Depressed.

[Crazy_pilot]

My beloved SVX lost a rod bearing this weekend. For over 2 years it's been knocking a bit on start until it built oil pressure, but now it's gone. I'm amazed it went so far in that condition. So this didn't really come as a surprise, but it's still a blow.

I'm not junking it, or selling it. I've put too much time, effort and money into this car to just walk away from it. I had been planning on starting a full rebuild this coming winter, after I've graduated and gotten into working.

My main problem now is that I'm at school, 1000 miles from home. No matter which way you slice it I'm going to be paying $1200-1500 to get it back to my parents place. This on top of the stress of finishing school, finding a job, exams, my manifold project.... It's piling up quick.

[ensteele]

Give it some time and maybe a good solution will become clear. Good luck.

[icingdeath88]

I went through a similar sad time when my pearly was wrecked. Took me 3 months to find/afford a replacement svx. The intervening time I was mostly bumming rides from work friends and using my wife's car. It sucked, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and another 6 months later I've pretty much rebuilt my white car into my blue car. Was going great until a couple weeks ago when the engine decided to quit on me. I don't know if it's a bearing or a bent rod or what (I will do a write up on it when I tear it down to find the problem), but I'm prepping the engine from the wrecked car to go into it now. Thank God for back-ups. Just maintain faith that it'll all work out and it will.

[icingdeath88]

Hey, what kind of oil were you running? At each stage of the engine's life?

[1986nate]

I was there, if it weren't for this forum, I wouldn't have an SVX anymore and never would have bothered with one again. Week after I picked up my silver, fixed the exhaust and there was knocking noise from the engine (piston slap probably from a ring land on cyl #5), about 2 months later, the transmission died. Was a very bad time, but made the best of it. I had strongly considered selling as I had a loan on it and was beyond broke. Car still had 1st and 2nd so would get me around for 95% of my driving and even short highway runs so I held onto it. And the rest is history I suppose.

Make the best of it, if you need help sourcing an engine, shipping on one shouldn't be more than a few hundred dollars shipping freight. Just keep your eyes peeled and do what you can.

[Crazy_pilot]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

Hey, what kind of oil were you running? At each stage of the engine's life?

Lets see... Bought the car with 175,744 KM (109,202 miles). Ran conventional 5W30 oil, just the standard bulk stuff until 194,110 KM (120,614 miles) when I resealed the engine and changed the oil pan. After that I ran AMSOIL 5W30, except the last 1500 or so, which were with Royal Purple 5W30.

The initial start-up knock began probably 2-3000 miles after the reseal and switch to full sythetic, but I'm inclined to see that as unfortunate coincidence. Who knows, maybe I got something into the oil while working with the valve covers off or changing the oil pan. I'm more inclined to think that the oil is what allowed it to live for almost 30,000 KM with a loose bearing.

[oregondave]

considering how badass the eg33 is i'm surprised to hear so many stories of relatively premature failure. What's the deal? I'd think these motors would go a minimum of 200k miles without problem. Mine has 113k and runs like a frickin' top (nothing but synthetic since i bought from original owner at 85k)

[1986nate]

Originally Posted by oregondave

considering how badass the eg33 is i'm surprised to hear so many stories of relatively premature failure. What's the deal? I'd think these motors would go a minimum of 200k miles without problem. Mine has 113k and runs like a frickin' top (nothing but synthetic since i bought from original owner at 85k)

Just pure chance or coincidence. I've seen a bunch run amazing with over 200k and then there are cases like my silver where it had piston slap at 102k miles...

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by oregondave

considering how badass the eg33 is i'm surprised to hear so many stories of relatively premature failure. What's the deal?

The ones that fail are the ones that you hear about. Statistical bias...

[Crazy_pilot]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

The ones that fail are the ones that you hear about. Statistical bias...

Exactly. Everyone cries about their problems, but no one shouts out about how their car is running perfectly. Up to the day this happened mine ran absolutely superbly. 30 MPG highway all day, 21-22 in the city, smooth, powerful... It's a 19 year old motor and the first version of it (unlike the 4-bangers that Subaru has had decades of experience tinkering with).

