Whitedog

GD, are you saying that when the hash mark is lined up with the notch, it isn't at TDC? I saw some mention somewhere about a hash mark and an arrow with the arrow at 3:00 while the hash mark is at 12:00. I understand why you want the pistons half way up the stroke for head R&R, but is that where you set the cam timing? Also, is this relevant to a PhaseII 2003 2.5?

Ok, so we have a consensue of two and that's good enough for me. Now I get to research all of the stuff I need to know. I found the manuals to download, but as we all know, a manual is so black and white, it can be misleading. I have found much more real world advice online for many things, so I'll be around poking and prodding, trying to gather it all in. Being new the Subaru stuff, I get to learn all new acronyms. I found a list somewhere, so that will help. Lots of other stuff to learn, so I'll have to dig in. Wish me luck.

But Grasshopper, I have a SOHC. Do you think that changes things? General, I don't work on cars if they aren't on ramps. On the other hand, doesn't the intake manifold have to come off to pull lthe heads? Heck, that's half way to pulling the engine as far as unhooking stuff. Ok, so I'll pull the VCs and take a look to be sure of... well, something. I'm not really sure what I would expect to see to verify it's just the heads. It sounds like I would probably see the valves way out of adjustment. Sound good?

Hello. I'm glad to see that Subaru forums can come to the same consensus as VW TDI forums. Anyway, here is what I gathered from this: I have a 2003 Legacy L that I am working on later this Fall and it has a dead #4 hole with zero (0000.0000) compression. The car has 245,000 miles on it and probably never had the valves adjusted, causing the exhaust valve to burn not to mention the 150 PSI on #1. (#3 is 180) So I need to pull the heads and have them fixed. We have a very competent Subaru shop here in town but will i be able to do all of the work on the heads? Are these engines as sensitive s a 15 year old EMO, or are they more like an old logger and you can just throw a new valve and some lapping compound at them and run it? My point is do I need to find a shop that specializes in Subaru heads or is it a job that can be done by any competent mechanic? Second question is I'm trying to find a consensus on if I sould pull the engine to pull the heads or do it in the car? I have read that it can be done but the chances of screwing it up are pretty high. I have just started to study on these engines and from what I can see it doesn't look like there is much to screw up but I may be missing something. Yes, I will be doing the timing belt carefully, but I'm just talking about R&R of the heads? Is that a difficult job in the car? If there are problems that likely occur doing it in the car, what are they? I am willing to listen and learn, so throw it at me. Right now we are in the information gathering stage and are trying to decide if we should pull the engine or not. Thanks in advance for any help you all can provide and if you need any VW TDI info, I can help.