How do you tell without removing the heads if a GC8 engine is closed deck ?

Thank you

 

hatching marks behind the crank sensor normally.

 

It doesnt make any difference tbh, its the internals that suck but if you have a 1993 or 1994 model year wrx/sti then you may have one (if its not been replaced due to engine failure...)

Tony

 

also the ends of the cyliners are connected to the case with more metal and with small holes for the water flow, not like open dec they are connected a few places and very big holes for water flow, the close decs are better for big bhp as the cylinders tend to move and leak compression on open dec blocks,
hope that helps,
phil.