I recently posted a thread about why my car ('97 Prelude S) might of been overheating. The unanimous decision was a head gasket. So I went and bought one and replaced after a long day of work. I plugged everything back in, filled my fluids back up, and turned the key... and no go. The engine turned over, but did not start or fire at all.

I think I already know what the problem is, which is why I am posting this. When I took my cam shatfs out and unbolted my cam gears, I did not think to remember what position my arrows were in when I took them out! The only thing I had to tell me how they were suppossed to be when I put it back together was the two teeth on the distributer and how they lined up with the cam shaft. However, I am assuming that I must of moved those two teeth and they were not correct.

I am hoping that someone can tell me how to adjust my cam gears correctly or maybe why its not starting. Thank you (:

 

Seriously, I would head straight for the nearest auto parts store and get a Helms manual. It will give you detailed intructions for assembly/timing of the head. Not trying to berate you, but based on your post you're going to need a little more in-depth info than what anyone on here can give you. The $40-60 it costs for the manual is a lot less than what a head costs.

Also I would suggest to have your head pressure tested to make sure it's still good, but since you already have it bolted on it's kinda late for that. Hopefully you won't have to go through this again.

 

Always put the pistons at TDC when doing something like this. Then you know where top put them back to. Please be careful, if you did install anything off correct timing position, you could seriously expletive up your motor.

Also the distributor shaft can spin somewhat freely when disconnected, so that would not be a reliable indication of timing position.

 

I have the helms manual, and it shows where the arrows should be pointing when a certain psiton is at TDC. I guess I am asking if anyone can tell me if there is a way to see this without taking my head back off. Could I tell anything by looking through the exhaust ports?

 

cant u just slowly set everything at tdc (using the tdc marks)? slowly move the crank and cams gears until there at tdc?