I replaced my problem laced 86 2.0 turbo head with a 92 2.1 n/a head over the weekend. Did a surface job and some slight porting, plus valve/seat grinding, all new gaskets. Couldn't have been more straight forward. Have done a head replacement before, so no mysteries there. I decided to use the n/a cams, but on initial startup and test drive, the response was horrible. I guessed too advanced with pinging on very little acceleration, what there was of it. Decided to re-check cam timing with TDC marking. All was fine. So, knowing that the 92 n/a intake cam has a different timing pattern than the older 86, I opted to swap in the 86 intake cam as in "go with what I know works." After the swap I buttoned up the engine, turned the key and just whizzzzz from the starter. Engine wouldn't turn over. Repeated attempts got one quarter turn from the engine, but then back to whizzzzzzz. Thinking about it, the only thing I can come up with is the cam bearing surfaces are slightly larger on the 86 cam, and even with the normal torque setting on the bearing caps, it's just too tight for the engine to turn over. I now fear I may have ruined the 2.1 bearing caps. BUT, memory tells me that whenever I've tried starting the engine with the tranny in gear and the parking brake set, the starter tries, but won't turn. Just a click and no whizzzz sound. So there is the possibility that the problem is the starter. But why did that happen? Maybe this? - To align the engine to TDC marking, I pulled the spark plugs, raised the right wheel, engaged the tranny in 5th and turned the wheel, which turned the engine easily. How would that cause the starter to crap out? Because I'm parked on a slight grade and had a few feet of give, I tried a brief clutch pop while coasting forward just to prove the engine will turn over, which it did. I don't have enough room for a proper push start attempt though. Any of this make sense? Comments on 86/92 cam bearing surface diameter differences are welcome. The kicker is the engine started without a problem just before I began the cam swap chore! Frickin continuum!!!

posted by 207.200.11...

• Ouch - cam swap, no start - not timing, MS, Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:24:24 <-- Viewing This Message
  • the journal diameters are the same, jak , Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:22:00
    • got the ba**ard started..., MS, Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:17:59
      • .012 isent bad on cutting the head....., jak , Wed, 15 Mar 2006 08:46:36
        • Re: I just got it... thanks simple geometry, MS, Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:48:35
        • Re: thanks, MS, Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:40:07
        • Re: .012 isent bad on cutting the head....., Louie, Wed, 15 Mar 2006 09:45:38
    • quick cam questions, Jonathan Scupin , Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:40:52
      • Re: quick cam questions, Louie, Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:58:14
        • Re: quick cam questions, Jonathan Scupin , Wed, 15 Mar 2006 07:18:22
          • location, Louie, Wed, 15 Mar 2006 09:55:03
  • Re: Ouch - cam swap, no start - not timing, 900 Aero , Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:56:54

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