Another PI swap question..

Tbuck07 · May 21, 2009

So ..sounds stupid, just for-warning..

The heads on any NPI or PI car look the same when you put them side by side, intake ports can be on the left hand side on both, or the other way around

Is there anyway to distinguish which side is the drivers side head or the passengers side head? We got the heads/cams on, spun the motor over by hand and it spun smooth..

We didnt put the manifolds/egr shit on with the heads, which we should of because those manifolds are a pain.

There are plugs on each head going towards the rear of the car, rather, theres holes but no plugs in them, I have to plug one side or both of them? Im pretty sure the holes on the drivers side are the holes for the egr bolts..

Id hate to have to take this crap apart again..UGH.

Willis_98GT · May 22, 2009

i think you'll be allright. those holes are just for brackets and the pi coolant vally line if you choosed to use it. if i remember.

Tbuck07 · May 22, 2009

I heard someone saying there was plugs on the back of the heads and they started it up and had no oil pressure, the oil shot out everywhere. Ughh

GDTrumbo · May 22, 2009

Whatever head is installed on the drivers side must have the oil gallery plug installed at the rear near the firewall.

GT

DropTopPony · May 22, 2009

yeah you need to have the oil galley holes plugged or on startup you will have a mess and have to take it apart.

Tbuck07 · May 23, 2009

so we dont have to pull the heads and everythign back off

glittle75 · May 24, 2009

you don't need to take them off as long as you can work in the tight space behind the driver side head.

to answer your question, yes, there is no difference between a "right" and "left" head. the difference is where the plugs are places in the head oil holes.

the tensioners are oil-fed. if you need a reference, you can take your old non-pi heads and set them so they are orientated like they are on the car. then look at the plugs and make sure they match up. if not, take the plugs out of your old heads and swap them over in the same holes. pretty much every oil hole on the back of the head (the side that sits toward the firewall, respectivly, needs to be plugged. there are no oil lines coming out the back. and the only thing that gets oil from those hole is the tensioners.

and yes you MUST ENSURE that they are plugged, if not you will have oil everywhere as soon as the pressure comes up to the heads. if you dont have the 'warm and fuzzzy' feeling on startup, have someone watch the back of the heads on startup, it wont take but a few seconds for it to piss out if its not plugged right.

post again if you need to and I can take some pics of spares i have. i have a set of NPI and PI heads with al the plugs in place in the garage if needed.