Headgasket gone, lets talk engine mods

[Swoggles]

So my Headgasket has gone on my blobeye wrx, boo hooo! Im going to buy a daily driver so the car can be off road for as long as necessary. So whilst this is happening i wanted to spend some money to get some more power. I have been looking at forging it but is it worth spending the money on these parts? Or should i get a different block? I dont want silly power, maybe 350ish. Advice, suggestions and real world experience would be appreciated. Cheers guys

[Tidgy]

While heads are off may as well get the crank bearings changed, your 80% of the way there so may as well do em.

What spec very much depends on budget. Do you have a budget in mind?

[Swoggles]

I haven't got a budget yet if im honest, wanted to weigh up my options. My thoughts so far are forged crank, rods and pistons. But then i thought about all the different engine blocks, is it worth doing this to mine? Or finding a different one? 

[Gambit]

I'd say rebuild is always the best way to go but I appreciate not cheap and isn't always possible for some. 2nd hand engines clearly come as a risk too but will be the cheapest option.

If you rebuild are you doing it yourself or have a specialist do the work as that will cost the most with labour.    

[Swoggles]

I would love to do it myself however i dont have the space so it will be done by a garage. Obviously i dont want to spend money i don't have to but a rebuild will be happening. I figure i may as well fit the extra bits if im having it rebuilt.

[Gambit]

Think FB Tuning is the local garage to you might be worth having a word with them first see what quote they can give if any. I know most will want to check the car first. But I did get a quote when I had mine rebuilt, didn't need it I just wanted to get it done. started at £2200 ended up being £2998 or something like that but that was over 10 years now so be abit more expensive now. 

[Swoggles]

I would be using my local garage, although not a subaru specialist thats where she normally goes. If im honest im not really sure what to do, i cant sell it broke as i will lose far to much money and it's going to cost an arm and a leg to repair. Happy new year haha

[Gambit]

Haha no that feeling sadly too. I'd have said breaking it but does mean having the space to do it. But much prefer seeing a build thread started ; )

[Swoggles]

I would love to start a build thread but forged pistons rods and crank is going to be 2k i would imagen, plus cost to rebuild it. Then a turbo, injectors fuel pump, tmic, exhaust system. Oh and the elephant in the room, a 6 speed box. I dont want to live at home forever haha massive fml at the moment. Gotta come up with a battle plan.

[Tidgy]

for 350bhp the standard block will be fine. standard crank will be ok as well. its at the upper limit of the wrx pistons and rods though.

 

I wouldn't use a general dogs body garage for a rebuild, find a decent specialist who knows what there doing with subaru engines.

[stants]

If you've a daily, why not just set a goal of what you want hp wise, see how much a specalist is wanting to assemble everything, start amassing parts over the next months, then when the time comes send everything off to be done,

Or if your feeling brave, read savages thread and have a go yourself [emoji52]

[Swoggles]

I trust the garage to do the work thats not an issue with me. I wish i could do it myself, love that sort of stuff, just not an option unfortunately. Ok so at least forged rods and pistons, whats the blocks limit? I have been looking at stroker kits, the 2.1 on roger clarks website, heard much about these? They look pretty good and not a bad price 

[Swoggles]

Also i did some googling and people seem to be saying the crank is pretty strong its just oiling thats the problem? Is this so? It would save me having to buy a crank.

[Gambit]

2.1 will see some really good HP with the right turbo and remap. But other things will come in to question gearbox will soon be killed off brakes will need doing to cover the power just to name a few bit's. 

[Swoggles]

Could be a good way to go, going to discuss options and prices next week.  I already have 8 pot ksports up front, first thing i bought. Got handling mods sorted as well, just wheels and tires to get, but that can wait until it works again. My plan was to get it working and do turbo and what not when i have some more money. Do you think i will need a different crank? Say the 2.5 one?