Head Gasket replacement Questions
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Head Gasket replacement Questions
Going to do the headgaskets on my 1993 RA in the next couple of weeks.
I am going to do this on a budget and want to only replace the parts that are necessary right now, or would be very hard to do once the engine is back in.
I have been advised to get the following:
ARP Head Bolts
Oil Cooler
Seals and Gaskets
Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
Thermostat
A bit about the car - it is running 1.6bar boost at approx 350bhp. FMIC fitted with apprporiate fuel mods and mapping. Cambelt and idlers etc were replaced less than 200 miles ago so will be reused rather than replaced. (Head gasket started to go at Brands trackday last month and car has little road use at all)
Are the new head bolts essential?
Do I have to get the heads skiimed?
Do I need a new modine/oil cooler?
Have I missed anything and most importantly - is there a guide to engine removal?
Cheers!
I am going to do this on a budget and want to only replace the parts that are necessary right now, or would be very hard to do once the engine is back in.
I have been advised to get the following:
ARP Head Bolts
Oil Cooler
Seals and Gaskets
Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
Thermostat
A bit about the car - it is running 1.6bar boost at approx 350bhp. FMIC fitted with apprporiate fuel mods and mapping. Cambelt and idlers etc were replaced less than 200 miles ago so will be reused rather than replaced. (Head gasket started to go at Brands trackday last month and car has little road use at all)
Are the new head bolts essential?
Do I have to get the heads skiimed?
Do I need a new modine/oil cooler?
Have I missed anything and most importantly - is there a guide to engine removal?
Cheers!
#3
hi mate, i have just done my head gaskets 97 stira.. i reused the head bolts, i was told by a reputable engine builder the bolts would be fine, and had no problems.
i did get the heads skimmed +tested= £100
didnt change oil thingy.
ps, i bought the car in RYDE ,FROM A GUY called john(landscape gardener) and brought it back to N.IRELAND.
HOPE THIS HELPS
i did get the heads skimmed +tested= £100
didnt change oil thingy.
ps, i bought the car in RYDE ,FROM A GUY called john(landscape gardener) and brought it back to N.IRELAND.
HOPE THIS HELPS
#4
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
....Remove your engine - UK Legacy Forums
Regards
Jim
#5
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Wellingborough
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do I need a new modine/oil cooler?
I would say if there was any chance of the cooler picking up any debris (ie in case of end bearing failure) i would change it and being as most subaru's ebgine rebuild's are due to this it is normally done as a mater of course.
If i was just doing the head gaskets and a top end freshen up i personally wouldn't bother.
I would say if there was any chance of the cooler picking up any debris (ie in case of end bearing failure) i would change it and being as most subaru's ebgine rebuild's are due to this it is normally done as a mater of course.
If i was just doing the head gaskets and a top end freshen up i personally wouldn't bother.
#6
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cheers for the replies guys.
Any more advice would eb much appreciated. With regards to gaskets, what are best to go for in the way of uprated ones and where from, and what would the spark plug recommendations be given the car is now to be used for event and track days only?
Any more advice would eb much appreciated. With regards to gaskets, what are best to go for in the way of uprated ones and where from, and what would the spark plug recommendations be given the car is now to be used for event and track days only?
Trending Topics
#9
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
No point in changing the modine unless the bottom end has failed and the debris has gone round the oil system.
Go for the OEM thick steel head gaskets as fitted to the Vers.3/4 STi's instead of the composite head gaskets and ARP head stud kit to give a good clamping pressure.
You might as well replace the camshaft oil seals while the head is off also.
Mick
Go for the OEM thick steel head gaskets as fitted to the Vers.3/4 STi's instead of the composite head gaskets and ARP head stud kit to give a good clamping pressure.
You might as well replace the camshaft oil seals while the head is off also.
Mick
#11
I have a new pair of cometic mulilayer head gaskets which i was about to put on ebay. If you are interested in them I will sell them for £70 delivered. They
Pm if you want them.
Cheers Steve.
Pm if you want them.
Cheers Steve.
#13
Scooby Regular
The head studs are not cheap unfortunately and if you're doing a basic rebuild, they're a bit OTT at £150 most places. The standard head bolts definitely ARE reusable. I was worried about this being used to heads with stretch bolts on other lumps, but a lot of Subaru engine builders have said they can be reused and there's no particular reason to replace them unless there's something wrong with them or you're going for big power.
