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Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:57 pm
by smh0101
Not sure what to do here.

Since I spun a bearing on my 2.2L I've bought an ej20h short block... This will mate up perfectly with my ej20h heads and ej20g intake manifold.

But I have another option.... A friend has a set of 97 STi V-Limited ej20k heads.

Is there any reason to stick with the ej20h heads? Is anyone here aware of any differences between the ej20h short block and ej20k short block that would change compression ratio or anything?

Re: Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:00 pm
by cj91legss
I wish I could give you a link Spencer, but i read somewhere, I think on here, that the 20H heads were basically the same as the 20K heads just had the extra oil and coolant lines on the driver's head for the secondary turbo.

That is unless the 20K heads are shim over bucket instead of HLA

Re: Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:48 pm
by smh0101
Yea the 20h heads are the same as the 93-96 ej20g heads but with better cam profiles and extra ports on the drivers side head.

ej20r heads are the same as 20k heads.

Re: Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:07 pm
by cj91legss
Ah so I was close. I think the deciding factor would be to measure the intake and exhaust openings on both sets and use which ever would flow more with the 20k cams.

Re: Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:05 pm
by mike-tracy
Playing devils advocate: the 20k heads will never be as quiet as a set of hla heads. You get the sewing machjne noise.

In all seriousness, sti ej20k heads are the best heads money can buy for that generation.

Re: Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:34 pm
by 86BRATMAN
The STi heads are the best bet performance wise hands down. Personally it would be no discussion if it were me.

Re: Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:39 pm
by smh0101
I know they're better for performance I'm just wondering if it justifies the extra cost

Re: Which heads on an ej20h shortblock

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 1:34 am
by 86BRATMAN
It all depends on how much it's going to run you honestly.

Also another thing to consider in this case is that the 20h is 9:1 compression instead of 8:1 so you could wind up with tuning issues.