Subaru Repair: 98 Subaru Outback, subaru outback, head gaskets

Question
I recently purchased a used '98 Subaru Outback with 170K miles.  The head gaskets were replaced recently.  So far I have been pleased, but there have been a couple of minor issues.  When I hit the gas it makes a noise which, though even and regular sounding, seems a little loud.  Is this normal?  Second, it seems to lag a bit when going from 1st into 2nd, gives you a bit of a kick.  Finally, on an even more minor note, the clock and radio can be programmed but lose all memory when I turn off the car (clock goes back to flashing 12:00) and the trunk and dome lights do not work.  Any suggestions?  Thanks for you help.

Answer
I cant really comment on the noise without hearing it to know if it is normal to the car.Sometimes excessive transmission pressure can create a harsh shift from 1st to 2nd gear in some cases this can develop over time and the transmission will work like this for a long time without any problems.Best thing to do hear is monitor the situation and if seems to get worse have the transmission pressure checked or the symptom diagnosed by someone who knows Subaru.The clock& radio not holding memory should be a blown clock/radio fuse but they may be an issue causing the fuse to blow.The same might be the case with the dome/trunk lamps.

Justin
All Wheel Drive Auto