Bought a 99 Outback with an "engine problem" hoping it would be something quick and easy and we'd have a nice summer camping beater/entry-level rallycross machinge. It isn't - #4 exhaust valve has a hole in it that's visible by dropping the exhaust. Car still runs smoothly above idle, but shakes and stutters when sitting at a stoplight. Throws a CEL for #4 cyl misfire. Other than that, it runs like a top. Doesn't overheat, burn oil etc.
The body/interior of the car are in good condition. No rust that I can see, and the classic Subaru Outback Green/Tan paint is in pretty good shape. I took everything out of the interior and scrubbed it when we brought the car home, and it now shines. The usual scuffs and scrapes on the bumper (pics to come shortly) that come from a life of suburban/Costco parking. Silly stuff like wiper blades have all been replaced.
I called a few shops, and they all quote over $2k for the engine R/R alone (engine has to come out to get to the valves). I don't have a garage or even a space to work, so I'm going to pass this on. For somebody that can do the work, you can swap in a new engine and flip it for $3,500+. Or just pull the engine and swap in a reman head for $200-300. If I had a garage, I'd do it, but I don't have the space or time.
Car's located in Reston, VA. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it long distances (we picked it up and drove it back 8 hours without a hitch). It just won't pass ODB2 emissions because of the CEL, so at this point it can't be registered in Virginia.
Pics to come shortly.
Ur timing sucks man. oh well hope someone grabs this from you.
patgizz
SuperDork
5/11/10 5:01 p.m.
auto or manual and miles?
Auto trans. I need to check the miles...
Not bad. Could be a good deal depending on mileage.
Just replace the entire head with a used JR unit. These have the puck style lifter shims and they were probably never adjusted.
That was my thought. The hang-up is the engine has to come out of the car to do it (with the car on the lift, there's a few inches clearance between the heads and the framerails, but that's it). A garage and a weekend would get this car back on the road - problem is I don't have the former for another year and the latter for another two months.
I might be interested, depending on miles.
Mileage on the car is pretty high - 180k miles on the body, same on the engine. Amazing that the headgasket never failed during that time. All service except for oil changes was done at dealerships - I have a stack of receipts. The odometer failed on the car at some point and was replaced by a Subaru dealership, so you'll see a mileage inconsistency. I have the receipt for the work.
I also have a .pdf of the clean CARFAX report if anybody's interested. Pics to come - for some reason I can't upload them from my work connection.
Listed on ebay yesterday. It's under $700 right now if anybody's interested.
Forgot the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Subaru-Legacy-1999-Subaru-Legacy-Outback-AWD-Automatic-Trans-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3f01301bd3QQitemZ270602869715QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks
Nice clean, rust free car! If it was closer I'd bid on it.
