So my ea81 is running rough and there's lots of oil in the coolant so I'm going to replace the head gaskets. My question is can this easily be done with the motor still in the car? I really don't want to pull the motor. Also I'm looking at the Beck/Arnley graphite head gaskets, are these good ones to use?

part way doing mine now, EA81 in EA81 ute. The longer headbolts from the rocker shaft line up almost with the rubber bung plugs in the chassis rail, plugs inner and outer. You may need to juggle engine or have a friend do so as you guide the bolts through, or even just use the cavity for a thre point turn . Funny enough, Iam waiting on near long forgotten gaskets to shift from WA to come my way...anybody see the good T'subaru ?

 

I dropd exhaust, pulled inlet man bolts to get head off, will need to properly pull inlet off to redo on assembly

Does anyone have the socket that will be used on head nut #1 ( behind rocker assembly.) I have read about a tool fabrication using a 17 mm socket and cutting it in half. I have plenty of old junk 17 mm sockets but just cant picture the cut in my mind. If there is a tool made special I would like to know where it might be available.

I just use (2) dummy sockets or spacers to do the torque procedure. Once you are all set just pull those spacers and replace with the rocker assembly. You really don't need that socket if you use perma-torque gaskets.

You can do it with the engine in the car. you can also made your own socket for bolt #1 as i did myself!

 

2013-12-29_19-48-47_668 by MartinSubaru4WD, on Flickr

 

remember you must take of studs bolts from both blocks and do a little resurface of both blocks.

Edited October 18, 201411 yr by JuhaKankkunen