Moon Rising

a wife’s dream. a husband’s nightmare.

As you all know, my car’s name is Moon. And if you did not know that, now you do.
Last December, 2024, my car had trouble getting us to church and back home one Sunday.
It is not unusual for us to run Moon in December. As long as the roads are good and as long as my husband can drive if they are not. (Moon. My 05 Legacy GT LT. A bit squirrelly in slick conditions.)
Moon was running rough so much so my Hubby took it home and brought Liberty back to church to retrieve us. (Liberty. My trustworthy 03 Baja. Winter’s no problem vehicle)
Since it was “Winter is coming” season we decided to park Moon in the driveway with the intent of fixing the problem come spring. This plan was solidified after a precursory check on what might be the cause and to insure a quick easy fix wasn’t the answer.

Truly a quick fix was not the answer.

So Moon stayed in the “Hot Seat”. (The Hot Seat is what we call the place in the driveway that vehicles needing work get placed.)
Realizing this fix was above and beyond anything we had imagined, Hubby did research. and more research. and more research!
Eventually he took Moon to a trustworthy local garage¹ to be checked over. Diagnostics revealed no compression in cylinder 1. A rebuild was needed. To the tune of xxxxx Too much! so home Moon came to land back in the hot seat.
Research. and research. and yet more research.
Hubby³ makes the decision to have Moon’s engine rebuilt by reputable experts² but, he will do the rest. i.e. The pulling. the dismantling. the delivering to the experts, the retrieving of the rebuilt motor. etc. etc. etc. X 1,000

Invision!
Parts scattered all over the car seats.
He didn’t lose a single part. He did categorize like parts in like places on the engine though. Wow! And pictures. And notes. etc. etc. etc. X 1.000

I will use his notes to show you, in part, the extent of it all.

Subaru Moon repair!🤔. Suspected burnt valve cylinder one, plan of repair is long block replacement.
Work began01/03/2025. Removal of battery, alternator, both belts, air filter and air box.
01/17 Intercooler, passenger side large electrical connectors 2, transmission electrical connector, starter electrical 2 and starter ground. Across top pcv plumbing.
01/30 Radiator and hoses to turbo coolant tank
02/27 Turbo coolant tank and hoses, left and right electrical connectors ? Per side, throttle body electrical, throttle body coolant hoses.
02/28 Intake off! The entire intake unbolts from the head! 2 electric connector per head black cam sensors and blue.avcs sensors, electric connector on top of block, power steering, temp sensor, oil pressure, crank angle, knock sensor. 2 Pcv hoses on top of block.,2 Pcv hoses on each valve cover.p
03/01 Flex plate with4 bolts undone, power steering removal, ac compressor loose, timing covers off, coolant cross pipes.
03/08 Turbo downpipe off, bolts/nuts are on turbo
03/14 Starter out, avcs solenoid off both sides, coolant cross pipes behind timing off, thermostat out, dipstick tube off

Under Motor mount bolts 2 done!. Bell housing bolt/nuts 6/2 on left and right wiper tray done!oil filter done!. Lower coolant cross hose done!Turbo mount loosen, Turbo coolant hoses. Small ground wire both side under. Loosen exhaust nuts. Done!
Final checks of all connections and……. LIFT ENGINE AND REMOVE!!🤔 prep engine for delivery.
03/17 Motor mounts,ground bolts, oil filter, lower coolant cross hose. Loosen exhaust nuts
03/19 turbo off, up pipe off, header off, turbo coolant and oil lines off, dog bone done
Jack under tranny done!

03/22 Remove oil cooler done!  turbo,  oil and coolant lines, exhaust. Done! brackets done studs exhaust done! and bell housing done! Sparkplugs/coils done.!  Flex plate done! prep for delivery! Engine in Bajaru!!!😁. EXHAUST STUD done!

