rockdalesuby

Ok, thanks for your advice!

Im going to talk to them tomorrow, I will ask why they think it is not a valve issue. Perhaps they figure that the cost of taking the heads off to investigate, repair, and reassemble, will be higher than just swapping the motor??

A shop did the test. Only problem with your suggestion is that I have no knowledge of these motors, and that it would be impossible for me to do the work you talked about. SHould i suggest this to them?

Those results were from the wet compression test. i was suprised myself, because I know the HG is usually the weak point. Like I said, i really know nothing about these motors, what do you think cost would be to fix the issue (if it is a valve) vs. a new motor?

Thanks nipper, thats what i kind of wanted to know...the odds( 15/100) like you said of having HG issues. I was also nervous because my girlfriend has a 97 w/ 78k on it. There is serious compression loss in one cyl. about 65 PSI while the others are running at about 195-200. People who I have talked to around here have said that I would be better off to just swap the motor rather than paying for a rebuild of my current one. I have driven subarus for a long time, just never learned that much about engine quirks...have devoted more of my time to building jeeps...so like I said before , any input is greatly appreciated!! If i fixed it with the used engine, most likely i would drive it into the ground, which is what I planned on doing with the car since I bought it. If i got rid of it, i would look for a newer OBW (02-04) with less than 50K. I dont have that much into it, the car has been nothing but good to me. Has been paid for for 2 yrs, and nothing other han regular maintainence into it. another edit...not a really significant power loss at higher RPM's, but runs horrible at idle

I am not looking for a rebuilt...it will be a used motor. WOuld it be better to cut my losses now and try to get rid of the cas as is? I really dont want to do that, i like the car a lot...

First post here, hope you can help a newbie out. I have a 1997 Legacy OB wagon with 131K, and has been determined that i do need a new engine. Not the typical headgasket problem. Question is, whats the chance of finding a reliable junkyard engine that i can depend on to get a year or 2 more out of this car? I enjoy driving it, and really dont want to get rid of it right now. Whats the chance of having a head gasket issue with the new motor that goes into it? Is it worth it to take the chance of doing the motor swap? Im just really confused right now as to what my next step should be, and any help would be much appreciated!!