rweddy

It depends on how long you plan on keeping the car. Heater cores are much like radiators. You cannot look at them and tell if they are ok. If you get one from the bone yard it might last 2 weeks or 2 years, there is no way of telling. On such a labor intensive part for my money I would stick with a factory or name brand part. Stay away from Checker, auto zone type stores. I went cheap on one years ago and 2 months later had to pull the dash apart again.

If you are going to all the trouble of an engine swap I would put in a EJ22. You are still going to have head gasket issues with the EJ25 at some point. JMO

Well now they leak externally. The 2000 and up are still too new to have lots of mileage yet. I guess time will tell, I think the jury is still out on them.

I have a 91 Legacy AWD Wagon with a manual commute 500 miles a week. I get 29-31 MPG Highway very constancy driving 65-70 mph. My car was 121k and I run synthetic oil in the motor. Hope this helps. You will love the added power and size of the Legacy.

I would have to say the the 80-84 Wagons are this, but for nicest and 2nd toughest and reliable I agree!!

Congratulations!! Yes I have been driving lot of mid 80s Subaru's and I concur with you on the quality of the 1st generation 90-94 Legacies. I did the same and went from a 86 to a 91 Legacy LS. The power difference is incredible, gas mileage suffers a bit, but well worth having a much nicer riding, driving vehicle. Good luck with your new Subaru!!

Yes this is because most American V8 and 6s are only good for 100k miles then you rebuild them and change the timing chain. Timing Chain are good for generally good for 150,000 miles but you can sometimes push them longer. Just like you can push a belt longer. My brother has a 91 GL with well over 100k on the timing belts. And trust me you do not want to change out a timing chain yourself. What does a belt replacement cost on a Subaru? $250-300 range? If your car has a chain, you are talking $1500.00 and up.

I agree, everyone is under the impression that chains last forever. Yes they will go over 100k but chainign them is a much larger job and when they start stretching the will actually eat into the block of the motor. For example of my old 4 runner I had to spend over 20 hours to replace the timing chain, had to pull the head, pull the oil pan, etc. Very long job trust me.

You have to replace the heater core. It is kind of like a mini-radiator. I have not done one in a newer Subaru, but I am pretty sure you will have to disassemble the dash to get it out. Pretty large job, depending on your experience level it is a DIYer job if you have time space and tools.

Well if it is still running you might be able to trade it in to a dealer. They take them for a mini test drive but do not do much checking other than that.

Believe number 2, after you fix the motor the bottom end will usually go. Swap in a 2.2!!!

No need to worry, These engines are so reliable that one of the local Subaru shops here in Denver had to start working on other makes models to keep buys during the early days of the legacies. But now with the 2.5 issues they are back to work again!

If you plan on keeping the car for a long time, maybe swap in a 2.2?? I could not agree with you more about the need for a Subaru recall on the RJ25, Everyone I know that has a Subaru has had them fail. I am just hoping that the new 05 model fixes the issue, they are great looking performing cars. I have never heard of Colorado Engine builders but I live in Colorado, if you give me some information I can check them out for you.

Can somerun a carfax for me? JT3VN39W5L0044262 Thanks!! email to me at rweddy1@yahoo.com

That is true, if you are looking at it from just a repair point of view. By the time the repair is done you will be much closer to 2500-3000 than 1500 if you use a good Subaru shop. And but remember that after they blow the first time they tend to do it again. My friends outback blew at 120k got if fixed by a very good shop and it blew again at 150k. He said in the long run it would have been much more economical to trade then to repair it. Or maybe drop in a Phase II 2.5?? Again this totally sucks and I feel your pain!!

Yep, welcome to the world of the 1st generation 2.5. You might think about trading it in, might be a cheaper alternative in the long run than trying to fix it. Sorry

Actually the Toyota head gasket issue comes up frequently. Yes but Toyota took car of it customers when it had head gasket issues. They have national recalls and admit when there is a design flaw. I was the 4th owner of a 4-runner and the HG blew at 145,000 miles. Called Toyota and they had me take it to a dealership and paid for the repair completely. Subaru will not even admit there is a design issue, and just give people head gasket bottle treatments.

Nice!! You will love it, I just upgraded to a Legacy after years of gl subarus. They are great cars, 2.2 is a great motor.

MT-90 is wonderful but will not work for a Subaru. It will also not work for your rear diff. Remember that Subaru MT and transaxle share fluid unlike many cars trucks. I emailed Redline and ask them what I should use in my Subaru, because I have had such success with MT-90 in my other vehicles. Here is the response from Redline. >Request Type : Technical Request >Message : Hello > >I am trying to figure out what type fluid I should run in my vehicle >manual transmissions. I have used your MT-90 in multiple vehicles >with great success. > >My question revolves around running a GL4 transmission fluid in a >Subaru where the transmission and front differential share the fluid. > >The factory recommends using GL5 fluid but I have run GL4 in most >all my manual box and the difference between running GL5 and GL4 is >night and day, with the GL4 working sooo much better. > >What type of fluid would you recommend I run in a Subaru with shared >transmission and front differential? >Thanks Richard, In your Subaru transaxle where the GL-5 gear lube is called for I would recommend the 75W90NS, I would expect the shiftability to be close to the MT-90. The NS fluids have no friction modifier so are not to slippery for the synchros the problem with most GL-5 gear oils. The 75W90 would be suitable for the rear differential. Regards, Dave Red Line Oil

Don't give up yet!! I feel the same way but it seams that the 05 models are smoking! The legacy won the Japan car of the year, which is a huge honor. The reviews I have read are that the fit and finish are better than Honda and Toyota. Now if they have fixed the 2.5 issues, I will be down there getting a new 2.5 turbo legacy!!

I love you first comment!!! But you will find loyalty among Subaru owners. I think Subaru has hit a niche market in the 80's with the ski teams and today with the biking community. I ride mtn bikes and would say that 50 percent of the trail lots are Subaru's here in Colorado.

Ouch!! Can this be true? Only 70k and dead motor? Will the engine turn over?

Talked to Subaru of America today, they said basically that I can replace the belts at my own cost. Subaru does not have a recall and will not pay for new belts. :-\

90-94 are great long lasting vehicles. The auto trannys tend to die around 200-250,000, but other than that all good. I like the older style, before the Forester??? The Forester is an impreza not a Legacy, totally different model.

The Turbo motor has to have premium fuel or you will get denotation, i.e. knocking and damage the motor. If you are concerned about fuel prices and fuel economy I would suggest you stay away from the turbo motor. The turbo 2.2 with auto will get you 20-24 mpg tops if you keep your foot out of it. By comparison 2.2 5 spd will get you 28-32 mpg on regular gas.