Ok i have a 96 gsr engine in my 98 civic hx, i have had it in it about a year and it has always made an odd rattling sound at about 3000 to 4800 rpm until vtec kicks in then it stops and none of my firends hondas do this, a very good mechanic (the guy that did the swap for me JOEY SONGER in forsyth ) said it is possible that its the vtec shims or something like that but anyway my question is since this engine has a few miles on it i was wonder how hard it would be to build this head myself, i like to work on stuff myself and i would like to learn how to rebuild the head since i have recently gotten new rings water pump timing belt bearings head gasket and so on, so far the only thing left is the head it hasnt been touched.

 

im thinking the lma's are worn out

 

what are lma's?

 

wheres the rattling come from. does it do it on rev or does the car have to going down the road.

 

it does it for both but its really loud when you let off the gas around 4000 to 3000 then it just stops the noise OH and it dont do it when the engine is cold only when it gets to vtec operating temp. and yes i have recently had the valves adjusted and that didnt help.

 

lma = lost motion assemblies supposed to keep the vtec rocker arm from rattling when vtec isnt engaged

 

Oh good call is there any way of checking those with out tearing into the head too deep?

 

i think you could check them just by removing the valve cover... if you push down on the vtec rocker arm (middle) it should feel like there is a spring under it and push it back up

 

thanx for all the help ill check all that out in the morning when i have so daylight.