gspoulos

Hey guys, thanks alot. I went ahead with the head gasket repair and will have the upgraded gasket and new heads. The place doing it is Summit Auto in Aurora. He's done 50 engine replacements in the past year and came highly recommended for either a new engine or the HG repair. The replacement would be mechanical only, but he gives a one year warranty and hasn't had folks come back with problems (today he said it is actually pretty straightforward once you've done that many). His shop is chock full o' parts and so maybe though its mechanical those other problems are relatively well handled there compared with some other shops. If I recall correctly he said there is some welding involved for the exhaust, but otherwise you can use what's there. Based on what all of this MB has been through it sounds like the HG should last long enough for us.

Here it is. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49366

We've got a 99obw with 95 k miles and a blown head gasket. We're thinking of putting a 2003 engine with 20k miles in it. How will a 2003 engine work with the 1999's components and computer - are there some major gotchas and future problems - things to watch out for? I put some details in an earlier thread last night (1am) about the head gasket but we're thinking this might be a more reliable route than the head gasket repair.

I found you guys because of a blown head gasket in my 1999 Suby Outback Wagon (limited, 30th ann, if it matters) with 95 k miles. Merry Christmas! I've more-or-less committed to replacing the engine with a 2003 SOHC with about 20k miles on it ($2500), rather than the head gasket job ($1300) but could use your advice (that's a heck of alot of dough). * The questions Is this OK? What are the gotchas? If this is just a mechanical replacement will the fact that a 1999 computer and other 1999 parts from a DOHC be attached to a 2003 SOHC create other problems? * The ifs It seems as if the engine replacement would provide better performance, more lifetime, more reliability and easier servicing and thus if we're going to invest that dough to keep a car a long time, it seems reasonable. I'd be willing to go with the head gasket repair 1) if the 2003 engine insert was real risky, and/or 2) if we could be pretty sure the head gasket repair would last, say, 80-100k miles, and not create a bunch of other problems that will soon crop up (we have been warned about possible complications after the head gasket repair because of the fluids mixing). Maybe there are other reasons. Lemme know. * Some details 95k miles, no previous problems, oil changes every 3k (a couple at 3500). First overheat to at or near the H: Golden to Winter Park over Berthoud - noted only on the way back up Berthoud. Coasted home and dropped temp back to mid. First repair: Thermostat, ran fine on flat, overheat (toward or at the H) on hills. Return to mechanic: Nice recheck and head gasket suspected - used some pour-in gunk to try to hold it. Worked for a run up Floyd Hill @ 65 - seemed to be good but still did not drive it at all to be conservative. 2nd overheat: Golden to Winter Park, -5 degrees out and both ways this time. Coasted home and couldn't cool it as much but the coolant was down. It wasn't past the H much or for very long but was just below. Now: Not driving it at all, coolant is out of sight looking in the coolant overflow - will be filling it to get to the mechanic. I've smelled the oil (seems fine, nice brown, not a puke color). The coolant overflow has some gray residue (thicker in the upper part) but generally not black or very dark. I'm not sure if that is an indicator of how bad things are or not but that's where we're at. I put in the coolant yesterday and it ran normal until some small hills.