Hey guys! I'm setting about rebuilding this mystery head and already very confused by these cam caps. (Yes I know the head is filthy I will clean it)

The arrows, according to the internet and the manual, should be pointing towards the cam gears... but they are pointing the opposite way. I tried to flip them around but that doesn't make sense considering the endcaps (and the center cover) are not reversible.

I torqued them down over the cams as pictured (no rockers) and they plastigaged within spec, like .0023-.0033 range. If that's true, and I fingernail check the meeting surfaces in the bore, AND the cam spins nice with some assmbly lube, am I reasonably clear to send it?

 

What you have pictured above is NOT a genuine Honda head casting... it is an aftermarket one. The end caps will obviously only go in one place... so all of those are correct in your photos. For the middle three dual caps, I would compare the oil feed holes in the bottom of the oil spray bars and make sure that the oil channels in the dual cam caps meet on the same side... if not, flip the cam caps around. The center cap will have the cast-in oil channels and a small dowel and O-ring under the center of it.

 

Aftermarket HEAD? Never heard of such a thing. Thank you for the helpful guide on how to place and check the cam covers though.

 

TopLine made them years ago, but they are discontinued now.

 

Oh yeah I've seen a few aftermarket head casings show up on some of the fb classified groups. I do recall IPG parts had one for sale recently too.