89XT6

Less than a minute, probably not long enough. We were debating on how long to wait, then decided to shut it down and investigate, before something breaks. First we checked the timing with a light and it was fine. We found the culprit noise making HLA, removed it and took it apart. I have a rebuilt OEM one coming Saturday for $20. I haven't verified the existence of an oil pump, just saw them on the Subaru "Wish List". The other 5 HLAs feel fine, all having the same "pressure", they look and feel good. I'm familiar with the HLA clickitty clack, so I'll replace all 6 or 12 if we diagnosed the wrong one. How long should we wait after starting, if an HLA makes noise?

Almost done! We're following the FSM now, to make sure we don't miss anything. Fired her up with the ECU connectors in the trunk plugged into each other and timing set up nice. But... after we heard a tick! One of the valve lash adjusters seized up, passenger side rear. I ordered a new one. I noticed, before my reseal adventure, that once in a while on startup, I would hear a tick or three, then nice and quiet, thinking the valve lash adjusters are just doing their job and one of them is getting stuck a bit. I'm pretty sure it was the bad one we found. Should be finished by next week, but you never know, strange things can happen like this little bugger VLA. Any experienced opinions on this or suggestions on the initial set up and fire up? I know... we did all new OEM gaskets but maybe mickey mouse got sucked in? A new oil pump costs $225 , no thanks.

Almost done! We're following the FSM now, to make sure we don't miss anything. Fired her up with the ECU connectors in the trunk plugged into each other and timing set up nice. But... after we heard a tick! One of the valve lash adjusters seized up, passenger side rear. I ordered a new one. I noticed, before my reseal adventure, that once in a while on startup, I would hear a tick or three, then nice and quiet, thinking the valve lash adjusters are just doing their job and one of them is getting stuck a bit. I'm pretty sure it was the bad one we found. Should be finished by next week, but you never know, strange things can happen like this little bugger VLA. Any experienced opinions on this or suggestions on the initial set up and fire up? I know... we did all new OEM gaskets but maybe mickey mouse got sucked in? A new oil pump costs $225 , no thanks.

Updates! Cam case and heads apart, internals look great. Previous reseal used too much RTV or whatever it is. Scraped and scraped and used brake cleaner and compressed air. Victor Reinz head gaskets fit perfectly and IMO are OEM quality made in Japan. Replaced all of the small rubber coated metal gaskets on the cam cases with Subaru OEM (the old ones were gunked up with RTV and I advise any reseal to replace these little suckers. Head bolts are fine and reused after cleaning them and holes. Don't forget to use a tiny bit of oil on the bolts! Existing timing tensioners felt fine but replaced with Subaru OEM. The existing idler pulleys feel good, no play in the bearings, smooth, not tight or loose and not noisy (keeping my fingers crossed because these are NLA and I'm not taking them off). All new Subaru OEM cam seals, o-rings, oil pump seal and MM gasket. I'm using Gates Premium Power Grip timing belts. I had 3 sets to choose from, Gates, Dayco and Beck Arnely. Through RockAuto... Beck Arnley seem to be flavor of the day, they are not a manufacturer, so they supply whatever fits and sent me 2 different brands, stupid. one was good, the other was an old dried up Subaru OEM that felt like a rubber band before it snaps! The Dayco are good, but the Gates are better IMO (Made in USA). And, once again and again, Subaru parts websites mislead me. I had to return head gaskets, idler pulleys and a water pump. These parts are NLA for the 2.7L, so their website needs to be updated and managed better (I can understand that it is also my job to investigate thoroughly, but the diagrams are too vague). I have an Airtex waterpump coming tomorrow, then we can continue the reseal. I have a new gasket and o-ring for the metal pipe and a new Subaru OEM thermostat. Other new Subaru OEM gaskets going on are valve cover and grommets, front and rear crank seals, oil pan and separator. I have new Subaru OEM upper and lower radiator hoses, inlet/outlet heater hoses, and some PCV hoses. The transmission cooler hoses look bad, they will be replaced with off the shelf hose, no big deal. Also, I have a complete tune kit ready, using Bosch, Intermotor, Mitsubishi, NGK and Optima yellow top. Don't forget to re-do your grounds in the engine bay, they are all corroded and exposed at the connectors! I used a dremmel to clean the contact surface, cut and crimped new quality connectors and used heat shrink and shiny new hardware with a bit of battery grease. Keep all of your old parts for... I don't know, just hold on to them, they are rare.

