99' civic, sohc vtec. Just replaced the headgasket. Had the head resurfaced. Now it is making a pretty loud ticking sound that seems to get louder as the car warms up. It also isn't running exactly right. Seems like it is missing just a little. Sound almost wrx'ish but not quite that extreme.

1) As far as the ticking sound goes, i had to loosen some of the rocker arms on the head so that the valves weren't sticking out so they could resurface the head. After this i readjusted the valves back to spec. Upon starting the car after reassembly i again checked and readjusted the valves. The ticking sound is still there and is fairly loud. Loud enough that I can hear it inside the car with windows up. So now i am thinking that I might have bent a valve while working with the head on the bench. Would it be fairly easy to bend the valves if I sat it on a workbench with a towel on it while working with the rocker arms etc. After thinking i may have a bent valve i did a compression test. Results 210 195 210 210.

2) Along with the ticking sound, i cant seem to get the car to run exactly right. Sounds like it is missing a little, somewhat wrx'ish. I thought I might be a tooth off on the cam gear. I have a skunk2 adjustable cam gear and have loosened the bolts on it and turned the cam with a wrench going both ways with it and have had no luck. Retarding the timing makes it want to stall out/no power, and advancing it make it sound/run really wierd. Have also set ignition timing with timing light.

If anyone can figure this out i would be really impressed as i am out of ideas.

 

recheck your valve adjustment, engine has to b cold for this at least below 85 degrees, i'd preffer doing it cold. Sounds like you might have loose valve adjustment, make sure the next size up feeler gauge don't fit in when u adjust it, but it almost seem like ur valves are too tight. But double check it to make sure. Also I would recomend you doing a cylinder leak down test which would tell u if you have a bent valve on that cylinder with da low compression.

 

poor grammar aside, i agree.

 

You guys were spot on, it was the valve adjustment. Runnin good now, appreciate the help.

 

glad it wasn't anything major

ban.