crazyman03 Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 so i've searched all around denver for the heads for my new car. Everywhere i've looked the heads are cracked between the valves. is this a common thing for the heads to crack like that? i've had a subie ever since they let me behind the wheel but i've never gotten this far into the block. any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Everywhere i've looked the heads are cracked between the valves. is this a common thing for the heads to crack like that? Very normal for EA82s. All mine have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyman03 Posted June 19, 2007 Author Share Posted June 19, 2007 there's a shop in town that says they can repair the cracks... is it even worth trying to repair? also, When i called around there were some people who said they had them for 130/each would they be cracked too or what should i expect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Back when I discovered this, the mechanic I talked to said most of them have them, don't worry, no problem. I have heard that Subaru issued something (TSB?) about them being normal. I don't know about buying them, I have a bunch of spares, doubt I have one without cracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Run it, almost all used EA82(T) heads have cracks between the valves. If its really bad, meaning it deforms the valve seat, you need to peen the crack and have the valves relapped or maybe a complete valve job done (to be safe). If the crack is severe, open the exhaust valve enough to see into the chamber(or look from the exhaust port) to see if the crack goes into the port. If so, you might as well toss it, it cost to much to repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeshoup Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Contact CCR if you're gonna get the cracks repaired. They're here in Denver and top notch in the world of Subaru engines. My rule of thumb is if I can feel the crack with my thumbnail, its not usable. Most of the cracks between the valves are fine, as long as they don't extend into the coolant jacket (and its a ways down there). Turbo cars crack more than non-Turbo cars here. The other crack to worry about is in the exhaust port, on the ridge where the two ports join. That one's major, but it also a very rare occurence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 very common. non turbo heads are rarely deep enough to cause issue. i've taken many to the shop and they have never come back not usable. turbo heads i would expect a higher failure rate on, but i haven't come across enough to really know much about those. in any event, they are common and definitely fix them. i use an aluminum head specialist that has extensive experience with aluminum heads and subaru heads. they were very familiar with fixing those cracks and they use stitch pins to fix them, they claim that's the best and proper way to fix those cracks. i've actually posted info on those before, part and size numbers...but it's a kit of sorts and probably only used by the machine shop world. welding is another option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 I've never fixed them. I've seen them go about an inch down into the ports and they are still fine. Vac tested fine, runs fine. Unless you want to spend an extra couple hundred for no noticeable difference I wouldn't fix them. The valve seats need removed. I've seen a few of these engines(2) have a valves seat come loosem And I suspect it's because a shop removed them to *fix* the cracks and did not reinstall the seats correctly. (they are suspossed to be shrunk in liquid nitro then pressed in so they expand into place, very few shops can replicate this) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Subaru TSB says it's fine. I've never repaired the cracks, and those that have tried either end up worse off (dropped valves or seats) or they just crack again anyway. I've done a dozen or more HG's on EA82's and never have the cracks been a problem. 15,000 miles on Fel-Pro's in my sedan and it hasn't lost a drop of coolant - all I did to those heads was block sand them using a peice of 2x4 and 300 grit paper. These things aren't swiss watches despite what some people think - you just have to observe caution in some specific areas. Once you know what those are it's a pretty simple matter to run an EA82 block out to 300,000 or more. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 good point, since most EA82 and ER27 heads in use today are running with cracks, i would bet most do, it is cost effective to not worry about them for sure. i always have them repaired so "those that tried had problems" isn't true, but i'd agree it may be overkill. every one that i've worked on that i know of, is still running with no issues, some with quite a few miles. there's probably few shops experienced with this, so it probably is wise to skip this step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 I just feel so sorry and sad for all the thousands of Subaru owners who took there cars to a shop for headgaskets, and got told by the inexperienced(with EA82's) shop that they need new heads. To the tune of $600 dollars. I've had machine shops refuse to touch the heads because of those cracks, even though they are fine. It's sad. But just consider those cracks as normal and don't worry. 100% of the EA82s I've taken apart had cracks there. Meaning that nearly every EA82 on the road has them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyman03 Posted June 24, 2007 Author Share Posted June 24, 2007 wow, this got filled up quickly. so i am going to go with keeping the heads the way they are and if they screw up oh well i can get another. on a side note I'm getting new bearings for the crank. (main and pisten bearings) mainly because since i'm inside there i might as well replace 'em. so yea thanks for the input. i'm hoping for my car to be up and running soon. Provided the tranny isn't screwed up. (the previous owner really screwed up this car) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 wow, this got filled up quickly. so i am going to go with keeping the heads the way they are and if they screw up oh well i can get another. on a side note I'm getting new bearings for the crank. (main and pisten bearings) mainly because since i'm inside there i might as well replace 'em. so yea thanks for the input. i'm hoping for my car to be up and running soon. Provided the tranny isn't screwed up. (the previous owner really screwed up this car) If you're going to remove the pistons and split the case, you might as well put new rings in too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyman03 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 rightfully so. I got all the bearings, the pisten rings. and a gasket kit for all of the above that could have a o-ring or gasket. hope to put it together here soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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