I know that it is impossible to tell what is wrong with my car without it being opened so I will give the symptoms and cause.

On the freeway while accelerating I did the dreaded miss-shift with a bad outcome. The car still drove but after slowing down I noticed that it kinda sounded like a piston was miss firing at lower rpms. There was also a loud clicking noise. I had to drive the car approx 30 miles back home in this condition. The car now stalls if the gas isn't pressed and is hard to start. The starting problem is really hard to explain. A good car will start like ta..ta..ta..ta..vroom but this one starts like ta..ta..taaaaaaaaaaa..ta..vroom only if gas is pressed. I didn't smell anything burning or see any oil dripping.

I hope that it is only the valves or even the complete head but not the block. I've changed a transmission with my helms manual but I am afraid that I don't have the confidence and tools to do head work. If the head is the problem I'll probably just change that as a whole.

Is changing the head as a whole easier than a transmission in an h22a swapped civic?

 

you have a bent valve. The misfire is lack of compression in the cylinder, along with the starting and idling problem. When the valve bends, it never fully seats and therefore increases the valve clearance and will tick loudly. Do not drive the car and risk any further damage.

 

mis shift? what is the car revving too? its sad to hear that you might have a bent valve. check your distributor out too before you get too into it.