I took the rear end off, struts and all, of both the 2000 Forester and the 1996 Legacy outback and the gas tanks out. The Rear end of the Forester fit just perfectly in the 96 Legacy outback as well as the gas tank. I had to change the hoses on the tank around a little but in all it work out very well. Even the rear brake line were exactly the same. No bending was needed.