Zosojojo Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 (edited) Hello everyone! I just performed a valve lash adjustment on my ea81. NONE of the valves had any clearance. I loosened the valves as far as they can go but I still have no clearance on top dead center on #3 on either valve and the #4 exhaust valve has no clearance. After this adjustment I noticed a clear difference in the sound of the engine. The strokes are now more defined instead of faint puttering. Also there is a major reduction in weak hits/slight misses.I need to replace the valves. where can i find them? Edited January 21, 2016 by Zosojojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 They are often listed on ebay, various brands. If they aren't listed at present keep looking as they come up often. Prices vary widely too, I have seen single valves listed for as much as a set of four. You should be able to find a set of four for (intake or exhaust) for $25~45. Rockauto also had some last time I ordered. Valve seals, guides, seats and cover gaskets are also cheap and plentiful on both sites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 It sounds to me like you may have a hydraulic lifter style EA81. The valve adjustment procedure for these is much different than a solid lifter engine. Once the hydro style lifters are setup initially they should not need to be adjusted again. The hydro style rocker arm can be identified by locking tabs folded over each adjustment nut. If you really do have a solid lifter engine then you may have some serious valve train problems. It should be no problem getting new or good used valves for an EA81 engine. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 how many miles? should you investigate further to find out why they're warn so badly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zosojojo Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 baby's got 257,000+ I think the valves may have been adjusted like 100,000+ miles ago. I can tell someone has been in there before (scratches on the lock tabs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertmann73 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 sounds like hydro lifters to me too. valve lash should increase as cam and push rods wear i have not seen a hydro ea81 yet but have torn down and adjusted plenty of chevy v-8s in my day. to adjust hydros we used to tigten the rocker down until the play was gone on the push rod. then back the rocker off an eighth turn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zosojojo Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 Are hyrdo lifters in ea81 rare in the US? The manual I have says that hydrolifters are on the 2.2 and 2.5 engines but the 1.2 , 1.6, and 1.8 need valve lash adjustments every 15,000 miles. There is a sticker on my both of my valve covers that says something in Japanese (it might be something like "do not adjust valves"). The manual said there would be locking NUTS, but there are locking TABS that must be bent. I didn't want to believe it but I think I just adjusted hydro lifters as solid ones. WTF do i do now? P.S. Thank you for your input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 You must refer to the Subaru FSM procedure for adjusting the hydraulic style of lifters on an EA81. It is in the 1983 and 1984 factory service manuals. Someone has scanned and posted it in these forums in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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