Sonicfrog Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 Are the head gaskets identical for the EA82-T vs the normal EA82???? I just had to fudge one of mine up and need a replacement. I would really really like to finish this car today and know the regular EA82 gaskets are available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 Sorry, but to the best of my knowledge they're different...turbo ones have some different material in parts of the gasket...not sure what for. I usually try to use EA82T gaskets on any EA82. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Fel-Pro gaskets are the same. I have headsets for both, and same part number is listed for HGs for both engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Fel-Pro gaskets are the same. I have headsets for both, and same part number is listed for HGs for both engines. Yeah - and the Fel-Pro's are definately the best. The OEM stuff is 20 year old gasket tech. Use the Fel-Pro's - and they don't require a re-torque. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonicfrog Posted October 9, 2006 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 Got the Fel-Pro gasket. Thanks. As of tonight, the heads are on as are the cam shafts. Tomorrow I will put on the PITA valve covers, distributor, 2 core radiator, turbo and exhaust bits and fire the now manual 5 speed Murphy up for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonicfrog Posted October 9, 2006 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 Fel-Pro gaskets are the same. I have headsets for both, and same part number is listed for HGs for both engines. Don't the OEM gaskets have that rubber lining imbeded within the gasket? It seems that would weaken the distribution of pressure on the gasket surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Yeah - and the Fel-Pro's are definately the best. The OEM stuff is 20 year old gasket tech. Use the Fel-Pro's - and they don't require a re-torque. GD Doesnt mean the OEM gaskets are bad though. Alot of them still running around on original gaskets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Don't the OEM gaskets have that rubber lining imbeded within the gasket? It seems that would weaken the distribution of pressure on the gasket surface. Stop-gap solution. 20 year old tech. The Fel-Pro's are stronger. Also - it's common when doing these to torque them to 55 or 60 rather than the spec 47. Even tho the Fel-Pro's don't need a retorque, a little extra for the insurance doesn't hurt. I've been setting all of mine to 55 and no problems at all. I also use a harbor freight $9.99 torque wrench so who knows how accurate it really is anyway . GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Its interesting to note, that most new vehicles require retorque of head bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Its interesting to note, that most new vehicles require retorque of head bolts. Every newer vehicle that I have looked at (admittedly not a large number) have had torque-to-yield headbolts, so no retorque is practical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Doesnt mean the OEM gaskets are bad though. Alot of them still running around on original gaskets. No - mine went 230k, and it's engine #808. Definately capable gaskets. I just installed a set for a friend. But it's got to be noted that OEM gaskets have been sitting on a shelf for years, and were designed with 1985 materials. Fel-Pro perma-torque's are using the latest in improved materials and processes.... and after some extremely hairy personal experiences with them I can say they have a death grip on the gasket surfaces. I overheated an EA81 about a week after I did the HG's to what I considered at the time to be the point of no return. I drove it at least 3 miles in 80 degree weather with zero coolant. Only reason I stopped was because the engine lost all power due to pre-detonation. I thought for sure they were blown. Drove another 20,000 miles after that day - had to replace the heater core hose that blew . I recently tore the engine down for main bearings and was amazed to find the HG's looked almost good enough to reuse. Fel-Pro for life for me! GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Every newer vehicle that I have looked at (admittedly not a large number) have had torque-to-yield headbolts, so no retorque is practical. You know, i think you're right, what i was thinking was that they are now usually torqued in steps, as opposed to getting to the main torque all in one shot. clearly not retorque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 You know, i think you're right, what i was thinking was that they are now usually torqued in steps, as opposed to getting to the main torque all in one shot. clearly not retorque. All my manuals show a three stage torque - 22, 40, and 47 I think, but don't quote me on those. Close enough tho. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Interesting to hear so many votes for aftermarket HG's. I am definitely open to the idea...i've just always stuck with the factory stuff, mostly after hearing about WJM's high-compression EA82 adventures and his stories about NAPA headgaskets. My experience is limited by the fact that I've only been doing this professionally for a couple of years, so the HG's I've replaced haven't had a chance to get that many miles on them. I don't mean to steer this thread into anything like the synthetic oil arguments, but I'd like to hear more opinions, stories, etc supporting either the use of OEM or Fel-Pro HG's. (And no offense to those who have given this argument, but I don't buy the "because the OEM gaskets are a 20 year old design" claim without some sort of analysis beyond that. My entire car is a 20 year old design...does that mean it's bad?