boston area HG repair

[telemarkskier]

Hello. I have a 97 legacy gt w/ 140K. About 95% sure its HG, after reading various posts, touble shooting, etc- all indications are its time... Any recommendations for a good mechanic in Boston MA? Its seems like this is not a trival repair, especially with milling work that may be done. Thanks.

 

Greg

[screwbaru2]

I'd try to stay away from dealerships. It's not anything a good wrencher can't handle. The heads are sent to a automotive machine shop. If the shop is good then their choice of mach shop is propably good too. Look for a Subaru specialty shop if you can't find that then a foreign car shop. Ask if they will pull the motor, make sure they do both heads replace the water and oil pumps and the seals. I'm sure you've read all this on here.

 

found these http://search.boston.com/local/Search.do?s.buzId=42310264,-71384598,2860191946868988162

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=subaru&find_loc=Boston+MA

http://www.checkbook.org/sitemap/Boston/Ratings_And_Articles/Auto_Repair_Shops/detail.cfm?uKey=8769

[idosubaru]

do some reading here and make sure it's done right - have the heads machined no matter what and use Subaru head gaskets only. no matter who you have do it, make sure those two items are not neglected. with a dealer the only assurance you have is that Subaru head gaskets are used, but not necessarily that the heads are machined - they have been known to gasket-slap them.

[subaru360]

do some reading here and make sure it's done right - have the heads machined no matter what and use Subaru head gaskets only. no matter who you have do it, make sure those two items are not neglected. with a dealer the only assurance you have is that Subaru head gaskets are used, but not necessarily that the heads are machined - they have been known to gasket-slap them.

 

There is nothing wrong with just replacing the gaskets. You need to check the heads for warpage with a straightedege and a feeler gauge and inspect the block and head surface for any damage. If they aren't warped or damaged, they don't need to be milled. I have done tons of HG's without milling the heads and have never had a repeat failure.

[idosubaru]

There is nothing wrong with just replacing the gaskets.

gotcha, i should have suggested rather than say to do it that way, good point. from what others say the finish is also crucial to properly sealing/seating a head gasket for longevity. with being so inexpensive, on a head gasket issue prone motor, and a one time job, i have it done.

 

curiously, how many of your replaced gaskets have 100,000+ miles on them?

 

i'd think that with a job this large, the $80 to mill the heads is rather insubstantial, but that's certainly up to each person to make. if you're flipping tons of subaru's and doing them as a side job then $80 x 20 = $1,600 plus the wait time might be substantial.

[subaru360]

Yeah a shop is not necessarily doing a bad job if they don't mill the heads. If they measure them and the block and all is well it's ok to put it back together.

 

If you read the factory manual and the endwrench articles on head gaskets, they say to measure them for straightness and even show a pic of how it should look when cleaned up. You don't need to get it shiny new clean, that's actually bad, since you are removing material, which can give you low spots.

 

The originals fail because the material they used is no good. You can see where the gasket material pushes out into the water jacket under the cylinders. The latest MLS ones are great. A MLS gasket can't fail in the way the originals did.

 

I don't have any with 100,000 miles on them, but I know some have maybe 20,000 on them so far no problems.