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Wellingborough
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The head studs are not cheap unfortunately and if you're doing a basic rebuild, they're a bit OTT at £150 most places. The standard head bolts definitely ARE reusable. I was worried about this being used to heads with stretch bolts on other lumps, but a lot of Subaru engine builders have said they can be reused and there's no particular reason to replace them unless there's something wrong with them or you're going for big power.
#15
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
[QUOTE=kyah710]
A bit about the car - it is running 1.6bar boost at approx 350bhp. FMIC fitted with apprporiate fuel mods and mapping. Cambelt and idlers etc were replaced less than 200 miles ago so will be reused rather than replaced. (Head gasket started to go at Brands trackday last month and car has little road use at all)
I would go for ARP head studs seeing what its used for.
Mick
A bit about the car - it is running 1.6bar boost at approx 350bhp. FMIC fitted with apprporiate fuel mods and mapping. Cambelt and idlers etc were replaced less than 200 miles ago so will be reused rather than replaced. (Head gasket started to go at Brands trackday last month and car has little road use at all)
I would go for ARP head studs seeing what its used for.
Mick
#16
re-use headbolts
cometic headgaskets,1.3mm multi layer steel ones,
dont bother with the oil cooler,
i would re-grind the valves in,replace stem seals,cam seals,rocker cover gaskets etc,
cometic headgaskets,1.3mm multi layer steel ones,
dont bother with the oil cooler,
i would re-grind the valves in,replace stem seals,cam seals,rocker cover gaskets etc,
#17
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Wellingborough
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#18
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am presently running around 350 and stock on an old wrx ra like mine is 240 so I am asking a lot of it. ARP studs will be used as everything else is uprated on the car pretty much and it gives me peace of mind if I wish to go any higher with power.
#19
head studs
make sure you tighten them into the block with an allen key and not finger tight as per the instructions
after cleaning out the threads meticulously
why you ask??
cos mine loosened and caused a head gasket failure
regards Andy
after cleaning out the threads meticulously
why you ask??
cos mine loosened and caused a head gasket failure
regards Andy
#21
Glad you've chosen ARP bolts - very wise choice, though you may still suffer some gasket problems in the future..... Have recently changed my head gaskets after significant coolant loss probelms. Mine is running 1.9 bar in the upper 400's (Turbo limit)
Given the price of fuel these days is your car mapped with Methonal? (you should be at least 1 litre in 10 litres of Methonal) - very good for lowering temps and you can add plenty of advance with the correct mapping
I have Iridium spark plugs in mine - NGK racing 8's fowled too quickly and 7's are for people who dont have much power........
Given the price of fuel these days is your car mapped with Methonal? (you should be at least 1 litre in 10 litres of Methonal) - very good for lowering temps and you can add plenty of advance with the correct mapping
I have Iridium spark plugs in mine - NGK racing 8's fowled too quickly and 7's are for people who dont have much power........
#22
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad you've chosen ARP bolts - very wise choice, though you may still suffer some gasket problems in the future..... Have recently changed my head gaskets after significant coolant loss probelms. Mine is running 1.9 bar in the upper 400's (Turbo limit)
Given the price of fuel these days is your car mapped with Methonal? (you should be at least 1 litre in 10 litres of Methonal) - very good for lowering temps and you can add plenty of advance with the correct mapping
I have Iridium spark plugs in mine - NGK racing 8's fowled too quickly and 7's are for people who dont have much power........
Given the price of fuel these days is your car mapped with Methonal? (you should be at least 1 litre in 10 litres of Methonal) - very good for lowering temps and you can add plenty of advance with the correct mapping
I have Iridium spark plugs in mine - NGK racing 8's fowled too quickly and 7's are for people who dont have much power........
The methanol idea sounds very interesting - we have fuel supply issues over here on the isle of wight and availability of 97 ron super unleaded can be unreliable - there is certainly no 99 ever over here.
How does the methanol work - just pop it in the tank at a ratio of 1:10?
Are there any down sides to using methanol and where can you get it from?
Any particular brand of spark plug you suggest for my car as it is now, or would iridium ones suffice for "normal" application at present and be suitable for methanol if I went down that route? Seems daft to buy spark plugs twice.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bazil_SW
Engine Management and ECU Remapping
24
21 September 2015 11:55 PM