As I posted in the introductions (
https://www.clubxb.com/threads/new-...ay-to-my-house-and-im-trying-to-fix-it.89547/ ), I've recently acquired a 2008 Scion xB. My sister ran it low on oil and it now has what I believe to be rod knock. Although it still starts and runs, it is down on power and I turned around after only getting a few houses down my street on a quick assessment drive. Here's a pic of us towing it back to my house (fortunately, she broke down only an hour or so away):
![]()
I have found a suitable replacement engine in a local u-pull yard - it is in a 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT. From what I could glean by checking the VIN, it has ~176k miles on the motor (before the car was totaled in an accident, and hence why it wound up in the junk yard). Finding a low-mileage cream puff motor seems unlikely, given that the 2AZ-FE was last used in a production vehicle many years ago. But, the price will be right to give it a try (about $300). And, if I get ambitious I may even decide to buy and install a ring-rebuild kit before installing it in the car. That would still keep the total cost of the replacement under $1k (the asking price for lower mileage motors was around $1700, from my quick searching).
Any tips for how to quickly (read: ugly methods are OK) remove this engine? I've done an in-junkyard removal of an engine before (had to replace the 2.3L direct-injection Ecotec on my son's 2011 Equinox...twice
). When I looked over the engine bay, I may just try and remove the engine and transmission as one assembly and see if I get a good price for the combo (it's an automatic transmission, unfortunately, though). I could get a chain or straps around the mounts, remove their bolts and the axles, cut the exhaust free, and then lift it out - that seems like the plan. Bring a cordless impact gun, sawsall, and everything and have at it.
Since our xB has the 5spd manual, I will go ahead and put in new transmission input and output shaft seals, and a new clutch release bearing and clutch. I'll also change the transmission fluid (I've used Redline MTL on my European cars...is anything different recommended for the xB)?
I thought about trying to find a 2.5L 2AR-FE and making that swap work, but I have only found the most basic references to such a swap and whether anyone might have been successful with it before - so there was not a lot of confidence to continue down that path right now. Maybe I'll consider it for a future project if I can find good one of those engines cheap enough
Once the engine swap is complete and the car is running solidly, again, I will be removing the interior and updating the stereo system. I found a later-model Scion (Panasonic) radio from an FR-S that has Bluetooth, RCA outputs, etc. I'll use that in order to keep a stock-like appearance. I'll need to track down the microphone and USB ports that work with that, as well as figure out how to add the backup camera input.
I need to find an un-abused front bumper cover (ours has a portion ahead of the right front wheel that is cracked off), the front inner wheel liners, and eventually an unclouded right (US passenger) side headlight assembly - oh, and an under-engine cover/tray. Not big items...I'll just keep an eye locally at the u-pulls and FB Marketplace and Craigslist to get those together. and once the replacement bumper cover is installed, I'll add LED driving/running lights in place of the covers.
One other item: the spoiler on the trunk hatch rattles and is loose. There is no obvious way to tighten it, and I didn't find the spoiler in the Hood & Doors or Exterior sections of the service manual .pdf I found. Any ideas for that?
Thanks!
