Need Insight 96 GTB reliability

[96GTBWagon]

I bought a beautiful 96 Legacy GTB 31k miles two months ago. the interior is immaculate. The outside is very good. zero rust.

What I could not see with my eyes just got me good, I took it to one of the best Subaru enthusiast mechanics in NJ and they told me it needs a head gasket. I called a bunch of other shops in multiple states nearby and found much cheaper but in talking to one mechanic they said the engine is very reliable. Most others said the engine will keep having issues with gaskets, warped heads etc. I am trying to get an impartial view on the EJ20H motor/turbo/trans and all other costly repairs. 

Also, most if not all said if you need spare parts you are likely done for, which i understand but i’d like an impartial to see what other GTB owners have seen. 

May have to sell it which I hate to do bc I love the car but I won’t be able to ride out several $5-$10k repairs. 

[Numbchux]

It's 30 years old. It's only averaged about 1k miles per year, but it's traveled halfway around the world. Sitting is very hard on cars, depending on the environment. Being shipped across the pacific is very hard on cars. This is not going to be a turnkey car. The is going to be a labor of love (or money). Have something else to get you to work on time.

There's nothing inherently wrong with the mechanicals of the EJ20H. Those are great heads, very difficult to warp. One of the better phase 1 shortblocks out there.

 

But, the twin turbo systems are notoriously complicated. Using a nest of vacuum hoses and a bunch of solenoids to actuate all of that. Those hoses will likely be rotted and leaky. Good documentation on them is slim. Electronics are outdated, capacitors are likely leaking and causing a bunch of little issues. Anything rubber is dryrotted, anything greased is sticky. Many parts are shared with other models, some of those will still be available. Anything specific to that model with likely be very difficult to get.

 

Convert to single turbo and a modern ECU, and it would probably be a great car.

[el_freddo]

I second what Numbchux said about the single turbo conversion - it’s a very common conversion for the twin turbo “aids”.

If you replace vacuum lines do this methodically - cut the old lines open once the new vac line is installed. You’re looking for restrictors known as “pills”. These need to be retained for the system to work properly. 

Otherwise the usual remains in terms of turbos and reliability. Harder you go the quicker things will need maintenance attentions and usually the wallet flogging.