Buckgnarly

Only minor drips on the floor, like 4-5 over the past few months/oil changes.... and the underside is not too bad. I have off all Summer, so I may just throw it back together this weekend and get back to it in a month or so. After unbolting the trans bell housing bolts are easy to get to, so pulling the engine does not seem to entail as much work as taking out a trans, seems quite easy with the trans in actually. Just gotta tell my wife to keep an eye on the oil.

Sorry about the delay, the boards were down when I posted and I have not been back since. It is an 02 Legacy L, 2.5. There is no oil anywhere but that lower rear corner (drivers side), so no cover, main seal, valve cover, etc. Everywhere but that one corner is bone dry. So am I safe to put the trans in and deal with the leak? The car had the gaskets done about 70-80k ago by the dealer before we bought it used with 120k on it. There is now 175k on it. Just torn between getting my wife back into the car or doing the whole deal now while the trans is out.

So after pulling the trans from my other thread, it appears that they leak I have had for a few months is the dreaded head gasket. Anyone want to confirm from pic?.... So a few questions... #1. I KNOW I should fix the headgasket, but any idea how quick this could become an issue.... #2. Since I KNOW I should do this, especially while the trans is out, the more important question is should I pull the engine or do it while in? If I pull it, both gaskets and all seals will be done, so I think I know my answers, just looking for experience or tips here....I have never done a Subaru headgasket, so any tips will be greatly appreciated!

No work either, needs to be shared with my Google account to work. Is that the one from NASIOC? That's the PDF that tells me what I "want" to hear, it says 3.90 for both!

Can't download it, where did you source it? Thanks!

Thanks for the help so far, that one chart posted earlier is the one that is giving me the ratio that I do not want, but others are showing it as a 3.90. In any case, I was told that the donor car was an 02 Legacy L Wagon, but charts are showing that trans as an 03-04. The guy that sold me the trans was a very nice and knowledgeable mechanic, but as always I like to confirm things myself so I only have me to blame when they go wrong! Does any later model Legacy L wagon have the 3.90?

I am getting conflicting reports on the internet, and the two dealers near me say they cannot cross reference with trans numbers, only VINs. Here's the numbers... Our 2002 Legacy wagon has TY-754VCBAA.... Trans we have to transplant......TY-754VCDAA I see my original has 3.90 gearing, but on some sites and charts I see 3.90 and 4.11 for the donor. Can anyone give me a 100% positive what that trans has? I do not want to put that in and grenade the rear diff or transmission. Thanks ahead!

Car part has nothing local, JY I usually use can get one shipped to the tune of 1300 bucks. Does the Forrester use a different bellhousing? Did they come with 2.5s even? There is a local 2002 Forrester, but not sure they can be used.

Well after having the clunk for a year or so on tight turns, I finally got under my wife's 2002 Legacy only to find massive carnage in the rear of the trans with the center diff. The input and output gears are toast, and the rear bearing on the center diff side was fused to the outter case cover. I'll post pics if anyone wants, but at work right now. I could not even beleive the car could drive, but it did, with some nice noises! Anyway, now I need to decide whether to rebuild the rear of the trans or put in a used JY trans. The gear lube had a serious amount of metal in it, and no idea if any large chinks made it to the trans (trans shifts fine for now). On the other hand a used trans presents the unknown history problem... 1. Anyone have any experience with this? 2. Anyone have any parts for a rebuild? 3. Even in VT these manual trans are hard to come by, but I have some leads...what years will work in an 02 Legacy? I know diff ratios must match the rear. Thanks in advance!