Got my heads back from the shop. Big disappointment- but that is another story.

 

Anyway the shop owner says there is a "gasket or something" that goes between the camshaft cap- some people call it the cam cover, and the head. I don't know, since this is the first Subaru I have ever done.

 

I can't find a gasket listed for it. What, if anything goes between the camshaft cap, or cam cover, and the head?

 

The camshaft cover I am referring to is the carrier for the rocker shaft.

If this is a 2.5 SOHC head, the cam cap is sealed with a thin bead of sealant. You will notice a relief around the outside edge of the cap where it mates with the head. More is not better. Just enough to get a nice thin squeeze out. Make sure to use new cam seals as well.

There are a couple O rings on the older 2.2 heads. The rear of the drivers head has a big rubber plug seal. All can be seen here as numbers 3 and 6 http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/us_b11/type_5/engine/camshaft_and_timing_belt/illustration_1/

 

The 2.5 as far as I understand you just use sealer like Qman said.

The gurus here like Anaerobic sealer. Really weird stuff, it won't dry if left to open air. Any that gets squeezed out into the engine won't dry up and become a potential blockage. But what is on the mating surface of the cam plug will dry to bond in about an hour.

I found it in a copy of the Subaru factory maual. It calls for a bead ( about 3mm) of 3 bond sealer.

 

If also says that a special tool is required to align and install the cam oil seal. Can it be done without the special tool?

You can use a seal installer or a piece of suitably sized PVC pipe or even a very large socket. You want to try and push on the outer edges of the seal evenly so the seal goes in straight.

I use PVC as a seal installer. The same piece works for the crank seal.

 

A little Ultra Grey in those corners you were asking about.

I use PVC as a seal installer. The same piece works for the crank seal.

 

A little Ultra Grey in those corners you were asking about.

 

Ultra grey. Is that an alternative to Three Bond 1280B? I can't find that stuff anywhere.

Ultra Grey is a Permatex product - easy to come by.

 

Never had an issue with it. I use it everywhere on a Suby engine. Baffle place, those cam cap corners, oil pump, oil pan.

 

Do some searching here. It's commonly used.

Okay, I'll try permatex

 

BTW are these little gouges in the edge of the head chamber gonna cause any problems?

 

If you can't feel it on the mating surface I wouldn't worry about it. What I mean by "feel" is, slide a straight edge over it, and if it snags then get a file and knock it down. Be sure to carve towards the chamber if it needs smoothing out.