KuntryQuestTSi's 05 LGT re-build

Story goes - I sold my 2004 stage II wrx to pick up this 2005 LGT, had some mods. Nothing excessive.
Drove the car 12 days, coming home from work to my G/f house who's had burned down the same day the car just died. Turned over like it had no compression.
I was shocked seening the leak down came back 2-2-3-4 less than a week ago.
I'm 24 and this is my 24th car/truck and never needed to be towed.
Luckly, I coasted right into my buddys shop where they also do 24hr towing!


I got the car in the shop and on the lift, so I just went to bed it had be a rough day.
Next day I check the timing belt, take the covers off.

Humm, so I pull some more stuff off and figure out the timing on this. Its not as horrible as people make it seem, but its not fun.
So, once I pulled the center front cover, I find this....


Line up the crank
Check!


No no no

First thing that comes to mind???


I took the belt off, made sure the cams where off the valves, and did a leak down.
22-25-25-35


That bolt missing seems to fit this pretty well....

So, at this point I drained fluids and proceed to pull the motor.


Expecting the worse, the previous owner gave me a spare 2.5 ej257 short block.
Before I did anything, we pulled the heads off the motor.
Only one valve is visibaly tweaked, I was rather suprised.
ALL the pistons took a hit from ALL the valves.



So, before I order pistons, the shop I'm getting them from suggest I check and make sure the bore isn't out of round or worn, so we needed to split the cases.
We got the pistions out first and they are really in great shape. coating still on the skirts.

The bottom end looks BRAND NEW ( well it only had 45K on it )




The oil pan was CLEAN, as was the bottom of the valve covers.

At this time, I'm heading to the machine shop with the case halfs and heads.
Plans are -
Spec block - hone if ok - Bore is needed.
Heads total rebuild.
New guides
Seals
valves
springs and retainers.

The Car was running a DeadBolt TD06-20G. It had some slight shaft play, so I sent it out to a place to have it rebuilt.
Well the called me and told me "foreign object in turbine housing" and quoted me $895 + shipping and tax to rebuild. Well, I told them to forget it and I'll find something new.
I'm sure it can be rebuild cheaper, but at this point I don't have the time to shop around. I'm going to pick up the new forced performance 71 HTA.

In the mean time I have been cleaning up random parts and painting them.
High temp, flat balck nothing fancy


Over all plans
Rebuild heads ( with a little :snky: work )
ACL main and rod bearings
Upgraded pistions.
HTA71
Killer B oil pick up. ( even though the OE one had about 1k miles )
Replace EVERY gasket with OE.
Delete the TGV's

I have supporting mods to run the 20G, so I should be fine with the HTA71

As far as power goals, I don't really have any. I would like 300AWHP and be very conservitive.

pics of old valves?

why the huge turbo for only 300whp? That turbo is capable of nearly 400whp on pump and doesn't spool until nearly 4krpm.

Honestly if you're only looking for 300, just get a VF52 or 16G and call it a day. What was the car putting down with the 20G?

Originally Posted by KuntryQuestTSi

I was shocked seening the leak down came back 2-2-3-4 less than a week ago.

Also can you translate these to real numbers?

Sorry to hear about the car and GFs house. Hope you can get everyone back on their feet quickly

leak downs are in percent lost. 2% 2% 3% 4%

typically below 15 is what you want to see.

Originally Posted by dr_sharp

pics of old valves?

why the huge turbo for only 300whp? That turbo is capable of nearly 400whp on pump and doesn't spool until nearly 4krpm.

Honestly if you're only looking for 300, just get a VF52 or 16G and call it a day. What was the car putting down with the 20G?

The 20g did spool till then either, seeing I had JUST bough the car my buget is short, so I'm going to update whats needed and wait to update injectors down the road shortly.
I need the car up and running before snow.

Well I picked up my turbo ..........

Good luck with the build. You can build it the way you want to now.

I can see how that would be slow to spool.

Originally Posted by NSFW

I can see how that would be slow to spool.

Full boost @ 4k, It wasn't horrible but don't think it was right.