Okay, time for an update... Cam case and heads apart, internals look great. Previous reseal used too much RTV or whatever it is. Scraped and scraped and used brake cleaner and compressed air. Victor Reinz head gaskets fit perfectly and IMO are OEM quality made in Japan. Replaced all of the small rubber coated metal gaskets on the cam cases with Subaru OEM (the old ones were gunked up with RTV and I advise any reseal to replace these little suckers. Head bolts are fine and reused after cleaning them and holes. Don't forget to use a tiny bit of oil on the bolts! Existing timing tensioners felt fine but replaced with Subaru OEM. The existing idler pulleys feel good, no play in the bearings, smooth, not tight or loose and not noisy (keeping my fingers crossed because these are NLA and I'm not taking them off). All new Subaru OEM cam seals, o-rings, oil pump seal and MM gasket. I'm using Gates Premium Power Grip timing belts. I had 3 sets to choose from, Gates, Dayco and Beck Arnely. Through RockAuto... Beck Arnley seem to be flavor of the day, they are not a manufacturer, so they supply whatever fits and sent me 2 different brands, stupid. one was good, the other was an old dried up Subaru OEM that felt like a rubber band before it snaps! The Dayco are good, but the Gates are better IMO (Made in USA). And, once again and again, Subaru parts websites mislead me. I had to return head gaskets, idler pulleys and a water pump. These parts are NLA for the 2.7L, so their website needs to be updated and managed better (I can understand that it is also my job to investigate thoroughly, but the diagrams are too vague). I have an Airtex waterpump coming tomorrow, then we can continue the reseal. I have a new gasket and o-ring for the metal pipe and a new Subaru OEM thermostat. Other new Subaru OEM gaskets going on are valve cover and grommets, front and rear crank seals, oil pan and separator. I have new Subaru OEM upper and lower radiator hoses, inlet/outlet heater hoses, and some PCV hoses. The transmission cooler hoses look bad, they will be replaced with off the shelf hose, no big deal. Also, I have a complete tune kit ready, using Bosch, Intermotor, Mitsubishi, NGK and Optima yellow top. Don't forget to re-do your grounds in the engine bay, they are all corroded and exposed at the connectors! I used a dremmel to clean the contact surface, cut and crimped new quality connectors and used heat shrink and shiny new hardware with a bit of battery grease. Keep all of your old parts for... I don't know, just hold on to them, they are rare.

SKF 6005-2RS1/C3 bearings... thanks, but I bought both complete OEM tensioner assemblies, with the bearings.

I'm not sure, I'll most likely bring the pulleys (the whole assemblies) and have them take a look, they are the pros, not me! I just got back from a nice 5 days in The Finger Lakes, so I have to get my head back into the game here. On Saturday I'll bring the rest of the engine reseal parts to the garage. Now that they have all the parts, hopefully they won't be too busy with the usual customers and can start this little side project. I'll keep you up to date on the idler pulleys.

I'll make sure not to mess with these unicorn pulleys! I had another argument at the Subaru dealer today. I showed them the incorrect part they show fitting the 2.7l, the toothed pulley. They would not give me a refund... for their mistake! So... I grabbed a cool retro t-shirt and walked out without paying. The mechanic doing most of the work used to work for Ramsey Subaru. He tells me the Subaru master mechanic there owes him a favor. With over 25 years experience with Subaru , he may have answers. I will gladly share any info I can muster from this guy. My XT6 was very well cared for by the previous owner. Lots of mechanical work was done before I grabbed it, even the AC is retrofitted to the new refrigerant. If it wasn't for the oil and coolant seeping from everywhere (only two silver dollar size oil stains making it to the ground daily), I wouldn't have much to fix. I'm pretty sure the timing belts were changed at least once already, maybe twice. I'll know when we crack it open next week. You never know, maybe the idler pulleys were changed already, that would be sweet! And if they spin and feel good, leave them be. Either way, I won't take a chance tearing up what I have and would only allow a confident bearing shop touch them.

