[Engine Mods]

The simplest way to explain it is: if the vehicle in question is the main family vehicle, DON'T mess with it. However, if the vehicle in question is a second "toy", then use Cobb's system. Their HP figures are not exaggerated, but what is assumed is that you (as a gearhead) will gladly accept any "anomalies" associated with building and maintaining a hotrod. It's always been that way.

 

Why? Well, maybe it gets you out of the house ...who knows?

 

Wow, never thought I would hear/read the term hotrod applied to an Outback. The car is my daily driver, so maybe it is best to leave well enough alone. Additionally, COBB just got back to me and confirmed that their headers and exhaust won't fit my model year. I couldn't find any other equal lenght headers with a quick search so the project might have to be ditched any way. It doesn't seem wise to spend a lot of money on cams if the gas is exiting through a stuffy exhaust.

 

Neil '01

[Engine Mods]

From comments that I've read from folks that have fit the Cobb street cam and headers are ecstatic about how it opens the motor up without losing any tractibility. It doesn't make the motor "racy" or burbly at all. It seems as though Subaru's stock exhaust & cam are way stuffy. I'm not 100% certain, but I'd guess that the peak HP would increase by about 30-35 (which doesn't sound like a whole lot) but the benefit is mostly an increase and a substantial widening of the torque curve at both ends.

 

If I could get 50hp for a couple of grand I would be happy. The Cobb package is about $5,200 installed, but would include having the cylinder heads worked on. I was just wondering if the 50hp is a reality or marketing. Also, I don’t know if the exhaust pieces will even fit. They only list the 1995-1999 Outback. Still waiting to hear back from Cobb.

 

Blitz mentioned the porosity and hardness of the cam’s. How will that affect things? Sorry, but I am kind of a novice in this area.

 

Cookie, I agree that trading up would be ideal, but the Outback is paid for I don’t really want to take on any new payments.

 

Neil '01

[Engine Mods]

i had a freind when i was in school that had a 2.5rs that was putting down like 250hp at the wheels with out forced induction. but the engine was no where near stock. i think it was bored and stroked, as well as better cams, exhaust, intake, port an polish, and anything alse one could do to a n/a engine to make power. it was definatly a fast car though.

 

How well did the car run? Was it smooth at idle?

 

I would love to swap out the engine. But where can I find a 2.5L turbo engine at a reasonable price? Will there be any problem with the wiring? How much power can my automatic transmission handle anyway?

 

Neil '01

[Engine Mods]

So, it seems that no one is in favor of turbo charging my 2001 Legacy Outback. I looked in to changing out the bottom end to a stronger block, but that seems to expensive and laborious. Does anyone know how much usable power can be gained from new cams and exhaust? The car is used mainly for around town and trips to Lake Tahoe. Would like to have more power in the mountains, but I don't want to rev the engine at 6000 rpm for 2 hours to use it. Any thoughts?

 

I already put a cold air intake on the car because of damage to the stock intake. I was looking at the Impreza power package from Cobb, but doubt that the exhaust pieces will fit. Maybe the equal length headers will fit. Any feedback would be helpful.

 

Also, does anyone know a good shop in the San Francisco Bay Area that is reputable?

 

 

Neil ‘01

[Power loss and low MPG]

I have inherited a 2001 Legacy Outback from my wife. This car gets surprisingly low gas milage and downshifts in order to conquer almost any grade. The car is an automatic, and has a trailer hitch and roof rack. It is unmodified. Does 19mpg sound low to the rest of you or am I just unreasonable? The engine is otherwise smooth. Is there a chance that I am not getting spark to one of my cylinders? Any advice will be appreciated. I am taking it to my mechanic an a couple of days, and would like to be able to talk intelligently about it to him.

 

-Neil ‘01

[Aftermarket Turbo?]

Thank you all for your feedback. It doesn't sound like anyone favors the idea of turbo charging an n/a engine. I assume that the same sentiment is held for supercharging the engine. Any idea what kind of gains I could expect from new intake or exhaust? Does anyone have experience with tower struts or sway bars to tighten up the car?

 

By the way, Outback '97, what is an open deck engine vs. closed deck engine?

 

-Neil '01

[Aftermarket Turbo?]

I am new to the board, so please take it easy on me. I have an 2001 OUtback that I inherited from my wife. The car seems a little heavy for a engine. Now that Subaru is selling 2.5L Turbo's, is there any way to add a turbo to my Outback? I have noticed a lack of aftermarket items for this car.

 

-Neil '01