Just found some good news. If I rent a U-Haul cube van and car hauler on Thursday instead of my original Friday/Saturday move date I pay $1488 instead of $1762. Go figure. I get it for 5 days with the rental, the trip takes 2. So I sit around with a cube van for 2 days and save almost $300.

[Hocrest]

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

So I sit around with a cube van for 2 days and save almost $300.

Unlimited mileage? Check out uship.com maybe you can pick up a delivery and get some of your rental back.

[Blacky]

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

Exactly. Everyone cries about their problems, but no one shouts out about how their car is running perfectly. Up to the day this happened mine ran absolutely superbly. 30 MPG highway all day, 21-22 in the city, smooth, powerful... It's a 19 year old motor and the first version of it (unlike the 4-bangers that Subaru has had decades of experience tinkering with).

Just found some good news. If I rent a U-Haul cube van and car hauler on Thursday instead of my original Friday/Saturday move date I pay $1488 instead of $1762. Go figure. I get it for 5 days with the rental, the trip takes 2. So I sit around with a cube van for 2 days and save almost $300.

Check the price if you return them both to the point of departure. It's so much cheaper I'm sure it would be worth having someone follow you back to Thunder Bay with the truck and trailer and drive back to Ottawa. It's a long drive but you'll save a ton of money.
I drove a loaded trailer to Newfoundland and they wanted over $600.00 extra if I left it there, so I brought it back empty. Actually ended up grabbing some furniture from my brother's place in Bathurst.

[benebob]

Originally Posted by Hocrest

Unlimited mileage? Check out uship.com maybe you can pick up a delivery and get some of your rental back.

Or two, or 3 and end up quitting school to drive people's stuff around North America.

[SSSVX]

It eventually came! Dragging for 2 yrs, that's not bad!
When my yellow's front differential first started making noise, it was holding for almost 10kmiles before it finally gave up. When that happened, I wasn't so depressed anymore. When it was about to give up that few days, the noise became louder and more rough. It was telling me that she's gonna give up! I was only driving it in town before I did a tranny swap.

So.... you are like 1000miles away from home? Are you still in Canada?
The Canadian dollar is somehow higher than US dollar at the moment, I think.
I have a suggestion for you! Do you really need to go home or you are going home because of bringing your SVX back? With the gas and time, you are probably gonna easily spend more than $2,000 after with the road expenses.

Is that anyone around where you at can do a SVX engine swap for you? Check how much they will charge you for a swap! Can you find a used engine around you? How much? It might be still cheaper than you're gonna spend on this trip. keep your old engine and take your time to rebuild after you finish your school. How is this plan?

If you can't find a good used engine, I do have one for EG33 sitting in the storage. Running great prior to remove. It was from my part-car, from 96 engine, right around 100K, timing belt and water pump were changed before the 96 was wrecked. If you're interested, I could sell it to you for a reasonable price. I don't know how much it will cost to ship to Canada. $250 to $300?? depending on where you at! With the cost of the new used engine, shipping cost and labor to swap is probably still cheaper what you gonna spend on this trip. Keep your current engine, take apart the head and the block. Make it into few more pieces. It should be able to fit into a SVX trunk? (A whole SVX transmission with front diff can fit into the SVX trunk!) Bring the engine home when you get a chance to go home. Keep it for a further full rebuild when you're ready. The SVX should do a lot better in mpg than the cargo van. This plan you also have the currency advantage!

Last, all the best for whatever you want to do. If you want to go with my suggestion, feel free to contact kk3600@gmail.com don't try my PM it's always full -- don't use it a lot.

[Crazy_pilot]

Unfortunately swapping in an engine isn't a realistic alternative right now . I have no problem doing that myself, I even work at a shop and have all the tools and equipment I need. The problem is getting an engine. The population of Thunder Bay is about 100,000. I won't be finding an EG33 here, and shipping one in isn't really going to work since my rent runs out at the end of the month and I have to get moving. I really appreciate the offer though, I might take you up on it once I'm back home (or wherever I end up).

I've also got a number of shipping quotes that go as low at $950, and friends here who are willing to let me leave it at their place until I can afford that shipping. At the moment that's looking like the cheapest and best option for me. (I'm just going to have to raise my suspension first... I have a feeling it won't make it onto a trailer at the current ride height.)