Possible Cracked Block!

[Rusabu]

Right where to start! Initially had a problem with the coolant boiling, the problem was traced to two coolant pipes connected to the header tank being put on the wrong way round (Local garage made this cock up when doing cambelt 3 months earlier). Once this was sorted the car worked fine for a few days then split a hose under the intercooler (from inlet manifold to bulkhead somewhere from memory). I replaced this and all appeared fine for a couple days, then on the way to work the car overheated and died rather dramatically, lots of smoke and a metal grinding noise!
I noticed that the hose I connected had come off (I may have forgotten to do the jubilee clip up). Reconnected that then attempted to fill up with water, the water was coming out the bottom of the engine as fast as it was going in! Got trailored to a garage who said my head gasket had gone (found this a tad strange seeing as this was replaced with cometic gaskets in 2008). I took the car home and had a look underneath myself (hoping it’d just be another split hose), and from what I could see - water was coming out at a fast rate from what seemed to be around the head (although was hard to confirm due to limited access).

Upon explaining these symptoms to Stuart from swautos he said it sounded like a cracked or warped block. Its booked in for him to take a look at on 1st November, I know im looking at an expensive job and would probably be more cost effective to buy a new engine.
So in the mean time I would like to explore my options, should I take this opportunity to upgrade the engine? Possibly 2.5 bottom end? If buying a second hand engine (from my understanding all EJ20 blocks are the same, it’s the ancillaries that make the difference) would it have to be from a type r STI v4 or could I use a later engine and just bolt my ancillaries to it? Would it have to be an engine from an STI, or could I use any EJ20 engine? Would obviously like to keep as cheap as possible say around the £1600 mark, is this wishful thinking? I don’t really know a lot about all this tbh so any help appreciated!

Car: 1997 Impreza Type-R (EJ20K)

Firstly, gutted to hear about the trouble you've had

If you go the whole hog and go for the new engine, the world is your oyster.

There are so many different opinions on what way to go, it can be a bit of a minefield. There is always a new theory just around the corner as to whats best. The most popular at the moment being the 2.35 stroker.

Then you get into Turbo's and their set ups. Twisted or not etc etc.

I would take the time to trawl through build threads, both in here and on other forums, you will find the one that suits what you are trying to achieve.

I would however, point you toward Midlife2 and his 2.1 stroker (iirc) for a like for like comparison of what is achievable with your car. That is an awesome build and fook me thats got some grunt. Also, speak with James (Anger) his old RA was a proper monster. He will point you in the right direction.

Good luck and keep us informed of what you are doing and post up the rebuild with loads of pics.