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Hello.
I was just about to sell my '94 Sportswagon but at the RWC inspection I was told that I have one cylinder head gasket that needs replacing. Apparently if you do one you do two, which makes sense. The car is in excellent condition, has the right modifications (14's, lift kit, good aircon, no rust, fresh cam belt, new windscreen, new CV, UHF, Bull bar etc) and has only done 186,000km. I have been quoted big dollars for the fix. The car is in Melbourne. Does anyone have any suggestions please? It would be a brilliant buy for someone if they were able to do the work.

I just fixed the head gaskets in my wifes sportswagon and it's not the hardest job if you have all the right tools. I recommend that both LH and RH head gaskets are done at the same time (btw there is 2 cylinders per head). I'd ring around a few places and get some more quotes. Also I'm sure we have a few Vic members that should be able to guide you to a reputable workshop.

186,000kms is really good for a 94 model and I saw another member was looking at a 98 model.. maybe you can post up pics on a for sale thread?

Regrettably I am not in a position to do the work myself - too old, too cranky and too busy. The best quote has been $2400 plus, then they go north from there!

Wow.. sounds like they need to pay for the xmas party.

It really depends on what work is needed once the heads are off but I replaced the radiator ($220 ebay) the water pump ($45 ebay) and the full engine gasket kit ($100 ebay). I brought the full kit as it was cheaper than buying the top set. I know these are ebay cheapies and I'm sure lots of reputable workshops would use higher quality ones, so even if you made the Radiator $550, Water Pump $150, VRK (top set) $300 plus head reconditioning $600 then I cannot see the job having $1000 + labour on it?

I'd hunt around a bit more or wait and see if others have a trustworthy mechanic around that can help you out.

Looks like a 'cant be fked' quote as they likely cant be bothered doing it especially coming up to chrissy. You could just about get a new engine for that.

Can get heads recoed for ~500 and gaskets are relatively cheap. Shouldnt need a new radiator unless its damaged or fouled with chemiweld? Then its just labour. Shurely it couldnt be 1500+ labour.

Where abouts are you in Melbourne FKV ?, as surely it's a big enough place to find good a Subaru mechanic ...

Ciao, Bantum ...

Glen Waverley. All 3 quotes are in the range $2.5 to $3.0k

Just did a Google search & there are quite few Subaru mechanics around Melbourne, so if you are willing to go a bit further afield - we might be able to find somebody ...

Search result : https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=melbo ... CAgQ_AUoAg

I've heard of Glenferrie motors + few others are worth a try, but if your after genuine parts - you cant go past the Docklands - Subaru's main depot ...

I'm hoping another 'local' on here chimes in ...

Cheers, Bantum ...

Thanks for the assistance. My main dilemma was whether to do the work or try to move the car on to someone who could do the repairs privately. It's only a tiny seepage so I expect no repairs are required, just the fix.
I have found a place in Mount Waverley who understand what is required and they are the cheapest quoting $2.5k to $2.6k so I'll give them a go.
Once it is back to me then I will place it back on the market and hope that it fetches somewhere in the $5k range.

Try calling Subabits for a quote.
Also if your fixing purely to sell I'd research that you can get that 5k that your after before spending the money.

sometimes it's better to take a loss than spend more to fix and end up losing more.

Sounds like West Aussie dollars ! Stuffed if I know why a roadworthy is suggesting a head gasket needs replacing anyway ! Beyond and way over the call of duty ! Unless it is leaking oil but silicon is good temp fix and so too is the modern motor accessory very handy in reducing warranty claims - a drip tray attached to veehicle!

I agree with the statement about not spending the money on it unless I can get a return,but, the car is too good to not do otherwise. I would feel much better taking a hit on it and knowing that the new owner has a ripper of a L series than sending it to the wreckers or some other equally dreaded place.

If you looking to quit the car and sell it with a clear conscience, have second hand motor fitted with a 30 day (limited) warranty.

