toxictom

Both camshaft bearing surfaces ate them selves to death on the caps closest to the cam gear. This was all done within 5 mins of the motor running. no other surfaces seem like this except the two closest to the cam gears. Is it possible it could have happend from over tightening the timing belt? I couldent get it to tighten so I had to wedge a screw driver in the tensioner and then tighten the bolt. I sanded my cylinder head deck myself before I installed the head, could be possible I had a bit of grit that did not get washed out of the head hoping if so nothing went threw my bottom end. I already bought another head but out of curiosity is it possible to repair damage like this to the head at a machine shop considering that its aluminum without a real bearing. has anyone ever sleeved the caps?

civic-steve-94

Normally that is caused by over tightening the timing belt causing it to pull down on the cams pulling them into the head. I had this issue with a cylinder head, Normally the damage can not be fixed unless you find a really good machine shop.

Pro-SeriesFab

Anything is possible with welding and machine work . . . the problem becomes when a shop would charge you a couple of hundred of dollars for this and you can buy a junkyard head for $100.

I would have to evaluate your replacement cost vs what a shop would charge if I was in your shoes.

civic-steve-94

Hey Pro-seriesFab can you post the number to junkyards in atlanta? $100 for a b-series head is CHEAP!!!! last one I bought (because of the same reason) was like $350.

toxictom

I picked up a clean as f b20 head for 150 bucks in chicago, 60k miles. Most of em are like 100 to 200 $, anyways, can anyone suggest some suggestions for tightening the timing belt so i can avoid this on my new head

TomCat39

Hate to be a ***** but follow the FSM. I believe the B series is the same method as the D series of rotate the pulley CCW until three teeth have moved onto the cam gear(s) and then you tighten the pulley.

It's all in the FSM and it works like a charm as the tensioner spring does the work for you and finds the proper tension.

I tend to rotate CCW and hold my foot on the ratchet on the crank pulley to hold the tension when I go to tighten the tensioner bolt. I don't like the belt to back spin even 1 mm when I do tension.

motoxxxman

^this^ 100%

by wedging a screwdriver into the tensioner to tighten it, you WAY overtightened it. the spring on the tensioner is there for a reason, to apply proper tension as you tighten the bolt according to the FSM. the belt is SUPPOSED to be a little loose once tightened. if it's as tight or tighter than a serpentine belt, you did it wrong and its way too tight.

turbociv910

yup, what they said..

mount the belt, turn motor backwards, let spring tension belt and tighten belt. anything more and youre asking for trouble.