Been waiting for weeks to change the timing belt on my son's 97 Lego.

 

Wanted to do it while on vacation and take my time, but he couldn't so we did it today.

 

I have never done a phase 1 engine before, and mis-identified the mark on the crank. I used the little arrow instead of the dot.

 

Cranked the engine - no start. Retimed with the correct mark on the crank, and it ran- really bad.

 

Put compression gage on it and cyl 1 and 2 are flat. I can't believe I did that.

 

Was in a bit of a hurry, now it's gonna cost me, because I have to leave tomorrow to go to work and can't fix it myself.

 

Looks like I'll be ordering rebuilt heads from 1st subaru or maybe Walker Subaru in Renton..

 

Since I don't know how many valve are bent, or if any guides are bad, I figure to bit the bullet for rebuilt heads.

Machine shop prices here are going crazy high.

 

So, Don't use the little arrow head on the crank gear! and don't use Haynes manuals.

 

I told my wife, in all these years of repairing cars and airplanes, I have never damaged one- till now.

Dots and dashes!!!

 

NEVER ARROWS.

 

You've got a PM coming.

this is why we recommend a good Subaru mechanic. Or else recommend SOA make them non interference again which were uber reliable....

eppoh, I almost feel your pain Whereas most things we may have timed were on TDC the Subaru does it differently because of the tendency of one or another bank to flip due to valve spring pressures on the cams. Most folks haven't configured a tool to Hold a cam sprocket. There Are all those marks and they all mean something but they can't be mixed.

I think it should be said outright to remove the sparkplugs and make sure the engine goes thru four rotations before trying to start it. i thought I knew what I was doing until binding at #1. I Knew where TDC was! It just isn't clear until reading thru this board and the tech advise that it's off by previous reasoning. Others here do it in their sleep because they really Know these engines. good luck.

Live and learn.

 

A used head or heads should work just fine, and be much cheaper than rebuilt or new replacements. I suspect someone here has already offered to help with parts.

buying new heads is a complete waste on these motors, i suppose that's why Dave PM'ed you. get a set of used heads and call it a day. all sorts of other things are going to fail before the heads, new is spending lots more money for no gains.

 

sorry to hear, that really stinks.