hatchsub Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 (edited) Ok so i put everything together loosely and ran into a snag. How the hell do people put a socket on the center nut that is under the rocker arm shaft? I was no where NEAR fitting on that bolt. I have a 6 point 17...does it make that much of a difference between fitting and not fitting? My HTKYSA book says a thin wall 17. Well mine is thin wall but its no where near fitting on that one nut. Then my book goes on to say now that everything it torqued down remove the rocker arm assembles to install the pushrods...what was the point of torquing it all down if your going to disturb it anyways. Edited August 7, 2010 by hatchsub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brat82 Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 So the "Keeping Your Subaru Alive" manual, he talks about making your own socket, by grinding down a thinwall one. I've never done this, and another book says to install the head, using spacers in place of the rocker stuff, torque it all down, then remove the spacers and torque on the rocker arm assemblies. I've done it this way, and use some spare rocker pedestals for the spacers. I'd like to get one of those Subaru sockets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoneTurbo Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Subaru dealers had a special nut for this. I also have it, but I don't have any plans to do a head gasket job - due to a lack of EA engines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Use some sockets under the center bolts to "simulate" the rocker. After everything has been torqued just remove them and install the rocker then retorque those two. That's how I've always done it. I could make you a socket on my lathe if you really wanted one but the procedure above works just fine. Remember that you are supposed to retorque the bolts after a specified drive interval anyway with stock gaskets so don't worry about loosening and then retorqueing those two bolts. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchsub Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 I have permatorque gaskets so im all set as far as the retorque goes. I was wondering to myself if i could get away with doing something like that. So..because i had a gunky EA81 to use parts out of i pulled apart the rocker arm assemble and used just those two pieces where the bolts go into and torqued the heads on that way...then pulled those two bolts off and torqued the rocker arms back on. I did a final torque of 54 because of the permatorques and because of the slightly higher comp ratio. Thanks guys for answering so quick. Now on to adjusting valves for the first time...where the hell did i put my ratcheting boxended wrench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 I have permatorque gaskets so im all set as far as the retorque goes. Right - I was refering to the fact that loosening and tightening the head bolts one at at time is not going to interfere with the gasket as evidenced by the procedure called for in the FSM which calls for the mechanic to loosen, apply oil, and tighten each head bolt in turn after the engine has been run-in - the so-called "retorque" procedure. You aren't doing that, but in effect it's the same thing that's going on with those two bolts - you torque everything in sequence then you remove those two, install the rocker, and retorque them. 54 is good. That's about what I do - never had a problem so far. I think you'll be good for the life of the engine with the setup you are using. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchsub Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 Yea thats what i figure as well...either that or when i want more power build up the hydro lifter one and slap these heads on that. Now im getting ahead of myself lol. Valves are all adjusted, valve covers are on. Everything is set except the intake. Since i had .030 shaved off both heads it no longer bolts on so i have to enlarge the bolt holes . Im spent for the day though so that will be tomorrow night or something around there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the sucker king Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 So let me get this straight- to retorque heads you can: remove the two rocker arm bolts remove rocker arm and replace with two sockets used as spacers. replace rocker arm bolts torque all the head bolts in propper sequence remove rocker arm bolts replace spacer sockets with rocker arm replace rocker arm bolts torque rocker arm bolts. This is acceptable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchsub Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Yup that will work just fine. The other way is if you happen to have a spare EA81, you could take apart the rocker arm assembly and use just the section that is right under the head bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowmastered87GL Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I ran into that... I got lucky and was able to borrow a factory one from a local independent shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okie bill Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Before I knew about the spacer trick. http://ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=126184 Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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