pacific_import_auto

Any of the DOHC Engines (1996-1999 2.5L engines, and all of the turbo engines from 1995-current) are interference engines (Intake Valves can hit exhaust valves, and Valves can hit the pistons). Any of the Phase 2 Engines (1999 or Newer) are also interference engines in the way that the valves can hit the pistons. Mike

lol, I know the feeling. my little brother likes to lock my keys in my car. So I can imagine. I assumed by your post that you were having problems, but it's all good. lol. Mike

From my expierience, no subaru engine will handle being overheated. Even if it is a low miler. Is your EA82 a Turbo? Are the cooling fans on your EA81 working? Maybe we can figure out why they're overheating. Mike

No, as of right now, I do not have any pictures, but I will take some tonight. I'll show you the 'shop' car with the Version 2 STI engine in it, and the other project I am working on (the 2.2T) Mike

They have a Dual Range transmission for the EJ and EZ series engine? That's news to me. lol, all I knew about was the dual range for the EA series, and they even quit making that here in the late 80's. What types of cars have this dual range? Maybe If I knew more about it, I might be able to source a couple from my sources in Japan, and austrailia. Mike

Thats Interesting. I did not know that. When I built the 2.2T that's goiing to go into my 1992 Legacy Wagon, I built the motor up more for piece of mind than anything else. The engine is a hybrid engine if you want to call it that. It's the 2.2T shortblock with heads from a WRX STI Version 4. The pistons are custom from JE and the rods are custom made by Pauter. I haven't installed the engine yet, but I am planning on using the stock WRX STI computer that I got with the heads. If that doesn't work, I can always wire in a link ECU or some other standalone ECU. We'll see how it goes.

The brand of stopleak that I am referring to is "Silver Seal, or Aluma Seal. My customers have had bad luck with those particular products clogging up places they're not supposed to. That's just what I've seen from experience. Mike

That's interesting that they are being discontinued. That's the first that I've heard of it. I know for a fact that the Western Washington Dealers seem to be selling them pretty well. THe turbo ones have just arrived within the past few weeks, and those seem to be selling well too. I have about 10 or so customers who have Baja's and 4 of them are Turbo ones. I can't say for sure if they're selling well, but they SEEM to be selling well. Now if they would only bring over the Single or Twin Turbo H-6 3.0 in the Baja..... Mike

I did head gaskets on a 2001 Outback Limited about 3 week ago. The vehicle had over 122,000 on the ODO, and was leaking coolant externally. We found that Subaru has redesigned the head gaskets for the Phase 2 engine so I don't think another leak will be an issue. It's the coating on the gasket that fails and not the metal gasket itself. IF you want, I will post pictures of what the gaskets looked like after they came out of the car (you will notice that they are missing pieces of the coating (Which was not stuck on the head) and you can see right where the coating has fallen off and eroded enough that it will leak coolant from t he water jacket. As for your answer about Stop Leak, yes, it will work, BUT it is only temporary. I had a customer put stop leak into his 00 Outback and it didn't leak one drop for about a month, and then about a month later, he had the same leak in a different spot. The thing that worries me about stopleak is the damage it can or will do to your radiator and/or heater core. If you put stopleak in it, and it doesn't solve your problem, and then you do go ahead and do head gaskets to it, what happens if the stop leak that you put into the radiator somehow blocked the radiator, and overheated your engine again? I know Head Gaskets are spendy to do, but if you're having a problem, you might as well fix it right rather than have to worry about it down the road. That just my $0.02 Mike

Also, if you are converting to a 5-speed transmission, You'll have to find a hydraulic clutch assembly from a 91-94 Turbo Legacy, a 1996-1999 Outback, or a 2002-2004 WRX. You'll need the pegal assembly, master cylinder, slave cylinder, and whatever wiring needs to be done to make the switches on the transmission work. Mike

WHat i would do if I were you, and you wanted to use the WRX intake manifold would be to find a good set of WRX heads, a good set of Forged pistons, Forged Rods, and some high quality rings and make a basically bulletproof engine that should be good for at least 300 horses without upgrading the fuel system. As I recall, the stock WRX system would handle just about 310 horses before the injectors wouldn't pump anymore fuel out. I have seen the EJ22T engine with upgraded internals make over 900 WHP. Or, If you really wanted to, you could buy a Version 8 STI engine from Japan and have 300 WHP right out of the box. We currently have a 1990 Legacy Wagon with a version 2 STI engine and close ratio 5 speed in it. If anyone wants to see pictures of it, let me know. I'll b e more than happy to send them out. IF you want any more information about engine upgrades, I'll do my best to answer them, or give you to someone else who can. Mike

Oh Yeah, and one other thing. We are replacing them every 30k as part of the 30k service. Factory says to change them every 30k. Mike

They ARE made in the aftermarket, but I have only been able to find one source for them (and the source that I found is ****TY) Right now, We only use genuine Subaru AT Filters. They seem to work the best. Give me a call at the shop and maybe I can do you a better price than 38.00 Mike Pacific Import Auto "The Subaru Specialists" 13311 Pacific Avenue Tacoma, Wa 98444 253-536-0389 Phone 253-536-3090 Fax

The auto transmission in my moms 1990 Legacy has over 312,000 on it, and it's never been out of the car, never been taken apart. Just regular maintenences. To make it worse, she even works for the local paper over here in Tacoma, Wa as an Area Supervisor, so she racks up the miles on that car. It's been an indestructible car for her (until the tank split on the radiator) Mike

No, It is not standard procedure to do headgaskets on ANY subaru in the Vehicle. on Some subaru's you cannot get the drivers side head off inside of the car because the headbolts are too long. For the amount of time it takes to get the engine out of the vehicle so that you can work on it on a bench or some place similiar you'd actually be saving time rather than hasseling with trying to do it in the vehicle. There's only 4 extra bolts and 2 nuts that have to come off to get it out of the vehicle anyways (Upper and lower bell housing bolts and the motor mount nuts on the cross member) and then the engine lifts right out. Mike