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Rebuild '00Forester as salvage? Interfering engine?

One dealer/mech says it is, another says it's not. Slow collision produced piece of metal that poked through radiator and eventually nudged the timing belt, disturbing timing. Engine wasn't pushed back, everything else is fine. Car continued to run but made a clattering noise for a few seconds before wife turned off the key.

So... If it's an interfering engine the cost of engine repair is $$$$$. If it's not, perhaps it's more like $$. Inquiring minds need to know, because we can buy this car out of the insurance company for $2,000. We know for sure that (1) the engine was running when it was turned off, (2) there is absolutely zero frame damage, (3) body damage is limited to the front end (fenders/hood/bumpercover/lights/grill), and (4) the rest of the car is 100% perfect (36k miles and properly maintained).

It needs two front fenders, bumper cover, front lights, hood, grill, crossbar, radiator, the engine work, and a few bits and pieces.

One more point - my wife would really like a specific non-Subaru color, so if we go forward we'll do a full-car paint job and she'll love it.

Am I walking into a minefield? Quicksand?

Reply to
OORAHHH!
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Considering no one knows what is really wrong, I'd say you are walking in a quicksand minefield.

Reply to
Alan

We just got a definitive answer. Alas, that *IS* an interfering engine.

The damaged vehicle will be $2k. The dealer from which we originally bought the car wants $1850 to repair it, with a guarantee. Body work plus paint will be $5k.

Therefore, to buy the car, fix the engine, do the body work, and get a first class colorchange paint job will cost under $9k. Because we are certain as to the limit of damage, we can't find a reason not to do it.

Reply to
OORAHHH!

I would not pay the $1850 for the engine work without verifying actual valve/piston damage. I think that it's possible that there is none, even though you have an interfering engine. Fix the timing belt issues and do a compression check. If it's good, button it up and send me a small reward (: The fact that the engine ran after the accident leads me to believe the damage may not be all that bad.

Reply to
Jim Stewart

Good call! We just discovered that the insurance company paid for a teardown, and they found only a couple of slightly damaged valves -- no damage whatsoever to block or pistons. Evidently the timing belt just slipped a bit - didn't come off. We'll get the car back with the heads removed, and have already found someone offering to rebuild them for a few hundred dollars. This is looking better and better.

Reply to
OORAHHH!

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