Hey Ken:

I've been calling your shop, office etc., for a week and leaving messages.  Please
return my call so that I can order from you!!!  Seems like you'd rather e-mail on
the list than have cash paying customers.

Davidb

KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:

> << t obrien wrote:
>
>  > Could it be that those clever  Japanese engineers accounted for the
>  > corrosive effect of American water in designing their waterboxer? I have
> not
>  > heard that leaking gaskets and corroded heads have been an issue with the
>  > subarus.
>  >
>
>  Could be a different alloy, that withstands it in a different way? Or maybe
> even
>  some coating etc. I don't know the Subs at all, so I cant say. Just guessing.
>
>  PerL
>  87 Syncro 112i >>
>
> Had an oportunity to check out a Subaru engine without a head on it at a junk
> yard.  The main difference I saw was that the cylinders were pressed into the
> cast aluminum block.  This allowed them to use very short head bolts (not 12"
> long studs) with the normal metal head gasket that every motor except the
> waterboxer uses.  This would be more of a pain if you ever had to replace
> pistons and cylinders (have to crack the case to change the pistons and might
> have to bore the cylinders one over instead of replacing them) however it
> eliminates the extra expansion and contraction that you get with the long
> head studs.  This is the design flaw of the waterboxer in my opinion.  It
> allows for too much movement between the heads and the case (hence the thick
> rubber gasket trying to take up the slack).  This leads to the water seeping
> around the gaskets, the head corrosion, the gaskets ripping, the case pitting
> (why is that folks don't say much about this issue?), etc, etc, blah, blah.
> So in my opinion, you will never get rid of the main flaw of the waterboxer.
> It is an inherent design flaw.  Either live with it, or put another kind of
> motor in there.
> My opinion, flames welcome (it's pretty cold here :)
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> http://www.vanagain.com
> John 3:16
> Office (856)-765-1583
> Shop (856)-327-0027
> Fax   (856)-327-2242