Dr Farco

I did what Rolls did in the process of removing my engine. Taking out the resevoir and air box helps with the skinned knuckles. One thing to do to help for the next time was to squeeze some die-electric tune up grease into each boot and spread it around in them. It helps keep them from sticking to the plugs.:-) I currently am running Bosch "4"'s.

I agree with the "Silverstars". They put out a bluer/white light. I was a bit taken back with the difference from the older bulb's "yellowish" light. They are a bit more expensive but I think they are worth it.

Get This: So I walks in to the local Subaru Dealer Service Dept. in search of an intelligent estimate for a valve job/head gaskets. There's a desk guy and two mechanics present. I told them about the cheap jap bolt that holds the timingbelt tensioner on broke. Bent valves. They looked at each other, shrugged ,smurked and said "Oh, man you're looking at over 3 grand". I then told them about the guy I work with who had a new shortblock swapped in his '97 OB for $3300. Why so much? To which they replied "Well, there's a lot of labor and the valves can be expensive, there's THIRTY-TWO of them you know"! Last time I checked there were only 16. I couldn't believe my ears,and he was serious! Walked right out of there! I'll do it myself (and save "half" on the cost of the valves).

I just love how these dealers blow off problems under the guise that it's "normal". Normal coolant leaks don't flush in my book. I had a Saturn that started using a quart of oil every 300 miles or so. Guy said "Oh, thats normal". Turns out they had a bad batch of blocks that the bores wore out. Fortunately I had a 1000 miles to go on warranty and got a new motor.

Hi All: Just wondering which brand of head gasket in your opinion is the best to use as replacements on the EJ-25 DOHC. Thanx! BD

Glen: Thanx for the welcome! It's hard to tell if the previous owner could have known about a weak bolt. A worn belt maybe but who knows. Just bad luck. The car is clean,you could eat off the engine. It ran strong and straight on the ten mile or so test drive. I got the car for a song, realizing even then if I hadda put a motor in it I would be still ahead of the game and end up with a really nice car. I woulda made it home if not for getting lost around Philly. I have a 87 DL 4WD wagon which I'm retiring for rust reasons. Loved that car! With the studded snows on all around it would go like a goat in the snow! I'm in the process of selling it. Does CCR engines have a website? Just in case I need 'em? I'm a DIY'er and just may pull the heads if I have to.(if I have the pep) Bill D

I feel your pain as to dealer parts prices. I went to buy a tensioner mounting bolt for my 98 OB 2.5. Guess what, "we don't sell just the bolt". They expected me to buy the whole tensioner for $150! All to replace a broken bolt made of Cheap Jap steel that probably trashed my engine!(I was on the road). They also wanted $85 for a timing belt which could be had for half at the local parts store. What really stinks is that I was on my way home from just buying and picking up the car! You just never know.

Hi; I'm a newbie here and am exploring this neat informative site. I just bought a used 98 Outback with hi miles for a to work car. Was very pleased with it till on the way home after picking it up. It died suddenly! I have a 87 Dl wagon 4WD that did the same thing. Timing belt failure! But after pulling the covers on the 98 I found the tensioner laying at the bottom. It seems that the tensioner mounting bolt snapped! The belt was fine and rather new looking. If anyone changes a belt, it's probably best to replace the cheap Japanese steel bolt with some good American steel for the tensioner. Don't know yet but I probably trashed the engine. I was planning to change the belt 1st thing after getting the car home , at which time I would have probably broken the bolt anyway. (and still have a motor in one piece) Just didn't make it.