de_engineered

iTrader: (24)

I have:

-A broken (hydrolocked) EJ205
-An EJ255 short block in fine and dandy shape

Which heads are best (read: most reliable for a functional DD - I'll get to the fun stuff eventually) for the 255?

a) Machined 205 heads ($1300 at EQ... Also unclear about the advantages, if any to this)
b) 255 heads (+New solid valves +Other work)
c) 257 heads (+Same as previous)

Planning on keeping the 04 ECU on my car, or running 255/257 heads for the AVCS would be a no brainer, and the question would be a choice between those two.

Not unless dropping in an 06/07 ECU isn't too hard, though would that have to be BAR'd etc. due to the ECU VIN not matching the chassis?


Any other suggestions for "while I'm in there" reliability-type stuff?

So far I have:

-New hoses (all of em)
-Killer B oil pickup and baffle (already have an STi pan)
-Clutch/flywheel (mine are fine so far as I can tell though, only about 30kmi)
-ARP head studs
-Multilayer head gaskets
-Valve job/new valve bits and bobs (as alluded to earlier)


My TD04 is due for a rebuild, so I just want to put on the VF37 I had been planning to do anyway. Have all the associated parts.

Also figured why not put on my TGV deletes, phenoilic spacers, and silicone inlet.

I have a tuner for all the changes this stuff will incur.


Thoughts/comments/questions/criticism/general bickering?

de_engineered

iTrader: (24)

Anyone? I'm leaning on 257 heads with plugged oil galleys.

Superusdm

iTrader: (6)

I'd stick with 2.5 heads if you can, have heard that the 2.0 heads - hybrid builds - are too mismatched to make good power. Lots of people run them, but I don't know what type of power they are putting down or going for.

Definitely do tgvs and inlet while you're in there. If you haven't bought them already you could get the plastic ones and skip the phenolic spacers.

You may want to look at some stiffer motor mounts if you're still on the stockers. I had an 80mph vibration that I was blaming on my aluminum driveshaft and stiffer diff bushings... new mounts solved the problem - would never had guessed.

de_engineered

iTrader: (24)

Well the whole machining thing that EQ can do aims to correct the problems with just slapping on 205 heads, with extra gaskets to mimic the 255/257 head compression or not. Even talking with EQ on the phone, I wasn't clear as to advantage to it though... Just seems like something you can do.

I mean, I have "free" heads from my stock motor, again assuming they aren't cracked etc., but will that be worth the cost vs probably needing some machining on used 255/57 heads?

For simplicity I am leaning on the 255/257 now, and if cost difference in negligable I'll pony up for the 257s, as I read they breathe a bit nicer. In not having a 257 bottom end I'm not having the full STi expereince, but I can come close with the upgraded heads.

I got the Grimmspeed phenolics. I was sold when I saw the video of them lit and doing just fine for minutes after being soaked in E85 overnight. Wee, fire.

And already have stiffer mounts for the motor and transmission, Megan Racing numbers (and Whileline poly crossmember bushings). They're filled, and to the hand presmably are stiffer than stock, though my stockers when they were pulled may as well have been pudding.

Thanks for the response!