I need someone who can pressure check my set of heads so I can get them back on my car ASAP if they're good. I called the dealership today and they told me they can't do it without them on the car and well, the motor is kinda torn apart in my garage and there's no way I'm gonna put it back together just to find out that the heads are cracked. SO, I was wondering if anyone could pressure check them for me if I sent them the heads and some cash....

When I first looked into this, my local machinist (who would have done the resurface/valve job) said no problem, that they just bolt it to a plate and plug the appropriate holes... $100/head!!! Total quote for pressure check, resurface, and valve job was over $500. JDM engine was $750, with 140k less miles and gen3 heads. Guess which way I went?

 

You got $200 to throw around? I would just look for the infamous exhaust port crack (pretty obvious on the head I saw it on, due to coolant marks on sooty port), and if I did't see it slap it on and see if it works.

 

If you want them pressure checked, look for an automotive machine shop. NAPA-type places might do it, but an independent might be more likely.

Check this out.

http://www.myclassiccar.com/HowTo/restoration/crackdetection/index.shtml

 

found it here.

http://www.penntoolco.com/catalog/products/products.cfm?categoryID=4193

 

All you realy need is a can of cleaner, dye penatrent and developer. I have used this stuff and does work. They use it in Nuke Plants to check pipes for cracks.

http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldingdepot/SKx.html

well my heads appear to have cracks in them BUT there's no sign of coolant spots in the exhaust ports. Even weirder is that teh cracks, instead of being in the center of the exhaust port, are off to one side, I believe closest to the engine. I'll have to see into that magnaflux crack checker stuff, might come in handy:)

When we had a leaker, we sent the offending head to Aluminum Head Rebuilders, Inc. for a rebuild. Cost was $150 and a $50 refundable core charge. Was on a '87 GL-10 turbo EA-82, and our son has put a lot of miles on the engine since we installed that rebuilt head. They do good work in my opinion. Here's a link for you:

 

http://www.aluminumheads.com/Subaru.html

 

Hope this helps. Rick

When we had a leaker, we sent the offending head to Aluminum Head Rebuilders, Inc. for a rebuild. Cost was $150 and a $50 refundable core charge. Was on a '87 GL-10 turbo EA-82, and our son has put a lot of miles on the engine since we installed that rebuilt head. They do good work in my opinion. Here's a link for you:

 

http://www.aluminumheads.com/Subaru.html

 

Hope this helps. Rick

$32 for a pressure check, thats more like it.

When we had a leaker, we sent the offending head to Aluminum Head Rebuilders, Inc. for a rebuild. Cost was $150 and a $50 refundable core charge. Was on a '87 GL-10 turbo EA-82, and our son has put a lot of miles on the engine since we installed that rebuilt head. They do good work in my opinion. Here's a link for you:

 

http://www.aluminumheads.com/Subaru.html

 

Hope this helps. Rick

 

So was this $150 plus another $50 ($200) or was it $150 total then you get $50 of it back ($100)? I think I'm gonna do this instead of trying to get them checked, etc. Might even be cheaper then getting a set of gen 3 heads which I'd still need to go through and replace seals and stuff....