sweetbeats

I think we'll get started with the motor in, and I'll pull it if, during the tear-down, it seems like it would be too much to put it back together with the block in the car. Anybody ever use that copper spray gasket adhesive? Was thinking that could be used to adhere the new gaskets to the head avoiding damage from the bolts during an engine-in head install. So what all do we need to do this job as far as parts? And what else should we do while we've got things opened up? Things I can think of: replace timing belt replace timing belt idlers replace water pump ??? Parts we need I can think of: intake manifold gaskets exhaust port gaskets head gaskets (duh) new parts for the above procedures valve stem seals? ??? And lastly, what is a good service manual? Haynes okay? I'm not a huge fan of the Chiltons manuals...

Thanks for the info. I'm confident the head gasket replacement itself would be easier with the engine out, but it's getting to that point that would be a stickler for my son and me. We're needing to determine what kind of help we need to track down if necessary. If the engine on his car MUST come out to do that job then it's a no-brainier; we need to do it and find the help and equipment to do it. If it DOESN'T have to come out, then we have decisions to make about how much we want to bust our knuckles and hassle with the tight spaces vs getting help and equipment to pull the engine. Just hoping somebody can definitively inform yay or nay the engine in a 1999 Impreza L has to come out to pull the heads.

Greetings everybody...long-time Subaru owner, brand new forum member. What brings me here today is my son and I have determined he's got a head gasket issue on his 1999 Impreza L sedan. We're trying to figure out if it is possible to get the heads off with the motor installed, or if we'll have to pull the motor. I saw a youtube of a guy pulling the heads on a newer Legacy, but it looked like a PITA and of course his efforts don't tell me if we can do the same on my son's car. Anybody know the definitive answer? I know pulling the motor would make it easier for sure, but neither of us have experience pulling a motor. BTW, we determined head gasket failure after the car started having sudden bouts of extreme overheating...would be fine for a mile or two and then the temp gauge would skyrocket. Shutting the engine off for a bit would bring the temp back down and you could go another mile or two and then *boom* up goes the temp. We replaced the thermostat, burped the cooling system multiple times, etc., but it would always get more air in it. The coolant expansion tank has constant bubbling, there is a black film on the surfaces inside the coolant expansion tank, and if we pop the radiator cap vapors come out steady that smell like exhaust.