OR

Spend the $$$ on a rebuilt motor, and keep the car and enjoy

OR

Go the EJ option…


If you spend $2.5K you will be doing well sell the car for that, even with the low Ks.

Sorry, they just don't pull reasonable dollars anymore - what they do though is represent excellent value for money - provided you can spin a spanner or two.

Sell the car to WayneO (Kalbarri-baru) as he has one himself and could just use his engine in it if needed.

RSR 555 wrote:Sell the car to WayneO (Kalbarri-baru) as he has one himself and could just use his engine in it if needed.

Send me some recent pics then.

Paul I gotta stop dreaming here and save for the S.A trip, however it would be great to have a project L series and get a great mechanic in Rocko to really spice it up (Pimp my ride) a top to toe rebuild.

Cheers

WayneO....................

I've been recommended Ross Hallet in Heatherton for when I do my timing belt/water pump/cam seals:
Kingston Garage (Bosch Service Centre) - Ross Hallett
[font=&quot] Ph: 03 9551-2402
63 Kingston Rd, Heatherton[/font]

there's also:[font=&quot][/font]
[font=&quot]Subabits - Brian[/font][font=&quot]
Phone: 03 9558 5722[/font]
[font=&quot]Mob: 0419 569 069
Factory 4&5/6 Graham Rd. Clayton South. 3169
http://www.subabits.com.au[/font]
[font=&quot] [/font]
[font=&quot]Lucas Automotive - Lucas[/font][font=&quot]
Phone: 03 9553 3995[/font]
[font=&quot]92 Levanswell Rd, Moorabbin VIC 3189, Australia[/font]
[font=&quot] [/font]
[font=&quot]URD – Tony[/font]
[font=&quot]Ph: 03 9887 2100[/font]
[font=&quot]3/6 Woodbine Crt, Wantirna Sth. 3152[/font]

Thanks NachaLuva, as a result of your reply I rang Subabits and he has quoted me a price way better (read 60%) than anyone else so today I have taken the car there. I was shocked at his quote but he said all the things that the others said needed doing so fingers crossed! I'll update this post when I have the car back with an update. Thanks again.

FKV wrote:Thanks NachaLuva, as a result of your reply I rang Subabits and he has quoted me a price way better (read 60%) than anyone else so today I have taken the car there.

Thats cos he specialises in Subies so he quotes a realistic price & can do it quickly without sitting there scratching his head like most non-Subie mechanics lol. Glad I could help

How do you actually know it is a HG? This seems like a pretty interesting thing to report back from a RWC certificate job. Did they tell you how they found it? Have you got mayonnaise for engine oil or is it using water? If it is an external leak are you sure it is a HG?

I 'confirmed' a leak on a mates EA82 once by using a bottle of that crap you pour into the radiator- I think chemiweld or some similar brand but they all have the same crap. We found the car a few years prior and paid $1500 for the car and only picked up the leak after I could smell that sweet burning piss smell at the exhaust one night. After the chemiweld it ran through 2 Adelaide summers with no more exhaust gas in the coolant. It was a much cheaper fix on a cheap car than the $1800 I then spent on my own car a year later, but that price did both gaskets and it was decked by hand in a well know workshop in Adelaide (and turned out to be a cracked head anyway).

I'd also forget fixing it before Christmas unless you want to pay for someone else's strippers at their work party.

$5,000 is a lot for an L series, and it might be worth thinking about a drop in motor rather than spend more than half the value of the car on a few gaskets.

Thanks to Brian at Subabits the car is back on the road and running like a charm. Price was 1/3 the other quotes and in talking to him the work done exceeded the quote but the price did not. He said that the gasket is a 5mm piece of aluminium that over time degrades. Now, I have put it on Gumtree at a, so I have been told, ridiculous price BUT if anyone out there wants it lets talk. I'd prefer it go to someone at a lesser price that appreciates the car for it's condition, it's modifications and especially the work that has been done on it.