larrykjr

Fairtax4me, thanks for the quick reply. I think you are right to recommend getting it machined. I don't know anything about how far they can go so maybe I'll ask the machinest to see if he thinks he can get out the smaller nicks. I doubt he can get out the deep one, though.

I dropped off my 01 OBW 2.5L w/114k to my (trusted) Subie specialist mechanic for HG's, timing belt, etc and he found some nicks on the gasket surface of the head on the driver's side. Looks like the HG's had been done before and they nicked it somehow. They are fully covered with the gasket when you lay it on there, and the concerning part is that the closest scratch is about 1/16'' from the right combustion ring. It's pretty shallow and he says that you can barely catch it with your fingernail. The deeper one to the left is far enough away that I'm not too worried because it's far from the cylinder and the coolant jacket and this motor has the open deck so the other surface of the gasket is floating. What do you guys think? I'm gonna keep the car and want to do it right but the cheapest best way. About $100 to machine the heads, or buy a used head, or leave it alone?

Hey thanks for your help! Gotta find my rubber mallet here somewhere to get that thing in there...

Awesome! You are the man! I was having all sorts of nightmares like tranny rebuilds, etc. Thanks for getting back to me so quick! The circlip is a little loose on the shaft, would you replace it?

Help! I was removing the CV axle in my 95 Legacy AT FWD w/ 96k, and when I was taking off the ball joint I yanked and the output shaft came out from the tranny! It's connected to the cv axle because I meant to take out the spring pin but hadn't gotten to that step yet. It has a C-clip on the splines that go into the front diff. How do I get the shaft back in? Is there hope?

Thanks guys, I will check to see if the fork is moving, I think it is, I'm off to Walmart parking lot where it is parked to check the seals and if the fork is moving....

I read other threads and it seems like it's a common prob with the hydraulic clutch:confused: Sooooo, do I replace the slave cylinder first? How do I bleed the system, through the little nipple that looks like grease goes in it? Thanks

Yeah I think you are right since I do need a running car ASAP. I'll probably swap in the 2.2 to the OB and then fix the 2.5 at my leisure for the Forester. Thanks again.

Thanks, I've always wondered that and why it is so important to get a motor with EGR for the swap.

Today my 98 OBW has been hard to get into gear and grinds into reverse like the clutch is going out. Got it to Walmart and turned it off to look at the actuator arm on the hydraulic pump thing that the clutch reservior line goes into on top of the tranny. I manually moved it and it made it worse-the pedal hits the floor and won't spring back. I have to manually pull it up. It comes up without much effort and will stay there but gives no resistance as if I push it down and it stays on the floor. What's the deal? Has that happened to anyone? I need to get this thing home!:-\ It started grinding into reverse over the past 3 days but the other gears have been fine. Could the oil separater plate have leaked onto the clutch and trashed it? Would that affect the spring/resistance of it? Thanks!!!

Man, I was afraid of that, it wasn't until the Phase 2 that you don't have to remove them? Thanks for the info:)

Man you guys are quick at getting back! Thanks a bunch, I'm picking up the engine this week so it will be my first swap so I'm mustering the courage to tackle it. Dumb question-what does EGR do anyway?

I am looking at doing the HG on my 98 2.5 DOHC engine from my OBW and wonder if I have to remove the cams ? I read Skips famous writeup and he did but is there a way around it? Do you have to remove them to get to the head bolts? Thanks!

I have read the 2.2 swap threads and wonder if anyone has swapped in a 2.2 into a 98 forester? I just bought it with a seized motor and found a 95 2.2 L w/EGR and wonder if it will swap in? I know in 99 the Foresters got the SOHC Phase 2 2.5L and the 8 bolt pattern trans but in 98 I can't remember if it's still the 4 bolt pattern on those cars. I imagine so since 98 had the DOHC 2.5. :-\ Anyone know? Thanks!!! I wonder if it would feel underpowered since the Foresters seem to be geared higher than the OB's...

Thanks for the links to the Headgasket replacement by Skip. I ended up getting that 98 OBW and am picking up a '95 2.2 from an auto trans this week to swap in. Trying to muster the courage to do it myself. I'm pretty handy but I don't want it to drag out...I also got a 98 Forester AT with a bad motor. Should I swap in the 2.2 to the Forester or put in the 2.5 from the OBW after doing the HG? Confusing I know, at least you guys know what I'm talking about.

How did she work?

You guys rock, thanks for getting back to me. Ok so while I was out I found a 98 Outback MT w/140k in good shape that I can pick up for $500 with blown HG's and I'm thinking of doing the 2.2 L swap on that one with a 2.2 from a 95 or 96 AT car. Anyone swapped in a 2.2 L on a Phase 2 SoHC Forester? I heard the 99-01 Impreza 2.2's work but you need the y exhaust. Is that right?

Sorry if you guys get tired of talking about headgaskets. This is my first post ever. I bought my first Subie- a 2000 OBW MT and love love love it but I had to move across country and was in a tough spot and had to pull an overloaded trailer. Long story short, we made it but not unscathed. Now the tranny whines and the HG are leaking. 203k miles. And I just picked up a 01 Forester with blown HG for cheap- Automatic Tranny 148k Are the auto trannies good on these? Soooooo, I have read everything I can find about DIY and it would be nice if someone around New Hampshire could supervise? How much would it cost me? Does anyone have an engine or two? Has anyone seen or heard of a HG problem with the EJ22? (In case I sell both and get one with that engine.)