Had to replace the "Y" pipe and converter rot thru.  Found a direct replacement and brought to my local muffler expert.   when he called to have me pick up he tells me that he couldn't tighten the ports to the head as the studs were spinning when attempt to tighten. (one on each side)  When I get it home and do a closer inspection it looks as thought there is a spacer, or some type of fitting between the head and the exhaust flange, and the studs are in this part rather than the head itself.  I realize this is wordy but if this is the case it may be an easier fix than I first thought.  I'm not getting any help from my Chilton manual.  Any input is appreciated.

Thanx

Denem

The studs should be straight bits of rod that are threaded. No spacers or anything else should be in there.

 

Sometimes the holes get stripped, needing helicoil or timserts, etc. To repair.

those 'spacers' might already be the helicoils. 

naw, there are spacer type things that have a pipe leaving them to go into an emissions system. You can see them clearly in photos about 1/2 down this thread:

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/98113-help-with-ea81-motor-mounts/

 

I remember them from my old ea81 engine. I don't know about sourcing replacements, might have to head to the junkyard. 

maybe you could remove the spacers and drill a hole into the side and weld the studs to stop them from spinning? 

What year and engine?

OK.  From looking at the pics, and reading some of the info, it looks to me like longer studs go through those cast iron "spacers" to hold the exhaust onto the heads.  It's likely the threads are stripped out in the aluminum.  I might try one of the thread repair systems on the cast iron parts, rather than removing them and going at the heads.

yeah/engine

 

if the bolts stripped - just helicoil them, it's not terribly hard even if it seems like it is.

 

on EA82/ER27's it's fairly common for many of us to just tap and use a different size stud/nut, which is slightly larger and doesn't require drilling, lots of threads about it on here.

Edited May 17, 20178 yr by grossgary

The next SAE size up works on EA81 also. That is what I had to do with my 87 Brat when I installed a new Y pipe.

Tap the holes  using a 7/18 x 18 tpi  tap .  no need  to drill it out.  then buy  7/16   exhaust studs  . 

That's what I did, I could not remember the size. 

 

 

If you have the Magnaflow "Y" pipe you may have to elongate the holes in the flange just a little. Took me maybe 5 mins with a dremel.

Edited May 20, 20178 yr by bratman2

Just put heli-coil's into the spacers. 10x1.25. Get EJ studs from the Subaru dealer. Leave the break off tab on the heli-coil to for the stud to bottom on.

 

Very simple. Takes about 10 minutes.

 

GD