background: i have a sohc zc motor in my 90 Si and it was not getting compression and i put a new timing belt on and still nothing, it does get fuel and spark, so i pulled the head and there is not any drastically bent valves, but they do look suspicious. anyways if i go to the junk yard and get a head from a 4th gen civic(d16a1?) will it work on the zc block? and are the pistons supposed to have little notches in the top where the valves go or are those from the interference? thanks for your help, guys

 

You mean the d16a6-thats the 88-91 Si-the d16a1 is usdm dohc 86-89integs-the head should work-Im not familiar w/sohc pistons so for the last 1-i dont know but, if your unsure....keep bumpin......my $.02 worth half that.

 

if your zc is sohc like you said you want the d16a6 head and yeah the notches should be there, they're the valve reliefs so you get no interference

 

so there is no interference at all? or just for when its all lined up right? is it possible that my valves are bent or ruined? they look like it but i can not tell for sure. thanks for the help