Ok story goes like this.

I was getting a pressurised water system, and once i did a block test it did start to turn green, signifying headgasket faliure. now the car wasnt over heating as my defi gauge was catching the early heat and notifying me once the top pipe was empty and had no water.

so with these results i stripped the engine out and took it apart. on first glance there was no physical signs of headgasket failure, so i had the heads check and they are flat no warping and no need for a skim. (check with a proper flat edge designed for this not a metal ruler), now my mate recons there were very small points where you could see gasses crossing to the water chambers so we think this maybe the case.

now the problem i have is do i get the heads pressure checked. im running 1.5 bar of boost so i think my headstuds have streched due to probably being 13 yrs old and the boost level and this is the reason it has gone.

whats your thoughts. is there a real need to get the heads pressure tested. this really sets me back with funds as its over £160 just for this to be done.

 

Apparently, you can remove up to 5 thou (<0.005" or <0.13mm) from the block halves' deck surfaces.

And you can also skim the heads... but by how much, don't know. merlin24 will know...

 

yeah that is correct and to be honest i could just give my heads a good clean and they will be fine. its just the pressure checking that im unsure of.

is it common for head studs to stretch in high boost situations?

 

Not impossible obviously. But it's not common with the Subaru head studs.

But... a brand new OEM set are only £37 or so........

 

buy arp bolts dont be tight or you will end up doing it again soon

 

That's what I'd do too... but I think Mr D's on something of a VERY tight budget.

 

mate if my origional bolts lasted 13 yrs then im sure some new ones will last just as long. plus im turning my boost down any way, i dont need 1.5 bar of boost now. and i dont have the £180+ for the apr head studs.

 

sorry i dont want that to look like im being a *****. but i have been looking into the head studs and i know what your saying and if i could afford them then i would buy them. i do want to. but like i said getting the car pressure checked will cost in excess of £160 and i am trying to look after my pennines. im doing all this my self to save as much as i can. but im not buying cheap parts. im buying the right ones. just only the ones i need to buy

 

I'm in the same boat as you, I'm poor and need to replace my head gaskets. Doing this on the cheap has cost me £800 so far and I still need to buy oil and coolant, and I've been doing all the work myself.

Fair enough you can knock £200 off for the clutch I put on, but it's still a good whack of cash.

If you are looking to scrimp then you shouldn't have bought an Impreza, there's plenty other cheaper cars out there

 

who said i was SCRIMPING??? all im saying is im doing what needs to be done and nothing more. i put genuine parts on. i do the work that is needed. im not tight by no means but i want to do what i need to do and going out and spending £180+ on arp bolts when i dont need to is just something i choose not to do. subaru didnt build the car with arp bolts and im only running 325 bhp+ and im not going any more with it (plenty of ppl are running 350+ with standard bolts


one thing to point out is that doing all this i have bought every single gasket brand new. timing belt and all pulleys. headgaskets are on order (cosworth ones), headbolts will be genuine. and i have done everything my self. i have spent less than you have but i have the money to spend more. correct oil. and filters, coolants and repairing other bits and pieces that need doing.

i have already spent the £350 on my clutch and the £250 on my flywheel and all the other very high amounts on parts.

 

MR D buy some ARP bolts you cheap skate i bet you got plenty of money

 

There's a used set of ARP studs/nuts on eBay for a BIN of £105...

 

I would rather have a set of new oe ones running 325hp. And i definetly wouldnt buy 2nd hand head studs. They could be stretched and could have been runnin serious boost.

 

Me too.

Just that Mr D is being cautious (and rightly so) with his expenditure - so it was mentioned just in case he'd consider them. I was just keeping his 'options' open.

But I do agree that it wouldn't be a sensible/wise move.