I have done a lot of motor swaps, but have not done head gaskets on one. I took heads from a 2000 outback to a machine shop to be surfaced and have valves done. Today I got the heads back and they are KIND OF done. What I mean is, they did the surface and valves, but when I picked them up they were not completely reassembled. I have about a 1" thick piece to be put back on (which looks like it needs a gasket under it) and then I have to put the cams back together.

 

I like doing new things, but I have not torn heads apart before, let alone reassembled them. Is it actually a gasket I need, or is it an annorobic sealer. Also do I need to put a grease on the races where the cam sits.

 

Any little tips would help. If I can figure these heads out, I do live in the Subaru capital of America. I would rather figure this out, because the older 2.2 motors for the phase 1 swaps are getting hard to find.

those are often called cam carriers/cam cases. 

yes anaerobic sealant or your favorite RTV substitute.

 

assembly lube or grease or oil is fine on the cam bearing surfaces.  make sure you get plenty where it's needed but not so much it's dripping down on the headgasket when they're turned right side up to install on the engine.

 

get the FSM's online - any PHase II FSM will work for that 2000.  they're free and readily available, i probably have 4 or so i got from online for free that would work for your vehicle. 

 

any 2000-2004 EJ25 or EJ22 FSM will work for those cam carriers.  

Subaru uses Grey RTV on the cam carrier plates at the factory. Anaerobic would be a good choice as well.

 

Use assembly lube on the cams. The permatex stuff at the parts stores is super sticky so it doesn't run off until oil pressure builds and pushes it out. 

 

Be sure to pat attention to the torque spec and torque sequence for the cam carrier. They don't warp easily, but you need the bolts for the cam caps to be torqued properly so you don't distort the bearing journal, or have the bolts come loose later on. 

Thanks guys. I think I got it. I was really surprised at the low torque on the cam caps. Should i have used lock tight on those bolts? It's not t late if I need to.

No loctite.

Perfect, then I can continue.

 

Thanks