This is the second time changing the head gasket. The first time, I just took the head off, changed the gasket, then put the head back on. This second time, I took the head to a machine shop to get resurfaced and have them do a valve job. So now I have the head back and it looks great, nice and clean.

The folks at the machine shop said to make sure the head is in the TDC position before I install it back to the block. I am not sure how I make sure the head is in the TDC position. I know that the block is in the TDC position from when I first took the head off.

Here is a pic of the block:



I think this is right that the two outer cylinders should be up when it is in TDC.

Now I have set the Cam with Cam Pulley attached onto the head, and installed the Rocker Arm assembly over it. I just hand tightened the bolts holding the rocker arm assembly to the head, and have not torqued them in the proper sequence yet.

Here are a couple pics of what the head looks like now:





Before I hand tightened the Rocker Arm onto the head, the valves were all flush with the surface. But now a few are sticking out. I am not sure if they are supposed to do this.

So basically I want to know if the cam needs to be turned to a certain position or something else needs to be done to make sure the head is in the TDC position before I put the head back on the block. Or do I just torque the Rocker Arm assembly in the appropriate sequence, and that's all.

 

Top dead center on the head is basically when the number lobes are both not touching the valves (#1 cylinder has no valves open. Also there is a mark on the cam gear that you line up to the surface of the cylinder head. Cam gear usually says "top" to have that pointing up toward the hood and the two marks on the side line up with the head. Good luck.

 

oh that makes sense. The cam should be rotated so that the "UP" part of the cam gear is pointed up. Yes, that's the position it was in when it was taken off. I took off the Rocker Arm Assembly, and rotated the cam so that it is now in the proper position.

Does having Open Valves mean that on the bottom side of the head, the valves are popping out a little and not flush with the surface? Are some of the valves open at any given turning position of the cam?

 

glad you posted, im still trying to figure out everything if you start with a different head and doing TDC.

 

I think I understand now. Yes the valves for the #1 (and #4) cylinder are not open now. And the valves for the #2 and #3 cylinders are open, which seems to make sense since the pistons for those cylinders are down.

Here is a pic after turning the cam to the "UP" position.



Is this in the TDC postion now?

 

make sure you do a valve lash on it too

 

What he said... set the block to TDC and set the head to TDC as per the diagrams, and you'll be fine There's two halves to this equation.

 

Just like the diagram says. It's not as complicated as you think. Also, you can bolt the rocker assembly down and rotate the camshaft using the gear bolt. All you have to do is set the cam in place put the rocker assembly on (doesn't matter where the cam is), torque the bolts down, and turn the cam gear into place using the marks. Honda makes it very easy. Good luck!