Guess what fun I get to have?!?
 

Soooo the headgasket(s) is/are blown on my 96 SVX. This is gonna suck.

I talked to Todd a bit and he said it's really not all that difficult, aside from the requirement of pulling the engine. Soo mostly just time consuming. Should be interesting. I was kind of hoping that this streak of no SVX problems would continue for me (Literally have had maybe 300$ in repairs over the past 6 years, and then all the maintenance) Oh well.

I was originally planning on selling this car, but it makes more sense for me to fix it first. I was wondering if there are any value adding additions I could make while I'm there. I was thinking about pulling the pistons and re-ringing as then it would essentially be a completely rebuilt engine. Do these engines tend to oval out the cylinders? Are there oversized stock pistons?

I'm REALLY hoping to get out of this for only the 250$ that the overhaul gasket set costs, but we all (well, anyone that's done this before) know about how likely that is.

I'll make a post in off-topic as to what's been capturing my attention recently.

Re: Guess what fun I get to have?!?
 

<<I'm REALLY hoping to get out of this for only the 250$ that the overhaul gasket set costs, but we all (well, anyone that's done this before) know about how likely that is. >>

your going to have to make sure the heads are flat. otherwise, your new headgaskets are going to blow agian. take the heads to a engine machine shop and have them check the surface and go from there. if the car doesn't smoke when idling for a few minutes and you have changed the oil on a regular basis, i wouldnt worry about the rings.

Re: Guess what fun I get to have?!?
 

I totally agree with Mike on this one. But when you take the heads to the machine shop, have them fit all the new valves seals that come in the engine seal kit... Most oil consumption issues I have seen are valve seal related. You could re-ring it and just break the glaze with a light hone if you want, but in MOST cases this is not "needed". Just an added expense.

Tom

Re: Guess what fun I get to have?!?
 

or you can do what i did and take the easy way out - swap engines.
though....unfortunately for me on this side of the border.. it costs about the same...considering there was only one engine that was local...but it was a jdm engine

Re: Guess what fun I get to have?!?
 

No reason to swap engines considering it'd be only slightly less work, and a lot more money. Plus I've kind of always wanted to strip one of these motors down. I just wish it was a spare engine on an engine stand, and for the purpose of doing something ridiculous to it.

I'll probably end up throwing some new bearings and new rings in just for the resale value. They probably won't be neccesary, but one of those, "you might as well" type of situations.

I've got a machine shop i'm pretty close with, so I shouldn't have a problem getting the surfaces checked. What type of gaskets are the headgaskets stock? and if it does need to be decked, does subaru sell thicker headgaskets?