ok, i may be getting my hands on a realy cheap 99 subaru outback, not alot wrong with it, 300,000 odd k/m,

am I asking for trouble if I want to put it in a 59/60 splitty? this will be a looonnnggg way off but the offer for the car wont last long and i'm happy to mothball it... any suggestions?

edit - i'm a novice on subaru engines, model numbers etc.. any links to sites at all?

[Edited on 13-10-2003 by green57]

300,000kms would scare me off the deal. Unless it is really really cheap.

should of said.. its less then a grand.

the engine does have a cooling problem, i understand its the raditor (geez, do i really want to go with a water bottle?)

I'd be checking the cooling system carefully. Is the fluid green, is inside any visible area's (under the cap) nice and clean and free from rust dis-colouration.

With that many km's it could be anything. worn out water pump, leaking head gaskets, stuffed radiator.

How much of the car are you getting? If your getting a lot of the car, you could buy the complete car, then a good bare suby motor from the jap importers, and end up pretty well off price wise. use the 300,000km motor for spare parts, and it's loom / electrics.

I have a EJ20 subie in my bay window, so i have been down this road,

wes has given you some good words of wisdom there, would have said exactly the same myself.

The later models have a more complex wiring system, but they have a 2.5 l engine and you get the whole loom anyway.

buy it, do the conversion with your cheap runner and swap her for a freshie when your happy with it

Col

that seems awfully cheap for a WHOLE 99 subi!?! the conversion itself, even professionally shouldnt cost too much more then it would to but in a 2ltr vw engine. i agree with kombi col about the KMs, seems awful high, and there were rumours about how the more modern subaru engines handle high KMs. if u are getting the whole car or most of the car tho, u may be able to do some sort of a trade with a subaru specialist for a better engine without losing much/any money.

its cheap cause of its an old company write off, it owes them nothing. I'm thinking of getting it, selling for a profit and sinking the money into a decent aircolled motor.. i'll have a think over a beer or six.

but i'm also thinking like Kimbicol, do the yards with this motor, make some mistakes then once right get a 'freshie'..

i've got a feeling one head gasket is gorne tho, ill know more tomorrow as its booked in for a final service.

oh, and i stuffed the year, its a 98 :S

if it is complete and going, SELL IT! with the $$$ from it u could pickup a nice import low ks 1/2 cut, if u still had 2-4 grand left u could have the engine poffesionally fitted too!

300000ks on a subi motor ain't that big a deal,was it serviced regularly?
I bought a liberty with that amount of miles on it,the auto box gave up,small oil leaks on the engine but she went very well.These motors go for ever
I wouldn't open it to freshen it up.it would end up costing more than a low k import.
Run it as is,when it blows up(probably never)then replace it.
Good luck.

an update on this.. engine has a probable crack in the block, well somewhere. also they woke up and want 6 not 1k for it. not to worry, still something to think about.