BIG UPDATE!!!!!
Way behind posting but here we go.
End of september(the 30th to be exact) was the day the motor went in:
Transmission install was straight forward. Chased all the holes and threads for the 5speed cross member. Love how lego these cars are, not that I didnt know that allready but damn.
Motor finally off the stand and onto the crane. New stage one ish clutch installed with resurfaced flywheel. Went with a stage one clutch as a breaking point between the power and the glass ish 5speed. Knowing how these adventures go, I am sure I will be pushing that 18g at some point and would rather be changing a clutch then looking for a new transmission...... Used the flywheel off my original fxt from a few years ago for nostalgia, and because I forgot to pull the flywheel off the motor before it went on the stand.......
And in it goes:
After checking, re checking and priming the fuel system, it fired right up first crank! After touching virtually every part minus the crank and pistons, huge relief!
Only leak was the turbo feed line on the head, bolt was slightly loose.
Went into gear and drove itself out of the shop with no drama. Was amazed how well it ran, despite missing intercooler/exhaust/ most of the senors haha
Side notes:
Rotten control arms:
Some may not know, but these cars have an awful track record of control arms rotting from the inside out. Huge bonus, open recall from Subaru! Despite the chassis being almost 15 years old, Subaru of Canada provided brand new control arms, ball joints and all associated hardware! What a win!
Previous owner of the chassis had sliced the wheel studs all around, presumably to run spacers and hot boi wheels. Both front wheel bearings are quite ruined. Dropped the entire front sub-frame from the donor car for the spare rack and the hubs/spindles. Maybe use the turbo subframe for another project in the future????
Donor car stripped:
Subframe dropped:
Moving forward from here.
Pressing new bearings into front hubs. Will likely put new abs/speed sensors in as well. Dont want to play that game down the road.
Put new control arms in with hubs ect.
Fit downpipe /cat back.
Have the strut tower(s) welded up.
Get the thing home and into my garage before the snow flies again! Will do the interior assembly at home.
Progress!