Ok, I'll find a bearing shop and have them look at the idler pulleys when I take them off. I imagine that milling a bit is better than adding a sleeve, depending on the amount. Both of these pulleys are no longer available through Subaru and I don't see anything on the web. I'll have the rest of the necessary parts for the re-seal of the engine by next week and will post new threads as I come across any issues or questions.

I found a bearing supplier/manufacturer. They need to know the dimensions of this Idler pulley 5OSTD61DWAX bearing. Do you know these dimensions? Yes, I meant oil pump seal, not o-ring

I found a bearing supplier/manufacturer. They need to know the dimensions of this Idler pulley 5OSTD61DWAX bearing. Do you know these dimensions?

I found the idler pulleys 13073AA020 and 13073AA040 here: https://www.sbsubaru.parts. They will most likely get back to me, saying they are NLA, but you never know until you try. And they are $$$

I have new oem cam seals and orings, oem oil pump oring and mickey mouse gasket. Nippon Victor Rienze head gaskets, oem valve cover gaskets, oem front and rear crank seals, oem oil pan and oil seperator gaskets. I also have a new oem waterpump, gasket, oem thermostat and housing gasket. I'll do a compete tuneup using Intermotor, Bosch and NGK stuff. And of course I will save every piece I replace. I'm not gonna worry about the idler pulleys. From what I see as far as previous work done, the engine was out and new timing belts were probably done at least once already. Do you remember where you saw one of these pulleys? A Subaru parts website? We should raid this secret warehouse in WA! I'll keep searching for these elusive idler pulleys.

Here is the XT6 Timing and camshaft diagram

I don't see any toothed idler pulleys on this Subaru diagram. Maybe their are none, just the two tensioners i have, the two nowhere to be found smooth Idler pulleys and the two big toothed cam sprockets. Apparently Subaru shows no love for the sweet old 2.7 H-6 :/

The GMB toothed pulley is the same as the Subaru toothed pulley 13073AA000. This is the upper toothed pulley according to GMB.

The toothed pulley from Subaru is 13073AA000. They call it IDLER COMPLETE-BELT. If you can get to a Subaru parts website, http://parts.ramseysubaru.net, they link this part number to #19 on their diagram, which looks like a smooth idler pulley to me. The other toothed I have is aftermarket, GMB Timing belt idler 460-8690. Both have bearings with "6203" on them and look similar. The GMB part is an upper idler, not sure about the Subaru piece, maybe the same. You gave me these: Subaru timing idler pulley part numbers: 13073AA020 13073AA040 Both are no longer available The website links to the same part as the sprocket, so another Subaru mistake

Yes, you are very helpful. you gave me this: Idler pulley lower 5OSTD61DWAX bearings Idler pulley upper 5OSTD61DWAX bearings Nowhere to be found and I'm not confident in taking a chance on either poking, prying and re-greasing them or taking them apart to source something to fit. I would rather take a chance on a factory OEM pulley bearing with 160K miles. If I can't hunt something down by the time I have all the other parts I need to do a re seal, We'll see how the old ones look. The dang Subaru website is also wrong. The camshaft and timing diagram shows 2 smooth pulleys and links them to 2 part numbers. One is NLA, the other is the orange sprocket that I ordered. I guess I can use the 2 new sprockets The part number they give for XT6 head gaskets is also wrong, they sent me 1.8L gaskets. Digging deeper and finding the correct 2.7L head gasket part number, I see they are NLA. I ordered Nippon Riese head gaskets. I wanted to jump the counter when the parts guy said they can't give refunds for special orders.

