Subaru Head gasket job: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Feb. 13, 2010 9:52 a.m. neon4891 UberDork

...How hard is it?

Subaru Forester, 5-speed manual trans. AWD, Mechanic's Special - $1200

seller said:
1998 Subaru Forester AWD with the 5-speed manual transmisson for the best mileage up here in the hills, good tires, good body, White with minimal rust spots. This car is white with a gray and blue cloth interior in good condition. Clutch and transmission feel good and tight. The glass is all in good condition. The engine has 154K miles, runs smooth with no warning lights, but it overheats due to the gasket leaks. The engine block is in good condition.

Her's what I think it needs: Head gaskets on the engine, brake pads, a rear wiper motor and lift struts for the rear hatchback.
Feb. 13, 2010 10:05 a.m. minimac Dork

Easiest if you pull the motor. I had spotted this ad also! Usually the back wiper seizes up due to corrosion. Take it apart, clean the shaft going to the wiper arm, grease it up, and it should work fine. Pads are cheap and easy. The toughest part of pulling the motor is to drop the entire exhaust, as one big piece, to get it out of the way. With the motor out, figure another $200-$300 for a new clutch kit and flywheel, unless you're not planning on keeping it.
Feb. 13, 2010 10:17 a.m. neon4891 UberDork

Gravel drive, no garage And no friends with garage to work at.

Rent a storage unit and buy a cheap HF engine lift?
Feb. 13, 2010 12:31 p.m. Travis_K Dork

Remember the head gaskets on those engines can need doing as often as every 60k.
Feb. 13, 2010 2:35 p.m. 44Dwarf HalfDork

Seeing as you have to pull the Timing belt you'll need to do the cam seals, Crank seals, water pump, tensioner pulley and oh the head gaskets.

Part Number Part 1998 SUBARU FORESTER S 2.5L 2458cc H4 MFI (6) [EJ25D] 806733030 Crankshaft Seal $ 4.88 $ 806732150 Camshaft Seal $ 4.51 $ 21111AA007 Water Pump $ 44.79 DAYCO 95277 Timing Belt $ 38.79 FEL-PRO BS40666 Crankshaft Seal $ 9.79
Shipping Location 1 Ground (FedEx or UPS) $ 9.79 Shipping Location 2 Ground (FedEx or UPS) $ 9.59 Order Total $ 126.65

oh add plugs @ $24 rad hoses (why not you've got them off) ~$20 top end gasket kit ~$160 Head bolts ~$65

So your looking at around $400 with out doing a valve job Oh the above was from my rock auto order in 12/08 when we did the wifes clutch. We got the clutch off e-bay exidy brand kit was the cheapest.

44
Feb. 13, 2010 2:53 p.m. Nashco UltraDork

You don't need a garage or a paved driveway to do an engine swap. Two pieces of plywood under the engine hoist will help spread the load and give you something to roll it out with. It CAN be done with the engine in the car, but it takes longer and you can't do nearly as good of a job (harder to clean gasket surfaces, can't do rear main, etc.). If this is a ride you plan to keep for a while, you'd be wise to get a complete gasket kit, timing belt, water pump, pulley(s), clutch set, and tune up parts. It might seem like a lot of money if you start adding up all the parts, but it should make that car ready to ride for a long time to come in the future.

Bryce
Feb. 13, 2010 3:29 p.m. SlickDizzy UltraDork

Taking a Subaru engine out is a mechanic's dream; it can usually be done in about 45 minutes by a skilled hand. Travis is correct, these engines blow head gaskets ALL THE TIME. Swap to an EJ22 or a turbo mill for some much needed reliability.
Feb. 13, 2010 4:01 p.m. procainestart Dork

My understanding is that the original gaskets have been superseded a number of times, to the point that the latest iteration solves the problem. At least, that is what my sister was told when her '96 Outback popped a gasket a <100k.
Feb. 14, 2010 6:37 a.m. ddavidv UltraDork

They do not blow ALL THE TIME. Stop creating hysteria. The originals were junk. Modern replacements are superior, though I would not risk buying Ebay ones. My local indie shop does the HG's on every 2.5 with unknown history they put on the lot and haven't had one come back yet.
Feb. 14, 2010 10:18 a.m. digdug18 Reader

ok, they don't blow ALL THE TIME, but they do blow them twice to 3 times as often as the 1.8 or 2.2 motors do.

Andrew