will a 1998 Outback work?

[riptide motorsport]

Have a friend who smashed his and can get it cheap. Thanks in advance....Steven

[rjh2pd]

The engine and trans will for sure, not sure about the suspension parts though.

[PhyrraM]

A 1998 will work for almost everything. The cluster will likely be the biggest obsticle, but it does have a similiar shape to the Impreza donor.

There will be small differences in suspension dimensions, but I'm sure that whatever alignment adjustments FFR provides will accomodate just fine.

It will have a 2.5 liter 165HP, DOHC motor. This IS the one prone to headgasket failure. As long as the gaskets have been done PROPERLY with new style MLS gaskets there should be no further issues.

[rjh2pd]

Don't the 2.5 sohc have headgasket problems as well? Also how much could it cost for a headgasket job once the engine is out? Or you could do it yourself :cool:

[fateo66]

A 1998 will work for almost everything. The cluster will likely be the biggest obsticle, but it does have a similiar shape to the Impreza donor.

There will be small differences in suspension dimensions, but I'm sure that whatever alignment adjustments FFR provides will accomodate just fine.

It will have a 2.5 liter 165HP, DOHC motor. This IS the one prone to headgasket failure. As long as the gaskets have been done PROPERLY with new style MLS gaskets there should be no further issues.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. Is the car an outback or Outback Sport? The sport is based on an impreza but the standard outback is based on the legacy chassis.

[BrandonDrums]

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. Is the car an outback or Outback Sport? The sport is based on an impreza but the standard outback is based on the legacy chassis.

Back then the only REAL difference was the chassis itself. Suspension and engine components were cross compatible but had minor differences that might not affect your ability to swap them from one car to the other but there were differences in some components that influenced the alignment.

I have a 2000 outback which is the first year of the 2nd gen outback. Aside from some minor differences in the hub/knuckle design between the outback and impreza, I could literally swap just about everything minus the rear strut top-hats to my 05 wrx and vice-versa...they will bolt right on to eachother no problem. However, the Outback's knuckles are actually very different from the WRX's.

So for instance, if you have a busted hub or knuckle from the '98 outback, you won't be able to just say that you'll replace it with a knuckle from an 05 wrx because they are both compatible with the 818. It will bolt on but they might take different bearings, have different tie rod and ball joint mounting points and if they aren't swapped as a set, your dynamic alignment relationships for tow and the static castor angles might not line up.

Just remember there are lots of COMPATIBILITY between different subaru models through the years but that doesn't mean they are always the same exact part or design. They will fit but due to the slight variances, if you have to replace a suspension component just make sure you either source the exact match for the replacement or to do the swap on both sides.

I hope that makes sense.

[fateo66]

I have a 2000 outback which is the first year of the 2nd gen outback. Aside from some minor differences in the hub/knuckle design between the outback and impreza, I could literally swap just about everything minus the rear strut top-hats to my 05 wrx and vice-versa...they will bolt right on to eachother no problem. However, the Outback's knuckles are actually very different from the WRX's.


I thought the THIRD generation of legacy/ Outback started in 98 which is when they switched to the completely different rear suspension design. But then again I do not have a old legacy to confirm anything

[riptide motorsport]

So either one will work, correct?

[riptide motorsport]

It's a regular outback. Good?

[PhyrraM]

Yes. Good to go.

For 1997-1999 either type of Outback will work, as both are the same basic chassis. The Impreza based Outback Sport will have a SOHC 2.2 (and possibly a cable clutch instead of hydraulic).

2000 was the THIRD gen Legacy, but only the SECOND gen Outback as there was no Outback based on the first gen Legacy. The first Outback was based on the Second gen Legacy.

The 2000+ THIRD gen Legacy (SECOND gen Outback) got the new rear suspension. A 1998 will have a virtually identical rear suspension as the donor Imprezas.

[bromikl]

My brain hurts. Can you draw me a picture? :D