Alright first I want to start off by saying I'm new to these forums, and I'm excited to be a part of them. I apologize for the long story.
So the story goes, I purchased my 1997 Legacy GT wagon 5spd with a little over 200k about 2 years ago for $1500, didn't have a sticker, needed slight work (brakes, sway links), got the car stickered and was happier than a pig in mud for a good period of time. Was completely unaware of the HG problems in the Phase I EJ25's. A month or so ago, I noticed that my heat was very intermittent, it ended up getting really bad one night and I got worried. Next day everything was okay, about a week later while on my last delivery of the night (pizza), I noticed my temp gauge was pegged and I pulled over as soon as I could, smoke poured out from under the hood. I was not a happy camper. Got it towed home, and took a look at it. From what I could see it ended up being a hole in the radiator. Replaced the radiator with one from a junkyard in Freeport out of an auto Outback. Got it all hooked up and drover the car for a while, with seemingly no problems. About a week later it started overheating again. So I replaced the thermostat and flushed the system and all that jazz. Tried taking it for a sticker to find out the block was leaking pretty badly as well as the cam seals. After going home shouting obscenities, I had to decide whether or not to replace the 2.5 with a 2.2 or try to repair the HG on the 2.5. Ran into monetary issues that forced me to move away from where I was. Tried to drive the car to Bangor from Portland ( I know, super stupid idea) and got about 60 miles before I noticed that my fuel was dropping pretty quick, about a quarter tank in 20 miles and then the car overheated again. Ended up getting it towed to Bangor where it is sitting as we speak.
The car has about 220k on it right now. I'm assuming the car never had the HG replaced so I can chalk that up to a miracle it lasted that long. After all of the overheating incidents, I'm going to go ahead and assume it's probobly the better bet to replace it with the EJ22. From what I've heard the process is fairly easy. Is there anything I should look out for? Any tips? Anyone notice a difference in power or performance?
I'd really like to keep the car as I love the thing to death, and I'd like to modify it in the future. Can't go wrong with a nasty wagon ahaha.
So the story goes, I purchased my 1997 Legacy GT wagon 5spd with a little over 200k about 2 years ago for $1500, didn't have a sticker, needed slight work (brakes, sway links), got the car stickered and was happier than a pig in mud for a good period of time. Was completely unaware of the HG problems in the Phase I EJ25's. A month or so ago, I noticed that my heat was very intermittent, it ended up getting really bad one night and I got worried. Next day everything was okay, about a week later while on my last delivery of the night (pizza), I noticed my temp gauge was pegged and I pulled over as soon as I could, smoke poured out from under the hood. I was not a happy camper. Got it towed home, and took a look at it. From what I could see it ended up being a hole in the radiator. Replaced the radiator with one from a junkyard in Freeport out of an auto Outback. Got it all hooked up and drover the car for a while, with seemingly no problems. About a week later it started overheating again. So I replaced the thermostat and flushed the system and all that jazz. Tried taking it for a sticker to find out the block was leaking pretty badly as well as the cam seals. After going home shouting obscenities, I had to decide whether or not to replace the 2.5 with a 2.2 or try to repair the HG on the 2.5. Ran into monetary issues that forced me to move away from where I was. Tried to drive the car to Bangor from Portland ( I know, super stupid idea) and got about 60 miles before I noticed that my fuel was dropping pretty quick, about a quarter tank in 20 miles and then the car overheated again. Ended up getting it towed to Bangor where it is sitting as we speak.
The car has about 220k on it right now. I'm assuming the car never had the HG replaced so I can chalk that up to a miracle it lasted that long. After all of the overheating incidents, I'm going to go ahead and assume it's probobly the better bet to replace it with the EJ22. From what I've heard the process is fairly easy. Is there anything I should look out for? Any tips? Anyone notice a difference in power or performance?
I'd really like to keep the car as I love the thing to death, and I'd like to modify it in the future. Can't go wrong with a nasty wagon ahaha.