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just picked up 91 loyale with broken timing belt

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Hey guys I just picked up a 1991 subaru loyale timing belt snapped off. I went over the engine a bit today headgasket are leaking cam seals are weeping looks like the crank seal is leaking probably a big part of the oily timing belt snapping off. Valve covers are all leaking water pump looks to be leaking there is coolant on the bottom of the engine. So now I think I'm just going to pull the engine out do the headgasket timing belts water pump. I picked the car up for $200 hoping to get it running and reliable to drive everyday. I ordered the timing belt kit cam and crank seals. Now I have to order the headgasket and I was going to get the heads inspected. This is going to be my first subaru headgasket. I have read a lot of the older posts. I have read about those oil o rings between the cam carriers that I need 1 on each side of the head. I have read to be careful with the intake manifold bolts. Any other major things? I will probably take the heads into a machine shop to checked. Should I replace anything in the heads? Thanks guys just wanna know what I'm getting into

The best way to get the intake bolts out is run it to normal operating temp.  Or use a space heater and heat gun with a meat thermometer [so you don't overdo it]

 

How many miles on it?  The coolant could be just leaks from the water pump, or hoses. 

 

But yes, a reseal should reduce oil leaks from everywhere.  If you do the reseal, do the oil pump seals.  The Throttle body to intake seal.    You can replace the front main and rear main seals without splitting the crank case, so replace them also.

 

Camshaft seals, and the o-rings on the separate piece that the seal presses into.

 

Replace ALL 7 cooling system hoses.  Remove rust from the clamping area.  Put a little silicon plumber's grease on the area.  Re torque the clamps after a drive or 2.  Be careful when removing the heater hoses from the heater core.  The pipes are thin brass, and can be crushed.

While you are doing all this, take a close look at the radiator - if the thin little copper webs between the horizontal tubes are loose, or missing, get a new radiator, or get it re cored.

 

If mileage is unknown, or anywhere near100,000, might as well replace the water pump. 

 

Since the belt broke, it is likely past time to replace all timing belt 3 idlers.

  • Author

Thanks for the reply! Just started tearing into it today. It has 260,000 km on the odo so about 160k miles. Got the intake manifold off with no troubles! Bolt were very corroded tho gotta get some new ones. I think I may paint the intake manifold red like my sti for fun. Got the power steering pump off alternator and the timing covers. Just gotta do exhaust manifolds bell housing and and engine mounts. Then the engine will come out. And I can remove the heads and cam holders so far ordered I have cam seals timing belt kit crank seal and oil pump seals. So I need valve cover gaskets head gaskets oil pan gasket and rear main and those o rings for the cam carriers? One on each side right? And I guess possibly a clutch I'll know when I pull it.

  • Author

Thanks for the reply! Just started tearing into it today. It has 260,000 km on the odo so about 160k miles. Got the intake manifold off with no troubles! Bolt were very corroded tho gotta get some new ones. I think I may paint the intake manifold red like my sti for fun. Got the power steering pump off alternator and the timing covers. Just gotta do exhaust manifolds bell housing and and engine mounts. Then the engine will come out. And I can remove the heads and cam holders so far ordered I have cam seals timing belt kit crank seal and oil pump seals. So I need valve cover gaskets head gaskets oil pan gasket and rear main and those o rings for the cam carriers? One on each side right? And I guess possibly a clutch I'll know when I pull it.

Sounds good. I've been using the Fel Pro head kit + converting kit. Except, get the intake gaskets from Subaru.

  • Author

Just ordered the Delphi kit. It was about $175 I'll make sure to order those intake gaskets now.

While you have everything apart, You might want to check/do a few other things.

--axles and wheel bearings

--oxygen sensor

--transmission seals where the axles connect.

  • Author

Actually the previous owner did the axles and wheel bearings right before the timing belt snapped. Is the oxygen sensor expensive for these cars?

The Oxygen sensors are not expensive and should be replaced periodically.  It can substantially improve gas mileage.

  • Author

Got the engine pulled today. Took one head off everything looks good so far. Crank seal is leaking pretty bad soon to all be replaced. I love how this engine works its a very cool design

  • 1 year later...

kind of a side topic question/observation where you mention

 

"It has 260,000 km on the odo so about 160k miles"

 

my odo reads in miles as far as I can tell, it matches with what google says for miles on a given trip. Is your Loyale a Euro/Japanese market version? And BTW mine is going to need about everything your doing sooner or later (got 122K on it, and need to "burp" air out of it most days when I get ready to start it, checked hoses & doesn't bubble when running - I think it's sucking coolant through the intake manifold gaskets not sealing, lose about a cup every 50 city miles)

You can try replacing just the intake gaskets. The best are oem by far.

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