My Craigslist Subaru score

[DonDavis]

Been searching for months for a car for my son to drive. Wanted a 4 cyl, manual transmission and a/c. Saw this ad and thought it would fit the bill nicely.

1996 Legacy Outback AWD, a/c, pw, ABS, tape and CD, heated seats.
Ad stated it needs a few things like valve cover gaskets leaking, rough idle, shop said it needs a clutch and steering rack is leaking.
300,000 miles, $800 obo

This thing is clean! The interior is in fantastic condition. All the doors close perfectly, and pretty much everything works. Tracks straight, brakes true, steers well, no weird sounds.

I'm going to pull the engine and do valve cover gaskets, timing belt, plugs/wires/coil pack, water pump, clutch kit, and possibly main bearing. I'll also investigate for any other needed items while it's out.

I paid $600.






After a trip to the car wash with engine degreaser. The bottom side is still pretty bad, though. I'll get that when the engine is out.

[DonDavis]

Can anyone recommend a site for parts?
How about any tips on replacement parts brand? For instance, is there a better functioning clutch brand or type?

[rwest]

Great score, congratulations.

[RANDY P]

Head gaskets are usually gone on 'em and after awhile they just drink oil. Might not be worth all the BS to redo it.

It might actually be cheaper to buy a new lower end from Subaru. Apart from auto parts store typical stuff I would check Heuberger the dealer in CO. They are like the big volume Subaru parts people..Ebay as well.

You'll be surprised at how cheap a shortblock is. Worse comes to worst, try checking with SubiWorx in Tempe. They are good people and can point you in the right direction, for cheap.

rjp

[JacobS911]

Looks super clean!!! STI engine swap

[RANDY P]

Oh yea, that car is worth saving with a new block. I see few people actually try to rebuild the bottom. It's usually redo heads, new shortblock.

rjp

[speeder]

Originally Posted by JacobS911

Looks super clean!!! STI engine swap

That escalated quickly!

[DonDavis]

And I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

muhahahaha

[greglepore]

I just bought a 71k legacy gt for my son, sti longblock and intercooler just swapped in. Paid premium dollars for it, but its clean, pearl white w/ leather and new 2011 era wrx wheels w/ Conti DSW's.

Anyway, my point? This darn thing is ridiculously fun to drive. The suspension needs firming up, but as a slow in/fast out beast its a hoot.

[RANDY P]

I love the STI, I just can't stand their fans. I doubt any of them even remember what a stock STI drives like. They all ruin 'em with coilovers, poly bushings, turbos and other unreliable mods that make 'em nasty to drive and to look at.

Except mine, I left it alone despite dire warnings from the community (which, I excused myself from). :P

rjp

[vonsmog]

My son wanted a WRX when his Suzuki Sammy died, so I took one for a test drive that was hopped up a bit. NO WAY would I buy it for a 20 yr old at the time, damn thing was quicker than my Porsche 911! Got him his next choice of car instead, 1985 Mercedes 300D turbo diesel with a 5 speed swapped into it. He has had the car for 6 years now and loves it, won't sell it and get anything else.

[SCadaddle]

As the current owner of a 97 Outback, a 98 Outback, an 05 Legacy Wagon and former owner of yet another 98 Outback and a 92 Legacy Wagon....congratulations. That one is a peach. Simply because it is a 96 with a standard transmission. That means you got the bullet-proof 2.2 engine (as confirmed in your photos). Now had you bought the same car, same year model with an automatic transmission you would have found it to have the 4 cam 2.5 engine----the one with almost guaranteed head gasket issues. The 2.2 is very uncommon to having the same issue. And the 96 Outback with the 2.5 came with the note "Premium Fuel Recommended".

I'm in Mississippi. Land of No Subarus. We have one dealer in the entire State. And they typically get 30% over retail for OEM factory parts from their customers. As for myself, I purchase any parts I may need from either the Pacific Northwest (Chaplains Subaru in Washington State), the Northeast (subarupartsforyou.com which is Dan Perkins Subaru in CT) or Huebergers in Colorado. Some of these outfits offer free shipping if you buy more than $100 or $200 worth and they are DEEP discounted from retail price. I'll typically use the factory online part number search from Bryan Subaru of New Orleans to find out exactly what part number I need should any of the other online dealer websites not give me that detail. Google "Six Star Bernie" for another parts vendor, although I've never purchased from them.
If you paid $600 for the car, get ready to spend at least another $700 just in (deep discount) OEM parts just to do the timing belt, idlers, tensioner and water pump. Or you could go less money with a Gates or Dayco kit. But beware the components built in China, namely the timing belt idlers. 11 years ago, when I replaced the head gaskets, timing belt components and clutch components in my 97 2.5 Outback, I spent nearly $1200 in parts alone.

If it is leaking oil from a source not so easy to fix as the valve cover gaskets, I would recommend a new OEM PCV valve and changing the oil to Valvoline Max Life 20W50 synthetic blend that contains the seal conditioner. That alone did wonders for my 98 that would leak, drip oil on the exhaust and smoke after driving on the interstate at 70 mph for beyond several miles when the ambient temperature was more than about 90F.

Your clutch and shifting issues could be as simple as the clutch slave cylinder (note--if the pedal randomly flops to the floor, don't freak out, just reach down and pick it back up and you will be good to go for the next 6 months to 5 years that it happens again!) or the shifter linkage coupler ($50 part) and for sure the plastic bushings at the base of the shifter are toast by now if the shifter is all "floppy". If the leatherette boot around the base of the shifter has a tear in it, whatever you do, don't let a coin such as a penny get near it. Been there, done that, couldn't find but 2 out of 5 gears and one hell of a bent penny afterwards!

The early series of Legacy Outbacks were in my opinion the most durable of the bunch. Enjoy it!

[Max Von]

Great score!
Call these guys, https://allwheeldriveauto.com/
Best of the best. Helpful, informative and will save you a ton of time.

[DonDavis]

Replaced the plugs. The old ones were in awful condition, but correct type.
Electrode was nearly worn to a point. They were very slow to remove and stiff nearly the whole way out.

Runs like a scalded dog now. Two thumbs up.