Hello, I have a chance to buy both a 96 and 98 Outback, as I dont have the cars side by side I am wondering if there were any significant changes in those years or will the majority of parts bolt right up? I am looking to use the 96 for sheet metal, wheels, etc for the 98. Thank you.

Edited October 31, 201015 yr by newroo
additions

Everything will swap from one to the other.

Everything will swap from one to the other.

 

Yep.

 

2 minor things come to mind. I believe the lifters are different (and that the 96 wants premium gas) but even then if you swap the whole engine you're o.k.

 

Depending on when the 98 was built the EVAP charcoal canister may be in the rear by the filler tube, and it's in the front on the 96. Catalytic converter/O2 sensor layout may be slightly different.

 

Also I believe sometime in 98 they changed the headlight/turn signal lense setup.

 

But really they are the same car. Very minor tweaks from 95 to 99 really.

If the 96 is a Manual trans, it will have a 2.2 SOHC, if it's and Automatic, it will have the 2.5 DOHC

 

The 98 will have a 2.5 DOHC engine

yep, same minus the 2.2 liter non-interference engine in the MT 1996's (only year and model for the OBW EJ22). the Ej22 will easily interchange into the 98 though, plug and play...with some minor notes.

 

the 96 EJ25 will have a small metal plate installed over the crank sprockets of the timing belt that the 98 won't have. just ignore it, no big deal, it was only there for shipping purposes.

 

body parts are all interchangeable.

 

what size wheels did the 96 MT's get, i thought it might be an inch smaller but not sure.

Thanks for all the help, I knew I found the right place! This looks like it could be a fun place to hang out! Maybe later I will see if it is possible to lift and hop up one of these things!

Might I also suggest http://www.cars101.com ? Everything you could want to know about changes between modern Subaru models.

I think they are just the same. And I agree with Imdew.

96 has door locks controlled by the drivers door as a "master" lock.

 

in 97, and after they made a seperate button on the door for "lock/unlock", one on both drivers and passenger side.

 

So this means the front door cards, and the wiring for the door locks is different.

 

Also, 96 the headlights and markers are single piece, whereas the 98 they are a 2 piece. In 99 they went back to a single piece, but slightly different than the 96 ones.

 

99.9 percent interchangable though.