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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
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Location: VA/TN
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 Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 1:46 pm Post subject: Opinion cracked Subaru EJ22e head around spark pluig |
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I'm putting a 91 EJ22e Subaru into my vanagon. Thought I'd do timing belt/head gaskets before I install motor into the van.
This is my first time doing head gaskets on any engine.
I dropped off the heads to the machine shop. They cleaned and surfaced them. I asked them if they pressured tested them and they said no need to since I didn't have any cracks.
Get home and upon inspection one head has cracks around the spark plug. I called them and they are like "oh well drop them back off". Not good vibes from that shop.
I know the Bentley specifically states that for a VW "Cylinder heads with cracks between the valve seats or between a valve seat and the spark plug thread can be used again without reducing service life provided that the cracks are small and not more than 0.5mm wide or that only first coil of plug thread is cracked.
What do you guys think?
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan
Last edited by shagginwagon83 on Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:56 am; edited 1 time in total |
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MarkWard
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Joined: February 09, 2005
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Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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I'm not sure I am seeing a crack. Also, I see a lot of crud around the valve seats that I would not expect to see after a valve job. It looks like they shaved the head and wire wheeled the combustion chambers.
I'd give them a liquid test. Pour some ATF or WD40 into the combustion chamber with a sparkplug installed and verify fluid does not end up in the ports.
If it does, you definitely did not get a valve job.
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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
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Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:02 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
I'm not sure I am seeing a crack. Also, I see a lot of crud around the valve seats that I would not expect to see after a valve job. It looks like they shaved the head and wire wheeled the combustion chambers.
I'd give them a liquid test. Pour some ATF or WD40 into the combustion chamber with a sparkplug installed and verify fluid does not end up in the ports.
If it does, you definitely did not get a valve job. |
They did do a liquid test I believe. I will do the test myself to verify.
Mileage is unknown on these heads. It came out of my friends Vanagon and I did get to drive the vanagon with the engine installed. No issues with engine - preventative maintenance call.
They did not do a valve job. Should I have this done? Maybe I need to go to another machine shop. The bill for the clean/check was $132.
I am going to go get better photos.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50353
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| Find some mom and pop repair shop that does a lot of Subaru work and ask them for their opinion on running these heads. |
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MarkWard
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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For yourself, you can do what you want. For a paying owner, the work is in getting the heads on and off. I would have had the valve job done including new valve stem seals. Maybe a used engine with 25,000 miles no, but 100,000 miles for sure.
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shagginwagon83
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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Video of the head cracks
Link
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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MarkWard
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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hmmm, pull the plugs and see if the suspected cracks are into the threads. Another quick test is to spray the area with brake kleen or carb cleaner. It will evaporate quicker from the flat surfaces and the crack will be more pronounced if it is a crack.
When VW says cracks are ok, its between the valve seats, not to the sparkplug area.
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shagginwagon83
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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It does go 4-5 threads deep in the spark plug hole.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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MarkWard
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
| It does go 4-5 threads deep in the spark plug hole. |
I’d not be using them. Sorry.
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shagginwagon83
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| Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
| It does go 4-5 threads deep in the spark plug hole. |
I’d not be using them. Sorry. |
Thanks Mark, that is a bummer, but part of it. I'm going to try to find a new head. I also found a machine shop that will do the following:
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"Our complete cylinder head service is the best bang for your buck when getting Subaru heads serviced for a build. It consists of: head hot tanked and cleaned thoroughly, head gasket mating service decked, magnaflux penetrant tested for cracked and damage, pressure tested, valves lapped and checked (replacement valves is additional charge), valve stem seals replaced, cam clearance checked & valve lash set. Ceramic coating is an additional charge. Turn around time roughly 4 to 15 days."
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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dobryan
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syncrodoka
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| Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
Thanks Mark, that is a bummer, but part of it. I'm going to try to find a new head. I also found a machine shop that will do the following:
| Quote: |
"Our complete cylinder head service is the best bang for your buck when getting Subaru heads serviced for a build. It consists of: head hot tanked and cleaned thoroughly, head gasket mating service decked, magnaflux penetrant tested for cracked and damage, pressure tested, valves lapped and checked (replacement valves is additional charge), valve stem seals replaced, cam clearance checked & valve lash set. Ceramic coating is an additional charge. Turn around time roughly 4 to 15 days."
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That would be a service on a set of good heads to be cleaned up for reuse, it would not benefit you at this point. |
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shagginwagon83
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 5:15 am Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| syncrodoka wrote: |
| That would be a service on a set of good heads to be cleaned up for reuse, it would not benefit you at this point. |
Yes - find a used, good head - then have that service done.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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syncrodoka
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 5:31 am Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| Sure. This machine shop is doing steps above what the last machine shop did and you will have a better end product. The magnafluxing of the head would have shown your head wasn't salvageable right out the gate. |
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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Opinion on crack on Subaru EJ22e head |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| Yep. If you want long life from a head no level of crack is OK. YMMV. |
Yeah my thoughts exactly. It will eventually be a problem.
I contact AMP Performance in Asheville. They said they charge $80 for a 'core' and said they have a head they can service - which is great news.
They specialize in rebuilding Subaru motors and have heard great things. https://www.weareflatamp.com/shop/6
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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mikemtnbike
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Opinion cracked Subaru EJ22e head around spark pluig |
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Great call Brandon, AMP has a strong local reputation. If I end up going Subaru someday vs FAS (strongly leaning FAS), I'll work with AMP, for sure. Although, by the time I get around to this, maybe I'd have a legit electric option, that'd be cool to consider.
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