Head gaskets in 96 Legacy Outback

Are you very sure it is a HG problem?? If it is I would sell a 10 year old 190,000+ miles car for whatever and get another. Stay away from

At 200K, the engine is probably gonna want a substantial amount of work to really freshen it up; timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and seals if nothing else. Don't think I'd stop at head gaskets unless 1) money was real tight, and 2) I accepted the very real possibility that additional work would be required, either immediately, or shortly thereafter. Really would only make sense if you are doing the work yourself IMO.

Colorado Component Rebuilders has earned a good reputation.

As you appear to be employing a mechanic, this is probably your best option in the long run. Be darn sure that the AT, (and the rest of the drive train/suspension for that matter) is tip-top before putting $2K+ into a $4K car . . .

I'm sure you could retrofit a 2.2L, but you probably won't want to pay someone to sort out all of the little details. Again, only realistic as a DIY project, and only then if you can live w/o the car for whatever time it takes to make it happen. A salvage 2.5L would vastly simplify the project, but salvage yards vary in the amount of effort they put into insuring that the engines they sell are serviceable. Usually they will offer at least some sort of warranty, but you will still have to pay for the swap (again) if you get a bad one. (BTW, the 2.5 DOHC engines are fragile, and often suffer cam bearing/carrier damage as a result of even minor frontal impacts . . . This sometimes isn't evident right off, either, so be warned.)

'96 OB with 200K, a bad engine, straight body, and clean interior is probably worth $1000 tops. Probably have a hard time getting that on ebay, but you might call any local yards that handle Subarus to see if they're interested. I buy fixers myself from time to time; contact me if you're anywhere nearby (Colorado front range), and we'll talk.

I'd be real tempted to keep driving it until it totally gave up the ghost, (Maybe try some of the "magic" sealants available at the auto parts store? Couldn't hurt.) and then look at option 4 pretty hard before committing to option 2; this again assuming you are paying someone to do the work as opposed to DIY. If it were mine, I'd start looking for a lo-miles replacement engine, (or a crunched 2.2 Legacy; I like the 2.2L motor better, myself, and I have a feeling that the 2.5-2.2 swap will probably require a "donor" car) and swap 'em myself.

Yr most welcome. Hope this helps a bit.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB Laboratory Manager Microelectronics Research University of Colorado (719) 262-3101

Not sure how you wanna go but a good source for reman engines is CCR;

Hello Steve, Thanks for all the info. I am actually considering doing it myself. I have a garage (once I get done with my son's Honda timing belt) a dangerous amount of knowledge and more time than money. I emailed CCR, they have a reasonably priced reman. 95 2.2L EJ22 that they tell me will fit in: "You can swap in a later year EJ25 DOHC, or you can swap in a '95 EJ22 ($xxxx + $xxx for the intake manifold)."

Am I mistaken in gathering from this that a '96 or later 2.2 would not fit? Or is that what they have in stock? (Yes, I've asked them as well) Is the Outback engine different than the regular Legacy? Anyway, I will probably do as you suggest and drive it till it drops and then replace with a 2.2L engine. A friend has previously suggested a "magic" sealant which name escapes that he has had very good results with. Thanks again, Garry

If you don't mind, I'd be interested to know what they quoted you for the engine. Their website doesn't have any prices that I could find.

I've been told only the 95 2.2 will interchange. May have to do with the EGR and/or number of exhaust ports. Someone recently over on the USMB replaced a 2.5 with a 95 2.2.