Found this post at another board concerning the 2.2 engine: According to the 1997 Technical Referance Booklet; "Compression has been increased to 9.7/1 by reshaping the crown of the piston. THIS ELIMINATES THE CLEARANCE THAT WAS AVAILABLE BETWEEN THE PISTON AT T.D.C. AND A FULLY OPEN VALVE" Don't know if this is correct but maybe the reason I bent my valves when Idle pully came apart.

Checking my EndWrench magazine from Fall 2003, I just found the exact sentence you posted, so I guess the EJ22 was interference starting with the 97 MY. Bummer. Sorry dude

I am not very knowlegable about inner workings of engines but I thought a higher compression was a good thing, gave more power. am I completely off or just a little confused?

I would have been willing to give up the little more compression, to keep the non interference engine.