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 I don't mean to steer this thread into anything like the synthetic oil arguments, but I'd like to hear more opinions, stories, etc supporting either the use of OEM or Fel-Pro HG's. (And no offense to those who have given this argument, but I don't buy the "because the OEM gaskets are a 20 year old design" claim without some sort of analysis beyond that. My entire car is a 20 year old design...does that mean it's bad?) There is nothing wrong with the OEM gaskets. As I said I've used them too. My reasons for using the Fel-Pro's are several: 1. No retorque required. BIG plus. Quote from fedmog's web site: "These head gaskets compress enough at installation to conform to, and seal, minor surface imperfections while minimizing relaxation and maintaining adequate clamping force over long time periods." Clearly this is improved technology that wasn't incorporated into the OEM design. And the Napa/Other brands I've looked at don't incorporate it either. I've also heard BAD things about the NAPA subaru gaskets - carquest too. I aquired a problematic EA81 that had gone through 2 sets of Napa HG's. I put in Fel-Pro's and never had another problem. 2. Under ideal conditions (newly milled head, and block - with factory level finishing of the gasket sufaces) the OEM gaskets should perform just fine. However this is rarely the case. If anything I'll mill the heads *if I have to* but generally if things look alright I would prefer to just clean the surfaces very well. From my experience the Fel-Pro's seal well under "feild replacement" conditions. They conform well to non-factory level finished surfaces. 3. They are quite a bit CHEAPER. Even wholesale at my dealer EA82 gaskets are $23 each for the non-turbo gaskets. The Fel-Pro's are $15.99 each and are rated for the turbo's as well. One gasket fits all. Anyway, I recommend you give them a try. I have to admit I was skeptical about them at first too, but others on here convinced me to try them. At any rate I wouldn't buy anything but Fel-Pro or OEM. Either choice is a win in my book GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daeron Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 I don't mean to steer this thread into anything like the synthetic oil arguments, but I'd like to hear more opinions, stories, etc supporting either the use of OEM or Fel-Pro HG's. (And no offense to those who have given this argument, but I don't buy the "because the OEM gaskets are a 20 year old design" claim without some sort of analysis beyond that. My entire car is a 20 year old design...does that mean it's bad?) the truth of the matter (as i understand it from discussion here) is simply that fel-pro is a top of the line company who has dedicated much effort in developing superior headgasket technology in the 20 years since the subaru gaskets were designed and built.. the subaru engineers never looked back at what the massive long term condition of the headgaskets were, and never tweaked them because the model was all but abandoned in 1989-1990, and totally abandoned at the change of model year 93/94. Fel pro gaskets all use the same research and development in their materials and construction. SO, the fel-pro version of the headgasket has alot more effort into it than the subaru. Fel-pro is a company in existence to get people to buy their gaskets again and again... thats how they do it. I suppose whether this opinion on the superiority of their product is true or not can only be decided by the number of voices who say "i vote fel-pro." but it seems to my estimation that the vast majority of the people here who have extensive experience, and have racked up hundreds of thousands (millions anyone?) in their various subarus...... will mostly say "fel-pro" they also dont seem to need to be re-torqued like the other ones do, either. this is a factory claim, but again, im going by hearsay in saying that its legitimate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 for head gaskets i like fel-pro, OEM and corteco. the XT6 doesn't require a retorque even with factory gaskets so that's never been an issue. but big plus on the EA82's i've done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Glad to hear some sound analysis supporting the Fel-Pros. I think I'll go buy a set and have a look at them. I'm pretty much the most skeptical person I know when it comes to stuff like this, but I'm willing to give them a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 i'll also thumbs up to the over-torque method as well. i clean the crap out of my bolts and bolt holes, get them squeaky clean and i still tighten them over like mentioned above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 i'll also thumbs up to the over-torque method as well. i clean the crap out of my bolts and bolt holes, get them squeaky clean and i still tighten them over like mentioned above. Ditto...I do the specified three steps, then do one more at 55 ft-lbs. No retorque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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