2.5L DOHC 1996 heads compatible to 99 OB?

[Odycee]

I'm ready to have HG change and machine shop wants $400 for complete valve/seals done. I found this 96 rebuilt heads this person just had rebuilt then crashed his car for $300/pair.

Should I get it? Appreciate your thoughts.


http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/4133624589.html

[r3v_v3ng3]

Yes its compatible. I did this on my outback without even thinking about it. It does lower your compression to about 9.1
I can't even tell on my car that its a lower compression. We should do a bay are meet/build session so I can show you how to change the valve seals and lap the valves. Its just time consuming.
As far as the heads on CL, its hard to trust that specially on the heads. Unless he has proof of the work done. Not a bad deal though, cost me $80 to resurface both heads, another $80 to check for cracks and like $20 to clean/wash it. Its a gamble

[Odycee]

Some more reading I find 96 has HLA Vs 97-99 shim bucket lifters, also uses 91 octane vs 87 (97-99)
I think I'm going to stick with my 99 heads. I just never could make the time for meets with hectic schedules.

[r3v_v3ng3]

It only uses the 91 octane on the 96 ecu. The 97-99 2.5 ecu is fine with it. Others been running with 87 octane on the same setup. I've been running mine with 87 also without any problems. Good call on sticking with the stock heads

[Wiscon_Mark]

I thought only EJ22 heads had HLA. I don't know much about the '96 EJ25, except that it was immediately revised in '97.

Thing is, '96 was the first year of the EJ25, and it was a bit weird.

-and-

'99 was a weird year for the EJ25- some models had hybrid head designs, etc as they were transferring into the EJ251 (SOHC heads) in 99/00.

[Odycee]

Wiki info:

There were two variations of the EJ25D sold in the US market. The engine was introduced in 1996 in the Legacy 2.5GT, LSi, and Legacy Outback. That version of the engine used HLA heads, was recommended to be run on 91 octane fuel, had lower power and torque ratings than the later '97-99 EJ25D, and was only offered with an automatic transmission. In 1997 a revised engine was introduced that used heads with shimmed bucket lifters (versus the HLAs), was designed to run on 87 octane fuel, and was available with either a manual or automatic transmission.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Interesting, I didn't know the bit about the HLAs.

I did think it was strange that they introduced the GT model with an automatic only option though.