twinckler

Farago isn't a Chron employee, according to the info about him, but a correspondent (freelance contributor). How could he get fired?

I used the BIG Channel locks on my old timing belt wrapped on the sprocket and it worked great - but I needed a second pair of hands to handle the locks

I just swapped a 2.2l engine (from a junkyard) into my 1997 OB. First I made sure it was the right year for the vehicle (only a 1995 2.2 engine will straight swap since it has dual exhaust ports). I made sure it was a good mileage (95k, according to carfax) and had good compression and ran well. For $650 I got the entire engine, but found myself swapping over newer parts from my 97 engine (alternator, etc), and I put in new water pump, seals, gaskets all around. Took me a week part time (I am very amatoor) to yank one, replace the other. Fired right up and is the sweetest thing I ever heard. Part luck, mostly preparation. Hope that helps

The swapping deed is done (97 OB) and, dang, that 2.2l sings sweet music. Took me two weekends to pick up the engine (from a junkyard), replace all the seals and gaskets and water pump and oil pump, disconnect that bloody 2.5l, snatch the nightmare out of the engine bay, and put the new-old one in its place. Only a few niggling problems with leaks that now are fixed. Runs like a dream. Thanks, Meeky and all the rest, for your many posted ideas. This has saved me more than $2,500 and now I have a car that should be reliable for 2-3 more years. The junker had 95k on it and a carfax check indicated decent treatment. It ran well in the old car and had 175 at all cylinders on a compress check. I really sweated whether it was worth putting an old and unknown engine in as compared to a nice CCR rebuild. Couldn't afford the latter. Couldn't afford the former either if it punked on me. Won the dice roll this time.

Urk. So there I was, happily following all the directions for changing the timing belt on my 95 Legacy motor, when on first one and then the other cam sprockets, I managed to turn them a quarter turn one way, a quarter turn the other. As it's a non-interference engine, I can only hope it's no biggie. So how do I get back to happyland? Also, I relied on my dyslexia before I took off the old belt to actually turn the engire engine the wrong way for a few spins. Am I in trouble on this?

I live in California where I plan to put a 1995 2.2l into my 1997 Outback. Does that pose a problem for getting it smogged?

I am about to commit to swapping my 1997 OB 2.5l DOHC for a 2.2l. I know the 1995 ej22 is a drop in fit, but are there later 2.2l's that also are straight swaps or darn near?

Sigh. A few months ago we got a 1997 OB (140,000)with 2.5l. It had been torn down by previous owner, who replaced one side head gasket and some other things. The other day, found a bad (probably rear main seal) oil leak and engine started knocking. Mechanic sez it's a rod, and he will replace for just over $3,000 with used engine. Is there an alternative that makes sense? I fear the 2.5's overall history. How about if I swap a 2.2l in its place? Easy to do? Or, should I just dump it for what I can get for car (very nice looking, all other mechanical great) and get beyond this? Thanks, board members for helping me solve this riddle. Terry