md_dingo Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I recently purchased a 1999 2.5 outback. From what I've read here, this can be a potential nightmare of an engine. It has 96k miles on it and doesn't exhibit any of the bad headgasket symptoms that I've read about, knock on wood. Now being quite a noob to subes I'm not sure what options are open to me for power upgrades on this engine. This things dogs like crazy (auto tranny) compared to my decently modified VW TDi (my baby:grin: ) and I'd like to see what I can do to upgrade this car for a reasonable price, ~$500. I do like it a lot (except for the mpg!) and I can't wait to drive it this winter. Thanks for any advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Welcome to the site The 2.5L is NOT a nightmare engine. It may or may not blow a HG, but thats only about 15% of them. Personally and professionally i have found VW's to be complete nightmares electrically as they age. There isnt much you can do. You have to realize its a heavy AWD car with an automatic transmission. It is 100% dependable. The car is built like a truck. A car is so much more then the engine. When things start falling off the VW the subaru will still look like you bought it. You can upgrade the brakes and the struts, thats about it. The 2.5L is about at the edge of its design envelope as far as mods for this year. They squeezed all the power out of it they could. Dont go with a high flow intake, you will get the intake electronics angry and have even bigger problems. Keep away from any of the "chips" on ebay, they will damage the cats,m and arent true chips. I think you can get a programable ECU, but thats way more then 500.00. If you wanted to get something to tune, and impreza would have been a better bet. You bought a good loyale get you anywhere in any weather car. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadsubaruguy Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 exhaust will help, you can get a borla hearder for the 2.5 for less than $500, then there is also the option of cams, i believe you can get some from boxer4racing.com for less than $500. it really all depends on how many times you want to spend your $500. I personaly have never heard anything about a high flow intake messing with sensors and what not, but i am not an expert on those things, but i would assume that it wouldnt mess things up if you get a good quality aftermarket part.......just my .02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md_dingo Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 Welcome to the siteThe 2.5L is NOT a nightmare engine. It may or may not blow a HG, but thats only about 15% of them. That's a relief. From what I've read I about figured it was all of them. That's definitely piece of mind. Personally and professionally i have found VW's to be complete nightmares electrically as they age. I've had my share, but on my two at least they were little, easily fixed things. But they love to go through light bulbs like crazy! Keep away from any of the "chips" on ebay, they will damage the cats,m and arent true chips. I think you can get a programable ECU, but thats way more then 500.00. Yeah, I've never been a fan of the tuner boxes and such. Most are simple resistor circuits that fool the ECU into injecting more gas, which doesn't help without some other mods to go with it. If you wanted to get something to tune, and impreza would have been a better bet. My main focus was a car that was roomy enough to get my son and wife (who insists on sitting next to him) in the backseat. The Impreza does definitely NOT fit that bill. Those backseats are absurdly small. I just want something that I can chug along with over the winters and not have to worry about dumping a lot of money into and/or becoming a specialty mechanic (i.e., VW) to work on. I did that with my diesels and I don't have the time nor a patient enough wife to do it again. On the non-tuner mod front, are the WRX seats more comfortable than the standard outbacks? The stock ones kill me! No real bucket or lumbar support. And the backseats truly suck. I didn't know if the WRX's were any better or not, tho. Maybe even just something from a newer car perhaps? I would imagine I could get a set of stocks out of a newer car for $500 or so? From what I've seen it's a good group here, nicely informative without being elitist. I have a good group with the VW diesels as well and was hoping there was an analog among subaru lovers. Glad I've found it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md_dingo Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 exhaust will help, you can get a borla hearder for the 2.5 for less than $500, then there is also the option of cams, i believe you can get some from boxer4racing.com for less than $500. it really all depends on how many times you want to spend your $500. I personally have never heard anything about a high flow intake messing with sensors and what not, but i am not an expert on those things, but i would assume that it wouldnt mess things up if you get a good quality aftermarket part.......just my .02 Cool, thanks. I hadn't thought of the exhaust system, really. I might just take my money and throw it into a better set of seats, tho! That and a new rearview mirror! The stock one shakes like I'm driving on a dirt road all the time. Annoys the hell out of me! How much are the autodimming ones with the compass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Welcome to the lego's of automobiles. Alot of parts are interchangable bewteen years and models. Its one fo the joys of Subaru not being a high output mfg. If you find a pair of seats you like, they should bolt right in. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md_dingo Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 Welcome to the lego's of automobiles. Alot of parts are interchangable bewteen years and models. Its one fo the joys of Subaru not being a high output mfg. If you find a pair of seats you like, they should bolt right in.nipper That is fantastic! There's one guy in so cal who's selling his 06 WRX seats, but it'd cost more to ship than he's asking! But they do look nice. But they aren't heated, and my old hiney likes heated seats. I'll have to find some around here, I imagine. chicagoland, you wouldn't think it'd be that hard. I'll just have to keep on the craigslists. Another thing is I'll have to put in some anchor points for my son's carseat. My VW's are welded, but I'm wondering if I can do a simple steel loop bolted through and down to the pan. Much simpler in theory, but actual execution I don't know. I'll figure it out sometime! Thanks again, nipper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 the owners manual should tell you how to properly anchor a baby seat. If you dont have one i can look at my 1997 book and see what it says. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md_dingo Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 the owners manual should tell you how to properly anchor a baby seat. If you dont have one i can look at my 1997 book and see what it says. nipper I have it properly anchored according to the seat and manual. I was wondering about adding some anchor points (like the L.A.T.C.H.) system used in modern cars to use in addition to the 3-point harness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newsoobdude Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 I've heard nothing but good things about changing the intakes on the 2.5 phase ones and have done so on my car (e bay $50 shipped to door) and it sure woke it up. Rpms used to slowly climb but with the intake MUCH better. Exhaust is a wonderful mod to do as well as going to a 2.25" pipe and hi-flow cat but I have yet to do it (saving for EL headers for more hp gains). Cams are a good one as well. Delta Cams regrinds run around $60 a piece and are great from what I've researched. If and when your h/gs go, you can do a nice port and polish job on them (wish I had when mine went). Get a set of hotter plugs do to the natural "run rich" from what I've heard. You can also get a light weight crank pulley to lighten the load on engine and gain some hp lost (just don't go under driven). Other than that nothin really more can be done. If you go with cams you gotta get a new/ tuned ECU (PP6 is highly recommended). Forgot, you can also change your pistons out for more compression but...... If you do the CAI be sure to undo the battery for 5-10 minutes and press on the brake pedal to drain any hidden charge to reset your ECU. Good luck with everything and welcome to the club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md_dingo Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 Thanks for the great info, newsoobdude! I appreciate the links and may go with the CAI. I like the community here! Nice group of folks. Thanks all for your input so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newsoobdude Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 no worries. N-joy yourself and be sure to have fun with the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
md_dingo Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 no worries. N-joy yourself and be sure to have fun with the car. Oh I have no doubts that I will. It's a little different going from a very different sort of tuner/hobbiest car (VW TDI) to a gasser subby. But I think I'll have a blast. And it sure can't cost any more to maintain than the VW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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