free 96 OBW should I give up Loyale?

[Blue Whale]

You might want to think about replacing the EJ25 with a used EJ22. I personally wouldn't put a lot of time and money into a questionable engine, that's been overheated.

 

So--you would then be replacing an engine that runs well and has a known history with a less powerful one that has an unknown history, instead of replacing the head gaskets and resurfacing the heads. It might work out well--or not. What if the replacement engine has a burned valve, a leaking head gasket, or a worn rod bearing? It's probably fine, but you won't know for sure; an engine can have problems but still run well (as the one in question apparently does). The yard is selling it cheaply because it isn't known to be worth more; to me, that's the questionable engine. Pre-1997 EJ22's are very good and reliable, but they aren't immune to the effects of poor maintenance, hard use, or occasional bad luck. Since my Outback has the EJ25 with a prior HG failure, and is very solid two years after the repair, I have a different perspective than the folks who shun all such engines. If it's a good running engine with a known history of proper maintenance, I'd do the repair.

[sublute]

I am going to do the HG job on this engine although I saw a Legacy L wagon on the street today with big time body damage. Somebody opened the door and was clipped by a car... I seriously thought about knocking on a door to see if they would sell it for the engine. I still might do it tomorrow.

 

I feel uncomfortable without a parts car to rummage from... I had 2 for the 92 Loyale 4wd sw...

 

It's late and brain hurts from too much reading about this. Be back tomorrow.

 

sublute

[subaru360]

It's just a suggestion. I've found it to be cheaper to replace EJ25's with EJ22's than to repair the EJ25. How can you go wrong for $100 plus fluids and a few hours of your time? All you stand to lose is $100 and your time.

 

When I go to the u pull it yard, I only buy engines from cars that have been crashed. Most likely the car was running well at the time of the crash. I go to harry's u pull it here in PA a lot and they spray paint a big "R" on the windshield of the cars that ran ok when they came in.

[sublute]

Your suggestion is well taken. Doing the work will cost more than a salvage engine, but I'll know what's going on with it in the future. I would welcome better mileage from a 2.2 engine. I swapped the engine on the Loyale, but at the time I didn't have another car to get around in and I needed to be up and running. I had repair records on the parts car and it all looked good. It still had some minor issues, but it is reliable after a year. The lifters are a little noisy until 5 min after running. I'm doing the 5W30 and MMO treatment. It has helped.

 

I've got the engine lift, stand, a friends garage, tools... That reminds me-

 

Question- is there a work around for the valve adjusting tool for the EJ25 or do I have to shell out for this?

 

WOW, a 360! That beats me. I started out with a 71 FF1 station wagon in 1976. I saw the writing on the wall about small station wagons. 31 years later and the 96 OBW is a really BIG compared to that FF1... thanks to the SUV????

 

 

sublute

[Bserk]

No valve adjustment on a 96 2.5.....one year only (I believe) for hydraulic lifters.. I just started reading this thread, so Im late for any more comments, but I did head gaskets on a 96 OB 2.5 earlier this year...it had some black crud in the overflow, but the girl that owned it swore on her life that she never got it real hot. She had just had some other unrelated work done at a independent shop and they caught the low coolant/overflow bottle situation...I pulled the engine and did both HGs, timing belt, seals, rear plate, etc. (with a lot of advice from this site) I sent the heads to a machine shop where they were cleaned and checked, but they said no resurface was needed. This was going to be a winter car for me, but Ive drove it all summer, I really like it, and approx. 9,000 miles later, she is running fine and has used zero coolant. It does take a quart of oil between changes, but thats no biggie... (odo tripped 140,000 now)

[subaru360]

The 360 is a great little car. I use it for exactly what is was designed for. Short trips around town, taking kids to school, the store etc.

 

I think that's correct about '96 only has hydraulic lifters. I've had a '97 EJ25 apart and that had shims to adjust valve clearance.