Attention Subaru Gurus! Will these tensioners and idlers do the trick? I ordered Beck Arnley belts from CRock Auto, they sent 1 Beck Arnley belt and 1 Subaru OE belt that felt like an old dried up rubber band. Got a refund and ordered 2 Dayco and 2 Gates belts from trusted companies, to compare and choose the best. Any opinions? Here is what I have for tensioners and idlers: Subaru OE Tensioner 13070AA010 Passenger side Subaru OE Tensioner 13069AA000 Driver side Subaru OE Idler 13073AA000 Lower GMB Idler 460-8690 Upper Can I reuse the spring on the Passenger side tensioner? I'm resealing the whole engine, everything you experts have suggested thousands of times before. Rewiring the CTS with a new fuel injector pigtail, reworking all grounds, tweaking the tiny ignition switch screw (poor engineering) and connector under the dash, etc. I know this dead smelly horse is haunting you by now but you will satisfied to know I am not chopping this XT6 up, it will remain stock right down to the little 14" salad cutter wheels. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Here's what I see on the Ramsey NJ Subaru site: Right side tensioner, #16 on the diagram, part# 13070AA010 Left side tensioner, #21 on the diagram, part# 13069AA000 Idler assembly, #23 on the diagram (lower idler?), part # 13073AA000, your part# 13073AA040 shows as NLA (no longer available). The second idler assembly, #19 on the diagram (upper idler?), I guess this is the tricky one. I do see an aftermarket option, GMB, part # W0133-1631014 What do you think?

I PM'd a moderator, we'll see if he edits the thread title as I requested. That PCI kit is no longer available, but it looks nice and gives me a clear picture of what I need. Another question... I ordered 2 OEM head gaskets 11044AA013. I see what looks like 2 piece heads, so another gasket? I don't see this anywhere, not even on the old Subaru parts diagrams.

Wow, Subaru Gurus Thanks for all of your time, especially Mr. Elite Master of the Subaru. The Beck Arnley part numbers are from Rock Auto, in the XT6 list. They are just bearings that would be pressed into a pulley. I ordered Beck Arnley belts. From the info and tips you guys shared, I'm sure I can get this done. I'm willing to pay a little more to get it right the first time. My XT6 is very clean and worth it IMO. The motor is tight, quiet and quick. I had it up to 80mph the other day The suspension is tight, no need to spend money there. It has new calipers, pads and drilled/slotted rotors, they work very well. I noticed that they can get pretty hot, these original wheels must not let much cooling to occur. I like the original wheels, so I'll deal with the heat. It is very true, most parts available for an XT are for the 1.8L. This is the main reason why I asked for your expert help and opinions... "Know what you know and know what you don't know!" I'm being very careful when I order parts, using the VIN and checking myself constantly. That's why I threw so much money at Ramsey Subaru to get me the correct OEM parts. I'll check with them on their OEM idler pulleys. The parts guy told me there is a warehouse in WA where they keep obscure Subaru parts.

I found these: Beck Arnley idler bearings, part numbers 051-3860 and 051-3954 (upper and lower?) Melling tensioners, BT141 (left) and BT140 (right) ITM tensioners, 60222 (left and right) I still need to verify that these are correct and available. My real question is this... can someone give me a detailed list of every piece I need for both timing belts? I'll seasch the OEM parts online again, but this doesn't show everything, just what they might have in stock. I can and will go to the dealership, but I often find myself helping them read the blurry little part diagrams anyway. I was very successful in building an OEM engine gasket kit by myself, but these idlers and pulleys and tensioners and bearings have me confused.

Hi guys, I'm resealing my 1989 XT6, 2.7l. I ordered all OEM gaskets, waterpump and seals through a local Subaru dealer. I need to know.... exactly what I need as far as timing belt pulleys, tensioners, idlers, etc. I see some brands like Beck Arnley, Mellings, GMP... any others? What do you guys recommend and where can I get them?

Easy fix, bad relay. Next on the list is a new blue tinted windshield. The one on the car now has the bronze tint, millions of pits and an illegal tint.