Page 1 of 1
EOI - Lifted leone with WRX Engine.
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:29 pm
by Thumpage44
G'day Subi-Nuts,
I have a problem.. You see i bought a Leone sedan about 6 months ago for around $3000, it has a WRX engine with less than 90,000km on it, sunraiser rims, good tyres, lifted slightly, FME, HID headlights, boost controller ect.. But!
The gearbox is from a Leone and it only works in FWD! Also the exhaust is rusty (For my standards) and the fuel pump is not powerful enough to feed the engine when she is boosting! Also the brand new battery keeps going flat when she isnt being driven (altenator is good, short somewhere is draining the battery?).
The Car is currently registered for another 3-4 months, runs good once you jump the battery.
I'm wondering if anyone would be keen to take this car off my hands and fix the above problems (new GB, fuel pump and possibly exhaust) themselves? I am open to offers!
Again i am open to offers or suggestions!! Either leave a post, PM or get me on 0433345389.
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:18 am
by revmax
Now that's a sleeper.
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:12 am
by Alex
Okay that is in fact a rs liberty motor. I know this cos its my old motor. It had 93000km on it when I put it in my car strait from the frontcut. I spent abit of money on it too.
The radiator is a very expensive custom job.
Good luck with the sale. It was a very very tough motor in my car running 18pounds
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:46 am
by Thumpage44
Thanks Alex,
Ive just been going by what ive been told, any details on whats been done to the engine?
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:00 am
by Alex
Thumpage44 wrote:Thanks Alex,
Ive just been going by what ive been told, any details on whats been done to the engine?
when i bought it, after removing it from the frontcut i did timing belt, hydraulic tensioner and waterpump.
i also chucked some iridium plugs in her.
looks like my boost controller is still there. The guys that put it into the leone have done everything else, looks like a new WRX pressure bottle and the fmic was done by them.
i had some new turbo oil lines made up as well.
other than winding boost into it, i left it stock.
i did the conversion in around 2008, drove it for probably 10 000km, when my wagon broke around the motor, so i parted it out.
the motor came out of a 89 JDM legacy which run more power than a aussie RS and WRX.
should still be a very strong reliable motor. It was a great motor for me, i still remember smoking up 3rd gear in fwd on my first test drive.
alex
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:18 am
by Thumpage44
Yer thanks for that Alex! Sounds like we have a case of chinese wispers... I was told the engine was from a 97 WRX and im no expert so i didn't know the difference haha.
Thats good news about the timing belt kit and water pump.. i was worried she might be due for that major service soon.
It's come down alot in boost, i can only run it at around 7psi before the fuel pump cuts out!
Given the current status of this engine and the work that been put into it and the car, do you think it would be worth my while grabbing a replacment AWD box, fixing the battery issues and putting in a new fuel pump?
If not.. honestly how much do you think i should be trying to sell it for?
Thanks mate.
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:26 am
by Alex
have a look under the oil filler cap. it will have a month and year under it.
mate the choices are yours with the car.
i was running a fairly high capacity VL turbo fuel pump. I didnt sell it with the motor though.
i would say to get it up to scratch would cost about a thousand bucks (more or less)
did you buy it from some rough boys in toodyay?
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:40 am
by Thumpage44
Ive got a 3/91 under the oil cap :/
Lol no, just one rough boy in Kingsley!
Yer thats what i was thinking, about 1k.. More if i get a workshop to do the work.
Am i stuck with having to use another Leone GB or can i more or less chuck any later model Subaru GB in there?
Fuel pump shouldn't be a problem.. made easier because it is external, Battery could be delt with by using a isolator switch.. maybe :P and the rusty exhaust is niether here nor there.
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:55 am
by Alex
1991 sounds about right. I'll have to delge into my paperwork.
if you want to use a later model GBox youd have to do up some custom crossmembers etc
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:01 pm
by Thumpage44
Thanks Alex, Im going to leave it as For Sale - Open to offers above $1000!
May start chipping away at the smaller jobs like the battery and fuel pump

Expect more questions mate haha.
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:08 pm
by Alex
my conversion thread thing from 2008.
showthread.php?t=11004