Some of you probably saw a 1998 Outback in the for sale section not long ago, fairly clean with low miles (for its age) but in need of some TLC. Most notably a head replacement but the car came with a plethora of spare parts. I ended up taking it in and fixing it up as a favor for my mother, finally got everything buttoned up and it seems to have turned out pretty decent. The engine was a little difficult, block was from a 2000 Legacy EJ251 and heads were from a 1996 Legacy GT EJ25D but it all worked out. Brief rundown of what I did with it: - Pulled the engine, replaced the heads, installed all new gaskets and timing kit. Donor heads used hydraulic valve lash adjusters so those got bled and reprimed to minimize noise - Modified plug wires to match heads to manifold (different style of ends) - Gave everything a deep cleaning inside and out, painted/polished a few engine pieces Other than the labor portion I replaced a lot of parts, some worn/broken and some just because I found them at U Pull: - battery - tires/wheels (OEM bugeye wheels I had, mounted 215/65R16 snow tires on them) - fuel line - alternator tensioner bracket - rotors/pads - front calipers - struts (taken off a 2006 Forester) - gate handle - cargo cover retainers - windshield visors (swapped in some with lights and mirrors, modified wiring to work) - wiper blades (also painted arms) - upgraded radio to OEM CD/tape deck - woodgrain dash trim - HD rubber floor mats - RT fog lamp (broken lens) and made new mounts for both sides - stuffed spare tire tool tray with a bunch of emergency supplies Ended up doing a lot more than originally planned but that's how my projects usually go. In all even with the purchase price, fluids and filters, etc it only ended up putting about $1,500 altogether. Not bad unless you start tallying up all the time I put into it.
That turned out great, especially the engine compartment. I can't believe that I am not seeing gaping holes in the rear quarters. That is the exact car my first wife and I bought - my first Subaru - traded in my '89 Mustang GT for it.
Not really relevant to the work I did, but I had to get a group photo of all the Subies in my driveway after pulling the Outback out of the garage.
Good lord that's a lot loyalty sitting there. Subaru and Ford are the only brands I have purchased more than one in a row of and the Ford streak ended with the purchase of the 1989. By the time I am ready to get rid of a vehicle I am so pissed at that manufacturer I have to buy something else.