do you need to take the head off to install cams, valve springs and retainers in a B16a2?

And long should it take to do the install?

 

No, you don't have to. You can hook up an air compressor to the spark plug hole and regulate it to about 100 psi to hold the valves up while you remove and install the springs.

 

it'll make things easier if you take off your head, but it isn't a requirement. The air pressure thing works (just take your cams out first). Or just make sure whatever cylinder you are working on is at TDC.

 

yes if not taking off the head make sure you have compressed air in the cylinders other wise you valves could drop down into the cylinder, creating more work for yourself

 

I can vouch for the "make sure the cylinder is at TDC" advice. Don't ask how I know. The first valve could take hours. By the time you get to the last one it'll take 10 minutes. Buy the special tool from Harbor freight for doing it without removing the head. Use a gob of thick grease to hold the keepers in place while reinstalling them. And make sure you're pressing straight down and square on the spring when you reinstall the keepers otherwise they won't seat. Also, buy a couple spare keepers. If you lose one on the weekend when the dealer is closed you'll be pissed. Stuff a rag in the oil passages near the valve you're working on so you dont drop a keeper into one. And get some long needle point tweezers for putting the keepers back in.

 

I have a ghetto way of keeping the valves in without even using air to hold the valves up. Get some soft cloth rope and just feed it in through the spark plug hole until the chambers all full and the valves cant drop down.

 

I'm also in need for a valve adjustment, I guess that will done automaticly during the cam install since the valves drop out when you take off the head????

Thanx guys.

I'm not doing the install myself, in fact it's being done at the dealer 45$/h straight time while still keeping my warranty.. only 45 000km on the motor.

They said they needed to take off the head, and that it would take about 6hours. I was a bit skeptical cause I heard before that you didn't necessarily need to take off the head. I would've thought the Honda Tech knew that

They put some cat cams into my friends B16B last week, so now the CTR ones are going into mine!

 

yeah, I've heard of that one before too. Either way works.

 

no you dont have too but i think its best too. if your gonna do your valve springs retainers, and cams might as while do the whole thing. take the head off and port and polish it and do the valves. youll like that better


[Modified by W.ZeroB18C1T, 6:16 PM 6/29/2002]

 

no time or $$ for port and polish... remember the Honda dealership techs are doing the work.


Ok I've been told it would take about 10 hours for the install.. is that accurate??

And I was thinking, are the valve srpings and retainers really worth it?? I mean it's costing me an extra 500$ for them and the install.

 

Spend the $450 Dollars your gonna use on Labor...Buy a Helms and a Few tools and learn to do it yourself man.

Put that $$$ towards some more mods, or a Porting.

Suprdave