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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: December 15th, 2024

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  • Anecdotally, I have a Baja. Replaced the head gaskets two years ago this past summer. Then past March, I thought the HGs failed again. Waited until summer, bought a cheap Outback to drive around in the meanwhile, then threw a canopy up (I don’t have a garage). Pulled the engine and discovered the threads in the aluminum block had failed for one of the head bolts. Drilled it out, threaded it, and popped a steel insert in (Time-Sert kit).

    I’ve owned enough Subarus over the years to love the boxer engines. Won’t touch a transverse mounted engine, personally. They’re always a pain to work on. Having a bed available, small though it may be, fits my lifestyle perfectly. Until another mfg puts out a small “ute” EV, I’m gonna keep wrenching on the Baja for as long as I can.

    We Baja people are a special kind of crazy, though, and are definitely a niche market. I’m not keeping my hopes up.














  • Had a 2006 Subaru Baja, stupidly traded it in on a Tacoma “because I needed something bigger.” The guy who bought the Baja off the dealer tracked me down online, because the story about the crazy Baja guy followed the vehicle (affectionately known as the caruck). Three years later, I caught his forum DM and called him. Had a good hour long discussion about the Baja and asked for first dibs if he ever sold it.

    Fast forwards a few years, and it blew a headgasket outside Saugerties, NY. I gave him $1,500 cash and towed it home. Chassis was all rotted out, so I bought another '06 Baja from Virginia and shipped it north. It turned out to have a bum engine (water pump leaking bad, and oil sitting on top of the block). Swapped engines, drove it for another year and a half when the head gaskets blew again. She sits out front now, ready for the next set of hgs.

    I’m not making the same mistake and getting rid of my Baja again. I’ll keep throwing head gaskets and whatever else I need to keep her running… And soaking her in Fluid Film.

    Crazy Baja guy. That’s me.