I posted this question in the newbies section a week ago with no response. I really need this figured out, though, so I am posting it here now. I have a very early 90's JDM EJ20G I am preping for install. The only "internal" repair/maintenance I would like to attempt before doing so is to remove the HLA's and soak them. These are the type that are in the head, not the end of the rocker arm. How do I so? I don't want to break these. Looks like there is a trick to this.

Also, if someone could direct me to a manual for this engine, I am looking to buy one. I don't even know what to ask the parts store people for since this engine did not exist in the US in 1990.

Thanks!

I don't have the answer .. but ill tell you that the valve cover gasget you will need is very hard to come by

mine get loud when the car has sat but gets quiet after ~5 min
i also run 5-30
i say its not worth it

Thanks for the info. Let it ride... Hmmm. I suppose I could. This car will be a toy so it isn't critical that it be flawless. Still, if someone knows how to remove these I would love to know. I already removed the valve cover so this isn't a deterrent. Besides, the gasket looks o.k. Still supple so I think I can reuse it with a little silicon. Upon inspection of the HLA’s some of them feel a little sticky when they move up and down. This makes me nervous. I had an Isuzu Rodeo once that had bad HLA’s when I got it. Sounded like a diesel until I tore it all apart and switched them out. I really want to avoid this sort of hassle with the engine in the car. PITA.

Again, anyone know of any repair manuals that will cover this early stuff?

pm sent

The '96 DOHC Ej25 uses the same HLA's, and you could go buy new ones to replace the bad ones. Many guys swear by seafoam for clearing up HLA issues. It is very rare that they go bad, and it is usually that they are clogged. Many people have good success switching to synth with more detergents to make them run better.

I have always removed and bled my EJ22 HLA's but those are simple to get out. I was recently inside of one of these Ej20G's and didn't see an easy way to remove the HLA's. The '94-96 WRX FSM does cover them and shows them out of the buckets, but personally if I had issues, I would probably just go buy new ones with the buckets from the dealer...

I have a Legacy DOHC factory service manual as PDF. It also describes the lash adjusters - which are exactly the same as the SOHC adjusters, only mounted differently inthe head itself instead of in the rocker arm. There's a very small spring/circlip that holds the adjuster, actually a plunger, in place.

Push in the plunger, remove the small spring, remove plunger. Then you have access to the adjuster itself. These are a biatch to get out. Use pliars with very good grip, and pull them out at once with force.

Make sure you have spare springs, as they tend to get lost and you'll never find them again.

It's only an engine out job, forget it with the engine sitting in the engine bay.

If you need partnumbers for gaskets and all, I can post them here but will have to look them up (we got these motors in Europe in the Legacy Turbo MY92-94).

Marnix,
Just for clarity, have you got some pictures? which SOHC heads are you referring to? I have seen 3 different types of HLAs:

DOHC Ej20G legacy off to side under stub rockers
DOHC Ej20G/H WRX/Legacy under bucket (same as USDM DOHC Ej25 '96)
SOHC Ej18/20/22 in rocker arms

Can you help me see the light?

Marnix,
Just for clarity, have you got some pictures? which SOHC heads are you referring to? I have seen 3 different types of HLAs:

DOHC Ej20G legacy off to side under stub rockers
DOHC Ej20G/H WRX/Legacy under bucket (same as USDM DOHC Ej25 '96)
SOHC Ej18/20/22 in rocker arms

Can you help me see the light?
DOHC EJ20G Legacy and SOHC EJ18/20/22 use the same HLA units but in a different way.

Will see if I can post some pics/diagramms from FSM later today.

Please do. I have both in my possesion and just don't see how they are the same. But I have also not removed the HLA from under the buckets on the EJ20G. If they were the same, that would be great from a service standpoint...

With DOHC EJ20G Legacy I mean the heads with the rockers! I didn't get round to uploading the pics yesterday, will try tonight.

With DOHC EJ20G Legacy I mean the heads with the rockers! I didn't get round to uploading the pics yesterday, will try tonight.

Well,
That makes me say, "huh?":huh: even more. Those look NOTHING like our Ej22 HLA's...

http://www.vdengineering.nl/pics/early_hla_sohc.JPG
http://www.vdengineering.nl/pics/early_hla_dohc.JPG

Well,
I'll be damned. I never pulled the pivot off and didn't realize the HLA was buried so deep in there. Makes me much less wary of those heads as that's yet another service part that's readily available...

Hey Marnix;

Do you have anyway to check if the early WRX and Ver1/2 STi HLAs have different part numbers? I have seen a couple references that the STi parts were lightweight variants.

-Rob

Will check my JDM parts CD-ROM tonight. My wife's out so I can spend a quiet evening with my laptop!

I have a Legacy DOHC factory service manual as PDF. It also describes the lash adjusters - which are exactly the same as the SOHC adjusters, only mounted differently inthe head itself instead of in the rocker arm. There's a very small spring/circlip that holds the adjuster, actually a plunger, in place.

Push in the plunger, remove the small spring, remove plunger. Then you have access to the adjuster itself. These are a biatch to get out. Use pliars with very good grip, and pull them out at once with force.

Make sure you have spare springs, as they tend to get lost and you'll never find them again.

It's only an engine out job, forget it with the engine sitting in the engine bay.

If you need partnumbers for gaskets and all, I can post them here but will have to look them up (we got these motors in Europe in the Legacy Turbo MY92-94).
Marnix
Could you elaborate on the lash adjuster procedure please?
I have the rockers & valve train out, everything but the hydraulic followers.
I see these are held in with circlips, how does one remove the circlips?

OK figured that out but what kind of pliers did you use to pull the actual adjuster out?

No pictures for me, but are they these?

http://www.vincentfurniture.com/photos/subaru/rocker2.jpg

I yanked the whacky part (the knuckle?), then you can easily get the hlas out.

I stuck then HLAs into lacquer thinner and squeezed and squoozed and squeezed again, over and over, until they were clean and empty.

I got the plungers out by pushing them down and removing the fine wire circlip with a dental pick. (Just as Marnix said, I lost 2 of em even with a magnet stuck to the plunger when removing)
But apparently I need a really awesome set of skinny needlenose pliers to get the actual hydraulic lash adjuster out?

Yeah, grip like a mofo and pull. They will easily pull out, but you need to really get a good grip on them.