Jeeze, I don't have a TIG welder!   You need to embrace your fear of the
unknown and go for the Subaru 2.5 in your Syncro.  At least it looks like a
WBX, sort of, and won't vibrate as much as an in-line 4.

We need you on the subaruvanagon list!

Stuart

Alistair wrote:

"Funny thing is, as good as the subie 2.5 is in a van (and I have driven
one), I'm not very excited about doing it. I don't know why, but I lean more
towards a 2.0 aba type inline 4 ."

-----Original Message-----
From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 9:03 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: coolant overflow fears and thoughts

I recently removed the other head from my spare engine. Surprised by the
pristine condition under the seal. No pitting, unlike it's mate. But this
head did have a stuck stud, broken head. I tig'ed on a nut, put down the
welder, grabbed the wrench and had at it. By that time it had cooled down
from cherry/yellow (I really put a lot of heat into the weld) and the stud
would not budge. I heated again and tried, broke the nut off. I don't do
this very often and I guess my technique was wrong. I got the stud out by
drilling.

The good news is, that even if you screw up drilling out the stud, and
bugger up the studs, you can fill the hole with weld and drill and tap.

I've started saving for funds to install the EJ25 motor I was given last
week. Motor needs stripping down and checking before install, and I need to
decide what route to go - adapter plate or bellhousing. Funny thing is, as
good as the subie 2.5 is in a van (and I have driven one), I'm not very
excited about doing it. I don't know why, but I lean more towards a 2.0 aba
type inline 4 .

alistair