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, 201610 yr by Zosojojo

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.

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! 

how many miles?  should you investigate further to find out why they're warn so badly?

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).  

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 

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

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.