Got an awesome deal on a '98 Outback Limited

[SoCal LS-L]

Came in with a blown head-gasket.... it has the leather interior, moonroof, etc. BRAND new tires, interior perfect. The guy was going to just release the title to the shop or a charity..... I called and offered them $200 since I need another AWD for my girl. They took it, im mailing them a check for $220 to cover the car, and $20 to mail me the extra keys, owners manual, maintenance records w reciepts. The car is perfect besides the head-gasket! \

Now, I know I have to pull the engine.... but to anyone who has done one on a legacy, how hard is it really? Like compared to a 4wd clutch or a waterpump on our car?

Ill post pics soon.... my girls getting a way newer car than me now... but it still wont be nicer than my SVX

[RojoRocket]

Good news for your girl Chris!! Piece of cake compared to pulling the EG33!! Put the latest gasket design on it, probably an H2O pump, T-belt if deteriorated/contaminated and good to go!! Great little mules!!

Glenn

[SilverSpear]

Great catch Chris, but inspect the heads first for some waving caused by overheat.

[b3lha]

It's quite easy to do. In fact you don't have to take the engine completely out, you can just jack it up a bit. But you do need to get the heads milled flat, otherwise it just goes again in no time at all. Or maybe I'm just not very good at doing head gaskets.

I did it twice (without milling) and both times it went again within a month or two. So I gave up and bought an engine from a breaker. Now that one's gone too. I hate my Legacy sometimes.

The most annoying bit is the bolt tightening, because the instructions are stupid. Rather than saying "tighten to x pound feet and then increase to y pound feet" they say something like "do up to x ounce inches and then turn y degrees". But no ordinary torque wrench can read that low. You can almost get them that tight with your fingers and even tiny amounts of dirt in the threads makes a big difference.

[NoSVX]

We had the HG done on our 96 outback @ 165000 km, it's got 285000 km to date, no milling and no further issues, (with the HG that is). It cost us $1400 to have it done about 5 years ago.

Wife loves her Outback, but I'll keep my truck

[SoCal LS-L]

Nice, thanks guys. I wish more of you were from around here so I could get recommendations for a good shop. Im gonna go snap a few pics of it now n post later.

[SoCal LS-L]

Ok, found a good shop thru our tow truck driver, who is doing the HG's for $1300, including the machining and all new gaskets.
Ill upload the pics when I get home.... but shes a beauty! I lucked OUT. I wish I could do the reseal in the shop but its too cluttered to mess with HG's right now.

'98 Legacy Outback Limited 30th Anniv. LOADED all options = $220 = WIN Sorry.... just excited I got an amazing deal on another nice Subie.

EDIT: My cellphone pics.....

[SilverSpear]

Wow great catch Chris! Leather seats, auto... that is one nice outback

[MadMaxSvx]

Wow, thats a steal! Good one Chris!

[SoCal LS-L]

Thanks guys! What happened to the rest of my pics?? Did a mod delete them??

Also PLEASE CAN SOMEONE RECOMMEND GOOD QUALITY HEAD GASKETS so i can let the guy know.... I want the top-o-the-line ones so this never happens again.

Thanks fellas

[b3lha]

Originally Posted by SoCal LS-L

I want the top-o-the-line ones so this never happens again.

If money was no object then this is how you would want to do it:
http://www.rogerclarkmotorsport.co.u...images/052.jpg
Brass O-rings. I'm told the little channel at the top of each one is a tiny relief valve that operates when the cylinder pressure gets high enough to cause engine damage.
Probably overkill for a stock outback.

[httrdd]

Just make sure they do all the seals and gaskets. Cam seals, main seals.... Check for cracks in flex plate. I would have to do some research, but check on sli.net or on legacygt.com for headgasket recomendations. While you are on Sl-i.net introduce yourself. My 99 LGT w/eg33 build thread is on there!

[subi-crosser]

Originally Posted by SoCal LS-L

Nice, thanks guys. I wish more of you were from around here so I could get recommendations for a good shop. Im gonna go snap a few pics of it now n post later.

I have added a TEA CUP of coolant to my 97 Outback since OT did the repair over 2 years ago! Mill the heads, even if they look OK!
While they are off, you might as well take a Dremmel tool to them and 'shine up' the passages!! ( I did)

[SoCal LS-L]

Im wondering now, did the 96-04 2.5's lose headgaskets because of engine design, or because of the gaskets being poor quality?

I just got the title in the mail today, and am deciding whether to keep it or trade for a sportbike to save gas/time this summer.

[RojoRocket]

Chris,
IIRC the problem was pretty much solved with the newer multi-layer gasket design.

Glenn