Thank you Sunwest! Alignment dowel. GOOD Coolant fitting. GOOD Oil pressure sensor fitting.NO NEED! Oil cooler delete.  Done Delivery on Tuesday, 03/25now we wait!
The wait is over, 8 weeks exactly 5/20 engine is home!!😁

5/21 Ok let’s reassemble,  install oil pan DONE! install valve cover gaskets DONE!. Install AC bracket, DONE! install bell housing bracket, DONE! lift engine, DONE!   5/22, Install spark plugs and coils,DONE! flex plate, DONE ! Both avcs DONE! Both cam angle sensors DONE! Oil pressure sensor DONE, needs tightened!DONE!     header pipes??     Install turbo?? DONE Motor mounts, DONE,need torqued! DONE! bell housing studs, DONE! coolant cross pipe behind timing belt, DONE timing covers.DONE! Top coolant cross pipe DONE! Next time install turbo oil lines😶.   THERE WON’T BE A NEXT TIME😉

Remove left alignment dowel, DONE! Install engine, DONE all bell housing bolts/nuts, DONE!?!? NOT 😡😡THE ONE BY THE TURBO, GRRRR! No way no matter how!!! SUB BOLT AND NUT! 😎😎😎 starter and ground, DONE!engine grounds left and right DONE! flex plate to torque converter,DONE! Cank pully, DONE! DONE!motor mounts,DONE top coolant cross pipe, DONE! up pipe DONE!  6/4       and down pipe, DONE!   turbo coolant and oil pipes DONE! 6/5/25! NEXT TIME THERE WONT BE A NEXT TIME😑 HAHA INSTALL BEFORE ENGINE INSTALL!!😉, DONE! GRRR!! dog bone, DONE! AC compressor, DONE!     thermostat and cover. DONE!   Header pipes. O boy is this gonna be FUUNNN!…😡😡😡😡😡. DONE! I’m tired! Dipstick tube. DONE! Heater hoses DONE !Turbo before engine install, YES! DONE! O…M…GEE!

New turbo ordered parts geek,3 7 days 5/27 $687. DONE! O…M…GEE!

INTAKE, oh boy!6/7/25! Intake on,DONE turbo connection DONE! Boost control Done! ELECTRICAL…. oil, coolant, crank, cam x2, avcs x2, throttle body, knock sensor, transmission DONE!…….alternator DONE!, AC compressor,DONE!  power steering,DONE!  passenger side 2Big DONE! connectors, PCV near turbo DONE! Pcv plumbing…….Left DONE! right DONE! center, DONE!requires new part.DONE!…Throttle body coolant hoses DONE! turbo coolant tank and hoses.DONE! Fuel lines 3 DONE! ….radiator and fans, DONE! coolant hoses to turbo, DONE! transmission lines,DONE! fan connections, DONE!coil connectors, DONE!header pipe connection, DONE! down pipe DONE! and electrical connection DONE!.. Oil filler pipe.DONE!.. Intercooler..DONE! exhaust manifold is  DONE!!!.😡 ITS AN UGLY UGLY BAD DEAL!?!?😡😡😡WORKING ON IT!!! DONE!!😑Add oil DONE!and filter DONE! check drain plug DONE!, fill coolant DONE! startup and burp baby Moon?😶
                                                                                                                                                                   😎Stuff I need to buy. Coolant x2 DONE, Turbo DONE!!😆,  Spring clamps misc. NO! PCV  hoses misc DONE,! Thermostat OEM! DONE!, Power steering pump fix, YES!???workin I’m on it.DONE!…..header to uppipe gasket,DONE! downpipe gasket..DONE!.. need to order, DONE😆no spill coolant filler, DONE! RETURNED NOT FUNCTIONAL!

06/10/25….here’s what’s left, power steering,DONE! alternator and belt,DONE! AC and belt,DONE!… down pipe DONE!….center pcv hose, DONE! upper radiator hose,DONE air filter DONE and box, DONE! mass air connector DONE! 6/12/25 😐

Cooling set back!!!!! Small leak at turbo, clamp, to tight??? Loosened reposition re- tighten, added another! Hopefully fixed?🤔

Final check list🤔,
MECHANICAL.DONE😀
ELECTRICAL…DONE😀
FUEL…………….DONE😃
COOLING………DONE😀?
OIL……………….DONE😀
PCV………………DONE😃
EXHAUST………DONE😀
GO 4 START?!?……….🤔

Everything seems to have come together. Thank you Hubby for all your 1/2 year of hard work!

Now we get to do the break in miles. With watchful checks along the way.

Thank you Jesus! Please provide us with Your traveling Mercies and continued Grace. Amen and Amen.

1. Silver Lake Auto. ( They have done other jobs for us and we like them.)
2. Sun West Auto. (We are very happy with their work.)
3. All Gregg! (My Mechanic! He Rocks!)