I have the opportunity to buy a 97 outback with valve damage. My question is whether or not I can put a set of 96 heads on that block. I'm thinking that the only difference is the hydraulic lifters and they shouldn't be problematic. I have a set of rebuilt heads from another engine with a bad lower end and I'd like to put those heads on this engine and put the car back on the road. If not I may buy it and just part it out.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

It depends on what type of valve failure. Did the valves hit each other, or did they smack a piston? It could be more involved then just swapping heads.

I won't know until I get into the engine, the question still remains, Can I use those heads on that block?

 

If there is piston damage, I can replace those, but I don't want to pay for a valve job when I just had one done on my 96 heads due to a burnt valve. My heads are ready to go on. I just want to be sure they are compatible.

 

Thanks

I don't see why you couldn't use those heads. The only issues you need to keep in mind is that the mounting of the intake manifold does vary, so I can't answer whether your existing intake manifold will bolt up. Other thing, you didn't mention whether this is a 2.2 or 2.5. If 2.2, you need to make sure the exhaust port config is the same, which it probably should be with those year vintages.

i don't see a problem with that. you have the entire engine so you could migrate everything to the new engine...heads, cams, intake, etc.

Yes, the 96 2.5 heads will work.

 

j.

96 EJ25 heads should work just fine on a 97 EJ25. Everything is the same except solid vs. hyd lifters and they use the same head gasket.