Is there a special socket of some kind that can reach the nut behind the rocker arms on the EA81 heads during the retorquing sequence? It is at an awkward angle that cannot be reached with a regular 17mm 

Look in you front wheel wells, there will be a couple rubber plugs you can pop out. Through the exposed holes you can get to the rocker bolts.

You can torque the heads using two large sockets as spacers in place of the rocker arms. When you are done with the torque sequence then remove the long bolts and re-torque those two bolts to the final spec with the rockers installed. Make any sense?

Edited July 1, 20169 yr by Crazyeights

Look in you front wheel wells, there will be a couple rubber plugs you can pop out. Through the exposed holes you can get to the rocker bolts.

I'm aware of those holes. That is not the bolt I am referring to. I am referring to the head stud BEHIND the rocker arm.

 

You can torque the heads using two large sockets as spacers in place of the rocker arms. When you are done with the torque sequence then remove the long bolts and re-torque those two bolts to the final spec with the rockers installed. Make any sense?

So what you are saying is, 1) take two sockets, and put them between the rocker arms and the head, then 2) put the bolts through the sockets  3) torque everything down 4) remove the bolts/sockets 5) put the bolts back on without the sockets and retorque them... did I interpret that correctly?

Do not put the rocker arm set itself on just the bolts from it. Do your torque then remove the bolts and spacers and install the rocker arms.

1) Do the first torque in sequence without the rockers installed by using sockets as spacers on the two long head bolts.

2) Remove the socket spacers and re-install the rocker arms.

3) Torque the two long bolts that hold the rocker arms on for the second time and your done

Edited July 1, 20169 yr by Crazyeights

Could make your own tool :
 

Taken from Here : http--,,--//www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/121926-ea81-tool/

Cheers, Bantum ...

 

 

I made a socket like that picture for when I had to do this on one of my older engines. I just used a decent quality socket,and ground it down to fit. I didn't have to weld or braze it to the extension.