EA81 Heads

[mountaingoatgruff]

i searched around a bit and found in a post by GD that there seems to be two types of ea81 heads - small intake valve and larger intake valve heads. the reason i ask is because i just got a set of replacement heads that don't match my originals.

 

i read the part that said solid lifter engines using larger valve heads retain the two 10mm bolt locations on the block, but there's no bolt holes for them on the heads. i also read the part saying hydro lifter engines don't have the 10mm bolt locations on the engine or the heads.

 

so i'm wondering:

 

1) were ALL hydro lifter engines build with large intake heads?

 

2) the heads i just got have what look like "feet" that go over the 10mm bolt locations on the block instead of the holes for the bolts. would this mean they should have the larger intake valves?

 

i threw a caliper on an intake valve from each head and the intake valves in my old heads are a hair over 39.5mm. the intakes in the pass side replacement head also look to be just over 39.5mm. the intakes in my driver side replacement, however, are about 41.5mm.

 

i ordered the heads from aaron's wrecking, in the seattle area iirc. qman told me to call delta camshafts, who then told me to call these guys. i called them today and they want me to return the large valve head (at my expense, of course:mad:) so they can send me another small valve head. the guy said the two 10mm bolts were discontinued in 82 to make room for the asv flanges and the larger intake heads are just for hydro lifter engines. wtf??

[mcbrat]

i searched around a bit and found in a post by GD that there seems to be two types of ea81 heads - small intake valve and larger intake valve heads. the reason i ask is because i just got a set of replacement heads that don't match my originals.

 

i read the part that said solid lifter engines using larger valve heads retain the two 10mm bolt locations on the block, but there's no bolt holes for them on the heads. i also read the part saying hydro lifter engines don't have the 10mm bolt locations on the engine or the heads.

 

so i'm wondering:

 

1) were ALL hydro lifter engines build with large intake heads?

 

Yes

 

2) the heads i just got have what look like "feet" that go over the 10mm bolt locations on the block instead of the holes for the bolts. would this mean they should have the larger intake valves?

 

i threw a caliper on an intake valve from each head and the intake valves in my old heads are a hair over 39.5mm. the intakes in the pass side replacement head also look to be just over 39.5mm. the intakes in my driver side replacement, however, are about 41.5mm.

 

All hydro lifter engines, and 83/84 solid lifter engines (manual trans) also have 2mm larger intake valves resulting in a 1 HP increase in engine rating.

from this thread... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=70761&highlight=large+valve+heads

 

i ordered the heads from aaron's wrecking, in the seattle area iirc. qman told me to call delta camshafts, who then told me to call these guys. i called them today and they want me to return the large valve head (at my expense, of course:mad:) so they can send me another small valve head. the guy said the two 10mm bolts were discontinued in 82 to make room for the asv flanges and the larger intake heads are just for hydro lifter engines. wtf??

 

see red...

[mountaingoatgruff]

thanks, man. i hadn't seen that thread. i guess by what GD said there i couldn't use the larger intake heads on my solid lifter block if i wanted to since the rockers and pushrods are different.

 

or...would i be able to replace my pushrods and rocker assemblies with hydro parts to be able to utilize the larger intake valves with my spfi? are the two styles of pushrods the same length and will the hydro rods fit into solid lifters? i'm sure i won't do that much right now, but i'd still like to know - just for future reference. i guess i shoulda just got that damn brazing rod and fixed my old head!!

[GeneralDisorder]

thanks, man. i hadn't seen that thread. i guess by what GD said there i couldn't use the larger intake heads on my solid lifter block if i wanted to since the rockers and pushrods are different.

 

Sure you can. Just bolt on your old rocker assemblies to the large valve heads. It's the rocker assemblies that are important in the equation, not the size of the valves. Only 82 and older used the small intake valves. As you have small valve heads already that's another data point indicating your engine was replaced or the heads were.

 

Either rocker assembly will fit either head. The heads themselves are interchangable across all EA81's except the turbo's.

 

What you cannot do is use the hydro rocker assemblies with your solid lifter block.

 

GD

[mountaingoatgruff]

i was waiting for you to clarify this one, GD. i have both sets of heads on the bench and i planned on sending the large valve replacement head back for a small valve one. good thing i waited, huh?

 

i'm also about to make a run to the local pick-n-pull as soon as the babysitter gets here. a friend at work told me he saw a "funny lookin old japanese wagon" that looked like mine there as a recent addition. with any luck, i'll find the heads i need there and i can send both of these overpriced mismatched heads back.

 

also, if fate should smile on me today i'll let everybody know what other good parts i find cuz i know by recent experience they're getting hard to find and expensive around here.

[s'ko]

i was waiting for you to clarify this one, GD. i have both sets of heads on the bench and i planned on sending the large valve replacement head back for a small valve one. good thing i waited, huh?

 

i'm also about to make a run to the local pick-n-pull as soon as the babysitter gets here. a friend at work told me he saw a "funny lookin old japanese wagon" that looked like mine there as a recent addition. with any luck, i'll find the heads i need there and i can send both of these overpriced mismatched heads back.

 

also, if fate should smile on me today i'll let everybody know what other good parts i find cuz i know by recent experience they're getting hard to find and expensive around here.

 

so are you looking for a set of solid lifter heads or hydro lifter heads? I have a set of heads from an 82 in my garage. One of the heads is disassembled b/c I was practicing some porting. If you want them give me a PM.

 

BW

[mountaingoatgruff]

alas, fate has smiled upon my car and i!!!

 

there's a new crop at the local pick-n-pull. i found an 80, 83, and 84 hatch (one each) and an 89 wagon! i didn't look over the 80 much, it was there last time i went, but it has a clean lookin front end. the 83 and 84 are both d/r 4speed cars. 84 now has an intake bolt snapped off in the pass head (hey, it was pretty damn rusty and i stopped before i ruined the rest!! ), and the 83 aint got no heads no more cuz they're in my garage!!

 

i got a set of heads w/ bigger intake valves including rocker assemblies, pushrods and pristine valve covers with 148k. the long block is beautiful too, i may go back for it if its still there after my hatch is running.

 

i looked at the 89, and whaddya know... a d/r 5speed car. it's ecu is now sitting in my garage as well.

 

there's a bunch of good stuff out there for those of you who may be interested. pretty much all that's missing is bits of int and what i've taken. i'll be going back soon for that d/r 5speed (w/ 128k!) and some more off the 84 so let me know if anyone has hunting requests.

 

i can't express how much better this makes me feel about how things are going with this car! i've regained my original enthusiasm and can't wait to get this thing done again!!

[mountaingoatgruff]

so are you looking for a set of solid lifter heads or hydro lifter heads? I have a set of heads from an 82 in my garage. One of the heads is disassembled b/c I was practicing some porting. If you want them give me a PM.

 

BW

 

 

thanks man, but please see above. i think i'm gonna practice some porting on my old set of heads.