problem

[Raptor]

Leakdown test.

[john]

anyone know how to remove the head without having to redo the timing. I know you need to take the gears off on top but I am not sure what to do to keep the tension. I don't have a leakdown tester and checker doesn't rent them so I am most likely going to neet to pull the head anyhow.

[TheBlizzard]

You can zip tie your timing belt to your cam gears and then support them once they are removed with bungee cords to the hood to get them out of the way.

CRAIG

[john]

thanks

[JET]

Yep, 2 zip ties per cam gear and make sure there is spoke of the cam gear in between them. I do mine like this when I change a head gasket. Be careful with the dowel pin on the cam gears. You still need to loosen the tension on the tensioner before you do this.

[john]

thanks, Anyone know who sells leak down testers? Napa doesn't, sears doesn't and checker doesn't. Either that or does anyone know how to make one? We started to make one a while ago but had trouble finding a part or two and stopped.

[MustGoFaster]

You could have just washed the oil off the cylinder walls with gas, from cranking but not starting.

[Raptor]

That is very possible, try redoing the compression test after squirting about 5cc's of oil in the cylinders. If the numbers get better, you found the problem. One thing also I noticed when I came out to do the timing belt, the cam gears were out of phase, If they were that way when the head was bolted down, there is possibility of bent valves depending on the crank position at the time (You should always check this when bolting a head on). I would do the compression test first. That will give you the best information right away.

[john]

The crank was not at TDC and not one of the pistons was at the top of its stroke. I noticed it when putting the head down onto the ARPs. So there is not really anyway I see of the valves being bent when installing the head.

[john]

Update: Just did a leakdown test on cylinders 1 and 4. When the car was at TDC, there was a lot of air coming out the mufler and a very little coming out the intake side (bov line). The intake side was only noticable when put up to my ear or lips. Not really noticable by hand. The exhaust was another story. I could feel it with my hands over the 5" tip. I also put a bag over the muffler to see if the bag felt the pressure and it bulged quite a bit :( . Looks like I will be without a car for another few days.....