Just got a 2000 Legacy GT, what do I need to know?

[Regardie]

So I have replaced my crushed 97 L with a 2000 GT Limited 5 speed with 180k on it. I would be the third owner. The guy I got it from purchased it from his father not long ago. The car has had timing belt done at 100k, some clutch work done at some point, the rear diff replaced with a low mileage wreak pull, a brake caliper replaced due to a sticking pin.

He said there is a clunk when turning tightly at low speed from somewhere in the front, and a slight exhaust leak, and something about the flywheel which was not replaced with the clutch.

It's at AZP right now getting all it's fluids replaced and a quick inspection for anything obvious. Next up is a detail to clean up what is a pretty clean car.

Going forward, what should I be looking for and what upgrades / mods might be in my future? I know there is some rear quarter panel rust that needs to be dealt with pretty soon. At least one of the dash lights is bad behind the tach. The headlights and foglights need a clearing with the 3M kit. My wife asked about the shifter boot, thinks it looks ratty.

I need to find a 3rd gen to pull heated seats and mirrors from, got used to it in the 97.

Pictures to come.



-- Sent from my TouchPad using Communities

[meanjoaquin]

been drinking a bit, and when I read your title I thought you bought a Toyota 2000GT, lol

[Thomistopheles]

been drinking a bit, and when I read your title I thought you bought a Toyota 2000GT, lol
Not gonna lie, I thought the same thing. Part of me is still a Toyota guy at heart, lol.

For the headlights, take a look at my DIY thread. Lasts much longer than any of the kits.
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=26365 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=26365)

[Regardie]

been drinking a bit, and when I read your title I thought you bought a Toyota 2000GT, lol

Fixed it to avoid confusion in the future. :grin:

[Regardie]

Got it back from AZP today, good news and bad news.

The good- nothing seems wrong with the flywheel clutch 5 speed section. Replaced oil with conventional, gearbox and diff with Subaru stock, brake fluid with ATE Superblue, new Bosch wipers.

The bad - torn CV boot, gonna need a new axle. Water pump is leaking a bit so they did not change the coolant, no reason if the water pump is going to be replaced soon, and the coolant tested out ok. Head gaskets are starting to leak and will have to be addressed at some point.

Still need to get it detailed, probably won't happen before the holiday.

[1996Battlewagon]

The bad - torn CV boot, gonna need a new axle. Water pump is leaking a bit so they did not change the coolant, no reason if the water pump is going to be replaced soon, and the coolant tested out ok. Head gaskets are starting to leak and will have to be addressed at some point.

Still need to get it detailed, probably won't happen before the holiday.

They all have bad cv boots. It's what makes a Subaru a Subaru.

The Phase II is a bit more tenacious than the Phase I when it comes to a leaky coolant system. If the leak isn't that bad as you say, you can definitely milk it for a while. Just keep coolant with you at all times and check it frequently. Never let the car get close to spiking temp as the heads can and will warp.

You should start saving up for a timing belt/waterpump/headgasket job. At 80k miles old, your timing belt is getting close to the end of its life cycle. And you do get around to having the work done, seriously consider doing the job yourself if you can. You'll save a butt ton of money due to labor costs.

[Dead91silvia]

The 5 speeds burn up tranny's, but take care of them, they will take care of you...

Head gaskets, they leak, but they dont blow often. They leak externally more then internal. Most the time not a problem. I have a small leak on my 98 twin cam. Not fixing it till it blows.

Leaking water pump, take care of that. You have an interference motor so if the pulley brakes, your doing valves. So get that done! One of the most easy timing belts/water pump to do.
-NEW (never re-manufactured) water pump
-new timing belt
-new seals (cam and crank)
-T-stat
-idealer bearings also

Driver door window switches wear out. you can clean them up on your kitchen table... look in the DIY section to same some bucks...

If you have a sunroof (more so duals), they have problems. I have had to replace 2 of them so far and have own 2 BH wagons... haha

CV axles... If it's clucking, get if fixed. If it's not, no worries. I have been driving on one in my 98 since I got my car 5 years ago. Still holding up. If the axle stubs are green, that mean they are oem Subaru and they are the best to have.

[Regardie]

I get CV axles from CV of Ocala. They rebuild CV axles from lots of vehicles as well as design and manufacture their own axles for applications from ATVs to large industrial devices. It's about $65 plus shipping and you send them your core so they have things to rebuild from.

The car is at 180K, not 80K and the timing belt was done at some point near 100K, so I knew that it would be due soon but I really did not want it to be now. Maybe I can work it until the spring since I don't have a garage to work in, so all my repairs are in the driveway.

The head gaskets look like they will last a while still, another thing I don't want to do in the driveway in the winter.