Subaru - Bottom End
First time ever building a junkyard engine. Looks clean, passes the bearings test, doesn’t matter I am phoning a friend. Got a 2nd opinion and we are going to send it. Both my daughters have interests in racing RallyCross, AutoCross, and Time Trials… time to beef up the oiling. Installed a Killer B Motorsports baffle, oil pick-up, as well as an oil cooler, and swapping to a 06 WRX pan to fit it all. Don’t ask, learned the hard way that’s just how you have to make it all fit.
The new to me engine came with a fresh water pump. No need to touch that, the oil pump however… Look if you’re doing anything down there. Just change it. Mine was disgusting and packed with sludge. Gave the whole block a deep cleaning. The bottom end is ready. I am building. No more tear down. We move forward. This car is becoming real.
Subaru - Intake Manifold
You’re going to have to excuse me for a moment here. I am playing this upgrade a little close to the chest. I want to wait to really show this off until I am closer to completing the build. It is something really special. Here is a teaser, with details, but the whole reveal will have to wait.
The manifold as a whole system was subject to a lot of neglect. I spent days cleaning, deoxidizing, prepping. With the new build being higher compression, it shifted my vision from pump gas to E-85. High compression early torque, be in the curve when the rest of the class is working towards boost. I had to go Cherry Blossom Red, with a wild livery. Fresh rubber lines, deep cleaned then painted the rails in faux rust paint. I mean it is my signature. Also did a lot of research figuring out how to work STi Pink injectors into the stock system. This will allow E85 to fuel the build. Oh this car is going to be fun.
Subaru - Engine Build
It all goes wrong. I took the throttle body and manifold off to clean it. Last mechanic reused gaskets, and they’re missing chunks. What else had shortcuts taken? I take the head gaskets off, and the Drivers head gasket shredded on disassembly. Surely that’s the worst of it. Nope. The cross-block coolant pipe had dried coolant crystals around the seals. Time to pull it. Well, from it sitting in its own power steering, and neglect… it corroded to the block and shattered the block.
But that wasn’t game over. I found a $200 2.5-liter block from a UPAP forester. swap blocks on the stand again, and we have a new starting point. I will keep the 2.2-liter heads, build a franken motor that’s a RallyCross torque monster. New engine in the stand, we are so back.
RustBucket - BMW M52 Teardown
Engine is out of the Subaru. Problem is I have an Aluminum M52 sitting on my engine stand. I mean it was sitting on a spare tire for a year and a half. No judgements, it is in the way now. The only thing I am keeping is the block. Time for a full tear down, so I can put it on a shelf for building later this year. I need to get this Subaru resealed and ready for racing.
This poor engine has seen a lot of skipped oil changes. It was packed with nasty sludge. Took me a hot minute to figure it all out, get it disassembled, but I made it through. The block was stripped bare. Factory crosshatch looks good, and it is light. According to the BMW specs pages, this block is a whole 50 pounds lighter than the iron M50. 50 pounds is a lot in a racecar; I am excited to see what it can do. That will have to wait, Subaru first… So, on the shelf goes my freshly stripped block.
2026 New Years Resolution
I made a resolution to finish my cars in 2026. As in all 3 of my cars. The RallyCross car, RustBucket, and the Daily. I sat out all of the 2025 RallyCross season, chasing issue after issue with the Subaru. That’s over. We are building. First Item on deck. Pull the motor, seal up the oil leaks, figure out what is wrong with the clutch, and drive this thing out the garage. I’ve never done anything like this before, what am I doing, screw it, let’s send it and figure it all out as we go.