Today, I officially join the Blown HG Club...

[pheonix991]

Just got the car back from the Dealer today, they said the HG's are blown. I'm going to replace them myself. I'm all so going to be doing the valve cover gaskets at the same time. Is there other things I need to do while I'm in there?

Also, is there anything I can do to get more life/power from the engine? Or, should I just save up for a 2.0/2.5 wrx swap?

[nosbocaj]

I'm sorry to hear about the blown head gaskets. It happens to the best of us.

What have you done so far to the engine performance wise?

[pheonix991]

I'm sorry to hear about the blown head gaskets. It happens to the best of us.

What have you done so far to the engine performance wise?

Not much, just cone filter intake, and full borla exhaust. I can't afford much more than $300 worth in engine mods. I don't know if I'll even be able to do anything with that little amount. Would it be better to use that money to save up for a 2.0 wrx swap?

[Okin DaVanh]

Waterpump, thermostat... as a precaution. Are you going to remove your engine? (as many people do when doing there HG's for ease at removing the heads.) If so, you might want to change the seal in between the motor and tranny.

[d1giPhux]

I have a couple of seals left over from when i bought the engine overhaul kit. If you decide to get JUST the seals you need.. here is a link to the ones i have left:

http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=8805

Good luck man! Dunno If you got the FSM from me or not.. if you didnt.. check my sig! ;)

[Plays_with_Toys]

If you buy a thermostat, get the real deal OEM subaru one. Since the heads are coming off, it sounds like you'll be doing timing belt too. Change out the crank seal, and maybe even the cam seals?

[pheonix991]

I am pulling the engine.


Thanks guys. I"ll keep that stuff in mind when I pull it apart.

[Navig8r]

My motor is curently out of the car for the same reason..... Heads will go back on today, other re-assembly tomorrow... hmmm maybe in and running on Sunday.

Check clutch/flywheel/throwout bearing.
Check Pilot bearing (in flywheel)
Valve cover sealing washers are expensive little buggers, so be careful with them, and replace as needed.

The process is obviously very fresh in my mind, so if you come to a hurdle, PM me.
Happy wrenching!!

[Reason]

There's a thread here that tells you what you should replace.

[Okin DaVanh]

If you buy a thermostat, get the real deal OEM subaru one. Since the heads are coming off, it sounds like you'll be doing timing belt too. Change out the crank seal, and maybe even the cam seals?

:smt023 +1... I forgot to add that obvious necessity.

[Navig8r]

Make sure you have a good torque wrench, and be sure to reas the torque steps carefully, and follow them, for installing the heads.
I would definitely get new cam seals... gotta handle them anyway, and they are cheap enough.
And definitely go for an OEM t'stat. I paid less than $20.00 at the dealer with the gasket.

[pheonix991]

There's a thread here that tells you what you should replace.Can you link me please? I can't seem to find it.

Also, so the cams don't move when I take the timing belt off/on how do I lock them in place? The guy at the dealership said they use a special tool to do it. Is there a place I could rent this tool, or is there another way?

[decke48]

alignment marks
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/03/Untitled12-1.jpg

[Navig8r]

Remove the valve covers before you take the cam sprockets off, then you can hold the cams with a wrench (there are "flats" on the cam, near the front, for this purpose. There is a special tool for holding the sprockets, but it is pricey, and not necessary.

[pheonix991]

Thanks guys.

[Navig8r]

Mine should be running tonight. It's only taken me like 4 weeks..... Not a lot of actual work hours invested, all things considered, just no free time in the last month to work on the car. Good thing I dont need it everyday.
I figure that now that I've had the engine out once, I could pull it again in 3-4 hours. Easy to do when you dont stop to think and question every bolt.

[pheonix991]

Well, I'm one bolt away from getting the engine out. It is the lower driver side tranny bolt. My neighbor is going to bring me a swivil set tomorrow to see if that will get it out. If it does, and it should, I'm going to take it apart and take off the heads to get them milled. Then, everything goes back together. I hope to have it running by 5am friday morning!

[rougeben83]

Well, I'm one bolt away from getting the engine out. It is the lower driver side tranny bolt. My neighbor is going to bring me a swivil set tomorrow to see if that will get it out. If it does, and it should, I'm going to take it apart and take off the heads to get them milled. Then, everything goes back together. I hope to have it running by 5am friday morning!

