97 GT 145k with bad head gaskest

i just picked up a 97 GT wagon with 145k, bad head gaskets, replaced trans in 05 at 130k (1750$ trans 575$ labor). a couple of burns in the passenger seat, power antena does not work, a crappy paint job, and there is a hum in the intake which gets louder when i unlatch the air cleaner. no rust.

for a replacement engine, 96 L wagon 2.2L with 125K miles (with y pipe) or 97 outback 2,5L with 115K, (the car has 115k, i think the engine was replaced, may be less maybe more) with no known history other than it runs fine does not overheat. unknown t- belt, unknown gaskets. my plan is to keep the car and let my wife drive it. so i'm leaning towards the 2.2. but if she changes her mind, and i have to sell it i'll regret losing it. i might put steel wheels on it, she cuts a tire side wall about every other year, 4 in 10 years. i'll still have to buy the tires but not the expensive wheels. maybe i'll make the swap after she ruins them. what to do.?

final drive note:

i have also come the the conclusion the the final drive ratio, although different between the 2.2 and the 2.5 engines, it is really based on the wheel circumference. there is no logical reason why a more powerful 2.5L engine needs a more powerful final drive ratio. but in the early days, the cars that came with the 2.5L engine also came with larger wheels. larger wheels would be a reason for a more powerful final drive ratio.

i have found a reason for a more powerful final drive on a more powerful engine. it makes for a peppier, quicker car, i think.

the 97 GT wagon has the 4.44 final drive like all 95 - 99 2.5L legacys. but the it has 16" wheels with 205/55/16 tires. the circumfrence of these tires is within a 1/2 inch of the 195/70/14 on a legacy L with 2.2L engine.

the 2.2L cars with auto trans all have the 4.11 final drive with 14" wheels. when they started offering the 2.5L engine, they went with the 4.44 final drive (more power). in the outbacks they used larger tires (less power). the GT has the 4.44 final drive, (more power), with the smaller tires.

what tires and wheels are on the 97 LSi with the 2.5L engine.? it has to be something close to the 195/70/14 since only the outback has taller struts for more wheel clearence.

i'd like to see a 2.5L engine with the 4.11 final drive, would it be sluggish, would it go faster, or would you even notice?

wohoo, i got a new car.:banana: