Hello to all. This is my first post here, so be gentle. Anyway, to get to the point, I have a 2002 Outback wagon, 253k miles and the motor is starting to chatter at start up till the oil gets circulating. It also can be heard slightly at cruising speeds on the highway also.
I rescued the car about a year ago when I was at a local salvage yard repairing a tire on one of their loaders that they carry the cars for crushing with. I just happened to look up and saw someone pulling this car in on a flatbed trailer, talked to someone inside and then jumped in it and drove it across the scales for scrap price.(around $400 at the time). I talked to the owner of the salvage yard and purchased it for $1200 w/clean title. I just couldn't see it going to the big boneyard in the sky at 235k miles.
Anyway, when I got it it ran fine, but the typical head gasket issue has cropped up since, nothing leaks internally, all to the external side. uses maybe a pint of antifreeze a week and about a quart of oil every 1-2 weeks. The car still runs well, no hesitations, etc, and drives excellent. Factory trailer package is a bonus also since I don't own a truck. I'm looking to purchase a used motor for it and have found a motor from a 2001 Forrester that was scrapped for hail damage. Looked like about 2 dozen major league pitchers threw balls at it all day. Engine runs great and has only 99k miles and I can get it for $750 and no core charge.
Was wondering if anyone knows if there is any major differences between the two models that would prevent an easy swap. I switched a motor in an old 1990 legacy sedan I used to own myself about 3 years ago(wife sold it(wanted to strangle her for that) and its still running). changed it out in about 10 or 12 hours, full removal and reinstall. From what I can tell, both vehicles use the same EJ251 SOHC motor, just hope there's not a lot of other parts needing changed. would like to be able to complete it in a days time if possible. this car is a daily driver to work, and no spare car if it takes a crap on me.
Any info is super appreciated.
thank you.
I rescued the car about a year ago when I was at a local salvage yard repairing a tire on one of their loaders that they carry the cars for crushing with. I just happened to look up and saw someone pulling this car in on a flatbed trailer, talked to someone inside and then jumped in it and drove it across the scales for scrap price.(around $400 at the time). I talked to the owner of the salvage yard and purchased it for $1200 w/clean title. I just couldn't see it going to the big boneyard in the sky at 235k miles.
Anyway, when I got it it ran fine, but the typical head gasket issue has cropped up since, nothing leaks internally, all to the external side. uses maybe a pint of antifreeze a week and about a quart of oil every 1-2 weeks. The car still runs well, no hesitations, etc, and drives excellent. Factory trailer package is a bonus also since I don't own a truck. I'm looking to purchase a used motor for it and have found a motor from a 2001 Forrester that was scrapped for hail damage. Looked like about 2 dozen major league pitchers threw balls at it all day. Engine runs great and has only 99k miles and I can get it for $750 and no core charge.
Was wondering if anyone knows if there is any major differences between the two models that would prevent an easy swap. I switched a motor in an old 1990 legacy sedan I used to own myself about 3 years ago(wife sold it(wanted to strangle her for that) and its still running). changed it out in about 10 or 12 hours, full removal and reinstall. From what I can tell, both vehicles use the same EJ251 SOHC motor, just hope there's not a lot of other parts needing changed. would like to be able to complete it in a days time if possible. this car is a daily driver to work, and no spare car if it takes a crap on me.
Any info is super appreciated.
thank you.