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Have you removed the spark plugs and checked the compression yet? I bought an L200 with a stretched chain and low enough compression to not start and run. It cranked like it had good compression so until I checked with a gauge I dismissed that as a possibility.
Hello again Andy
Finally got some good weather out here. Did a compression check and virtually nothing. Maybe 30. Verified the gauge on my Civic and it read 180.
Removed the valve cover and the chain is connected looks good and has about 1/2 inch play between the top gears.
If the chain is intact but loose you may have got lucky. Are all 4 at 30 or are any at 0? If they are all at 30 you can probably install a chain and guide kit and get your engine back running. Are you up to a timing chain job on this car? It requires patience and a repair manual. The driver’s side engine mount and the belt tensioner needs to come off to get the front cover off. I can see from your picture that your cams are out of time.
Going left to right first was 30 initially then nothing. All others were very low. That's why I pulled the plugs and tested the Civic. To see if the gauge was OK. It tested 180. I will test again tomorrow but its not looking good is it?
Do you have compressed air? Zero means bent valves, anything over that is good news. I have a leak down tester that blows air into each cylinder the check leakage. I removed the chain and turned the cams to close the valves and aired up the cylinders. I verified no bent valves on all cylinders then installed a new chain kit. If you have bent valves it is just more work but it is worth repairing if it is a nice car.
Checked all cylinders again. Looking at the engine from the front of the car I assume the #1 is far right. If so #1 and #4 have 15 PSI and #2 and 3 have zero. The chain moves the cams and it seems tight. The marks on the cam gears line up at 10 and 2 o'clock. How could it jump time if the chain is tight?
You said there is a half inch of play in the chain between the gears. That is how the cams got out of time. The intake and the exhaust may appear in time with each other but they are not in time with the crank. The valves and the pistons occupy the same space but at a different time in an interference engine like ours. When the chain wears or a guide starts to fail the valves bend where they hit the pistons. Now you have to decide how much money you are willing to put into this car.
First of all thanks for all the help. So a chain and a valve job. Well that's a project for another day. We have a 69 Roadrunner engine to put together first.
These I understand. Everything is adjustable and easy to get to.If it don't start it might be one of 3 things.The body and interior are done.
383 4 speed with a 500 lift cam, 915 heads, Edelbrock RPM manifold 750 Holley and Doug's headers. Should be fun.
Well thanks again and I will try to get in touch with you when we tackle the Saturn.
02-04-2019, 01:13 PM
