have Wayne's coolant mod and Installed FFR heater bypass hose. Then heat cycle the engine 3-4 times and make sure the overflow tank does not run out of coolant.

[Innkeepr]

Found it - it was the rear drivers side head gasket. Looks like stock 2.5 gaskets were used without the Scoobie conditioner.
After todays meeting with a Subaru guru the ej207 swap is going to be more time and money than I want to spend on this would be donor.
I would need a complete front half wiring harness, pull the dash, fenders, swap out the harness, and then get the exhaust done.

With the motor out, the shop is going to check the heads and install new gaskets.
Hopefully next year at this time, I will be dismantling this for the remainder of parts needed.

[Innkeepr]

Motor is back in - new head, valve cover, pan, & intake gaskets, timing belt and water pump. Runs great, and was a lot easier to pull/install than what I thought it would be.

Question - as this is going to be the donor, and trying to pick up things as I go.
Looking at wheel/tires. Searched tire rack & a few others. Is there an issue running the FFR recommended wheel/tire sizes on the stock Impreza ?
If we can run 17/18s on the RS, its one step closer to having another piece of the puzzle before we tear it apart.

[DodgyTim]

Wheel rolling diameter should be the same for the 4wd donor, but can be different on the 818 ???:confused:

[Innkeepr]

Thats what I am looking at - Looking at the BRZ wheels, just not sure on the whole offset issue on the stock vehicle.
17x7 +40mm front
18x8 +40mm rear

[STiPWRD]

Question - as this is going to be the donor, and trying to pick up things as I go.
Looking at wheel/tires. Searched tire rack & a few others. Is there an issue running the FFR recommended wheel/tire sizes on the stock Impreza ?
If we can run 17/18s on the RS, its one step closer to having another piece of the puzzle before we tear it apart.

In an Impreza, the front and rear tires must be the same diameter since all four wheels are mechanically coupled through the transmission. You cannot run 17's on the front and 18's in the rear in a Subaru (unless you can somehow find tires that have the same exact outer diameter all around) since the front wheels would be rotating faster than the rear.

In an 818, the front and rear wheels are not coupled. A BRZ is not AWD.

[Innkeepr]

In an 818, the front and rear wheels are not coupled. A BRZ is not AWD.

Had trouble sleeping so I jumped into the " What parts can I get now and use later " and went down the rabbit hole.
Forgot the BRZ was not AWD.

Alas, I can get 4 17x7 and run the 215/40s on all 4 corners for now, and pick up the 18x8.5 later.