New head gasket Vs. engine swap, most economical?

[BlackBoot]

Hi,

I recently blew a headgasket, 1992 loyale. What option is better, or cheaper?

 

The cost of parts and resurfacing the heads, resurfacing $72 each, gasket kit $40. Total $184

Or

Swap engine, unkown condition from yard $100 or from craigslist, said to be running ok $200

 

Also considering ej swap, but what is the end cost?

 

Have DR and diff to swap, and set of studs for 6 bolt conversion.

 

Any advice for where to start?

[desertsubaru]

Cheaper to get a complete gasket reseal kit to put new HGs on. As for resurfacing the heads you can do it your self unless they are really warped.

If you get another engine you would still want to do all the outer gaskets and seals for the oil pump,Valve covers, Intake, ETC while you have the engine out..

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=126868&highlight=head+gaskets

Edited June 26, 2012 by desertsubaru

[idosubaru]

cheapest and best option is fix the current motor if it was otherwise running fine.

 

headgaskets, intake manifold gaskets, and two lower cam carrier orings are all that's absolutely necessary and the machine shop work.

 

you might need exhaust gaskets though original subaru gaskets can often be reused there.

 

intake manifold gaskets should be from Subaru, the aftermarket ones on these EA/ER engines are flimsy cardboard and suck since they share a coolant passage.

 

the cam carrier oring sku number is W0133-1642538 and here's a link to thepartsbin.com, that's the only non-Subaru carrier i've seen of that oring, auto parts stores won't have it. it's not a standard oring, it has metal structure inside of it.

 

type that part number into http://www.thepartsbin.com if this link doesn't work:

http://www.thepartsbin.com/catalog/?N=&uts=true&Ntt=W0133-1642538&x=0&y=0

 

they're about $2.00 - $3.00 at Subaru, you need two, one for each side.

 

use the Fel-Pro gaskets - they are designed such that they don't need a retorque (which is an annoying procedure).

 

the EA82 engines are really easy to do the headgaskets in the vehicle too, so no need to pull the motor. particularly with air tools - just zip all the headbolts right out. i do EA82 and ER27 (XT6) headgaskets in the car, much quicker and less work....well "did" before they all rusted to death around here. LOL

[idosubaru]

save the cash and resurface the heads yourself, it's actually really easy:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=126868&highlight=apocalyptic

 

Fel pro gaskets are $40 for both, intake gaskets for $10 or $20, and orings for $5 - you're almost barely over $50 for gaskets if you can reuse the exhaust gaskets.

Resurface yourself and you'll be coming in way under $100.

Edited June 26, 2012 by grossgary

[BlackBoot]

Thanks for the advice, I'll order the proper seals and gaskets and resurface them myself

[BlackBoot]

Since this engine overheated more than a few times, before it finally went,

Should I be replacing anything else? Done the thermostat a couple of times,

What about the waterpump?

[desertsubaru]

Check to make sure the Radiator is free flowing.