PnP the heads since theyre coming off anyway :)

[pheonix991]

Well, I'm one bolt away from getting the engine out. It is the lower driver side tranny bolt. My neighbor is going to bring me a swivil set tomorrow to see if that will get it out. If it does, and it should, I'm going to take it apart and take off the heads to get them milled. Then, everything goes back together. I hope to have it running by 5am friday morning!

PnP the heads since theyre coming off anyway :)
I'll check how much that will cost when I take them in. :grin:

[pheonix991]

This is taking longer than it was supposed to...

Engine is out, got the valve covers off. I have stopped working on it for now because the passenger side cam holding bracket has a stripped bolt from the factory... Thanks SOA. It won't be till Thursday till the dealer can get a new one in... GAY!!! This adds another week to my repair... Sucks big time because this is my only car, so, I've been sharing my dad's truck, which he hates, but, it is almost there. Smooth sailing once I actually get everything apart(I hope). I've only had to cut two hoses the whole build, which I think is really good. By the time it is all done, I will have spent about $350 on everything+$50 for more misc costs I haven't accounted for. So, $400 for HG change+130k mile maintenance, can't beat that going to the dealer!!!


Oh, today, I had to pull the car outside, which meant putting up my windows, when I reconnected the battery, I got a check engine light. I checked the engine, it was still in my garage, is there a reason for this??? :wink:

[Navig8r]

....... the passenger side cam holding bracket has a stripped bolt from the factory... Thanks SOA. ....... By the time it is all done, I will have spent about $350 on everything+$50 for more misc costs I haven't accounted for. So, $400 for HG change+130k mile maintenance, can't beat that going to the dealer!!!
Oh, today, I had to pull the car outside, which meant putting up my windows, when I reconnected the battery, I got a check engine light. I checked the engine, it was still in my garage, is there a reason for this??? :wink:
Are you sure the bolt was a factory issue???? No chance somebody had them out once before, or tried to?

I think I spent about $500 total..... that included HGs, intake&exhaust man. gaskets, wires, plugs (good ones), head machining, and as mentioned.. lots of misc. 'stuff' (dont forget the assy. lube)

As far as that check engine light... wow.. amazing that the OBD still is keeping tabs on the engine, even after removal.... cars really are getting smarter!

[pheonix991]

Anything is possible with this car... The last owner was a tech, so, who knows what he did to it...

[pheonix991]

Well, I took to to school and work today, everything runs great except the Serpentine Belts squeal worse than a pig. Any tips on getting the correct tension on them?

[decke48]

about 1/2 inch of deflection is good

[pheonix991]

That would be why they squeal. Thanks. I had them too tight.

[johncanuck]

I am pulling the engine.


Thanks guys. I"ll keep that stuff in mind when I pull it apart.

No need to pull the engine. The heads can be removed if you don't mind accessing the head from under the car then through the hood, then back under the car again...and so on. It is a pain to keep raising and lowering the car but it is less time consuming then removing the motor.

Also, if you are removing the engine and have automatic trans, becareful not to remove the torque converter, it is a real pain to get back in even with the specialized tool you will need. So if you really need to remove the motor, better to drop the tranamission along with the engine.

[pheonix991]

Thanks, but, I'm already driving the car again.

[Emily]

My head gasket went last night.

I think we are going to try and tackle the project on our own o save some cash.

About how long did the project take?

Are there timing makers on a 2000? Should we be able to replace the belt while we are in there or will we need a special tool?

[pheonix991]

Took me 2 months because I didn't have any of the right parts. I had to wait 6 times longer than it should have taken to get all my right parts. If you really try hard, I"m sure you could do it in a weekend.

Before you take the engine out, or undo anything, make sure you have ALL the right parts. If your car is around 100k miles, might as well change the timing belt if you haven't already. Give the subaru dealer your vin, and get the gasket overhaul kit. It will save you a lot of headaches. Also with the timing belt, change the water pump, idlers, and serpentine belts.

I learned a ton of this project, and so will you. Make sure you track down a service manual, and make sure you follow all the torque specs for EVERYTHING. Even the AC lines(if you unhook them, you shouldn't have to, that is a mistake I made).

Also, get a 14mm 12 point long neck socket, and an impact gun so you can undo the bolts. You also don't need new head bolts, they arn't the stretching kind.