I'm sure the jdm h22a is an interference motor and i think we bent the valves when resetting the timing after a head job.. the reason i say that is because after we put the head back on with the crank at tdc, we put the cams in, then the cam caps and tightened them down and they ended up being a good few teeth off from the crank and each other. So we didnt think much of it, we just rotated the cams counter clockwise to tdc and the intake cam will not stay at tdc. if we put it at tdc and let it go it immediately goes 5 teeth from tdc. what could cause this? a bent valve(s)?

 

If you set the cams at tdc, with the crank already at tdc, as you installed the head you would have no issues when installing the head. Keep in mind there is going to be compression when everything is at tdc.

 

Well, I installed the head first then I put the cams in. The exhaust cam and crank stays at tdc but the intake wont. The heads on but setting the timing is a pain because the intake cam keeps moving before i can even put the belt on it.

 

There should be holes in the cams that allow you to put a punch in it to hold it. If it's moving it's probably simply because you have high compression. You can get a punch set from Walmart for fairly cheap.

 

Okay, I'm about to go get some now. So this doesn't sound like a bent valve?

 

Feel free to take a pic of the crank and cam pulleys showing that they are at tdc if you want people to verify. The arrows on the cams should be pointing up and the lines should be to the sides aligned with the middle timing cover/head.

 

I've never bent a valve so I can't say for 100% sure. lol sry When you install the belt you can do a compression test to see if you did tho

five teeth, now that I think of it, really sounds like a lot

 

I gotta go buy another compression test kit since mine vanished I'll take pics when it's daylight haha, i hope it isn't a bent valve though. this motor is such a headache.

 

If all the valvetrain is installed, then what most likely is occurring is the spring pressure from an open valve on a different cylinder is forcing the cam to rotate off #1TDC. That's why there are the holes for the cam holding pins. This prevents the cams from rotating. Make sure the pins you use do in fact hold the cams at the correct TDC markings as shown on the head and cam sprockets.

 

Alright I'll try it out in a few. I haven't been back to look at the cam but where are the holes in the cams for the holding pins?

 

its in the cam holders around the middle of the cam, offset a few inches

 

So my h22a civic we doing as roll and instead of putting it in 5th my guy put in 3 and the car pops black smoked but it drove me to the house but next morning it turned on but as soon i made a complete stop it turned off its pops when i turn it on and it missfires what does it mean bent valve or any that can help me out

 

First things to look at would be timing marks, may have jumped a tooth or 2 on the timing belt. Once you have confirmed that your timing is still lined up properly you can look at doing compression and leak down tests to check for bent valves.

 

Discourage this advice if I'm wrong, but you could take out all the spark plugs when turning pulleys to tdc, and then put them back in when everything is at tdc. Doing that will make at least the crank easier to turn and can make tdc more accurate for you.

 

You are absolutely correct, always easier to manually rotate the engine with the plugs out. Then once you check the timing marks you are all ready for the compression and leak down tests.

 

*when I'm useful*