OK, I got a compression tester. Ready for this?

 

1: 80

2: 110

3: 70

4: 100

 

Whoo-boy, I'm glad I got a new engine. Did I mention it ticks like a mofo?

 

The motor has about 5-600 miles on it. Opinions?

Well if I had the NEW engine, I'd be taking it back to the person that I got it from and ask them why the compression on a brand new engine was so low. But I wish I were there to check this out. Could you humor an old man and tell me exactly how you set the timing on your engine. I want to know where each mark is when you set the belts.

... Could you humor an old man and tell me exactly how you set the timing on your engine. I want to know where each mark is when you set the belts.

"Haynes' Syndrome"???

1: 80

2: 110

3: 70

4: 100

Hey Singl----1 + 3 don't look good. Try directing an ounce of oil on each piston and recheck their compressions. If pressures come up, there's a ring sealing problem. If pressures don't come up, then it could be head gasket, valve sealing, or valve timing problems. Checking valve timing would be easiest to start with. If that's O.K. I'd pursue a refund.

"Haynes' Syndrome"???

Could be, I wonder what he is using for a manual. It just seems like the timing isn't quite right, all around, but especially on the right bank (1 and 3). It seems like the valves are still open as the compression stroke is happening. This can happen when the timing in 180 degrees out. It wouldn't be the first time that someone had thought that the belts were correctly installed only to find out that the information that they used to install the belts was incorrect, or not followed correctly.

It wouldn't be the first time that someone had thought that the belts were correctly installed only to find out that the information that they used to install the belts was incorrect.

Nothing would make me happier than it simply being the t-belt.

 

I used the USRM article to do the belts. It went like this:

 

Set the fly wheel to the three marks, turned driver side pulley so the dot was up, installed belt, set the tensioner. Then cranked till the dot was down on that side, flywheel came back round to the three marks, and put the pass side pulley with the dot up and installed that belt.

 

Here's the thing, none of the articles or threads I've read say anything about compression stroke, they just say line up the 3 marks. Soooo.... Does that mean I din't turn the crank 360? Ie; when I'm turning the crank to bring the drivers side dot DOWN, I should turn past the down position and keep turning till it's pointing down again?

 

When the 3 timing marks come up, which cyclinder should be compressing? 2?

 

I'll go try that regardless....

Here's the thing, none of the articles or threads I've read say anything about compression stroke, they just say line up the 3 marks. Soooo.... Does that mean I din't turn the crank 360? Ie; when I'm turning the crank to bring the drivers side dot DOWN, I should turn past the down position and keep turning till it's pointing down again?

 

When the 3 timing marks come up, which cyclinder should be compressing? 2?

Hey Singl----Looks like you did it right. Turning the crank 360 will turn the cams 180. With the driver cam notch up, #2 is at TDC on compression. With passenger cam notch up, #1 is at TDC on compression.

Did you recheck compression with oil?

firing order is 1-2-2-4. the farthest back terminal on the cap, to the right of the screw or clip is #1. the rotor rotates counterclockwise

 

#1 cylinder is towards the fron on the passenger side.

 

at o deg tdc the rotor will point to the hill holder spring, the dot on the passenger side cam will be aligned witth the ridge casted below the SUBARU on the cam cover

 

one time i worked on theis subaru and it had a distributor cap that fit the disty, but the numbers were out of order and the rotation was the other way. threw me off i had to re-align the belts. of course i had to do this motor with the absence of correct marks, as it was an ea82 motor in an ea81 brat with the 4spd's flywheel

 

for every 360 the crank rotates the cam rotates 180

 

another possibility is maybe a rocker has fallen out from under the cam. this is possible if the cam tower was installed with the motor in the car

 

hope this info helps i would say go through the timing belt procedure, remove the belts and start over if you have to

firing order is 1-2-2-4.

 

2 Fires twice? Geez, that's what I've been doing wrong! j/k

 

Seriously, all the wires, timing stuff is correct.

 

The good folks that built my motor think there is likely a valve issue, and are going out of their way to make it right.

 

So thanks all for the replies, but I guess it was out of my hands the whole time...

oops sorry im not the best at typing its actually 1-1-1-1, no its really 1-3-2-4:grin: what kind of shape are the heads in? maybe the heads dropped a valve seat. if i could only take a look at it myself i could help you better. good luck

 

 

2 Fires twice? Geez, that's what I've been doing wrong! j/k

 

Seriously, all the wires, timing stuff is correct.

 

The good folks that built my motor think there is likely a valve issue, and are going out of their way to make it right.

 

So thanks all for the replies, but I guess it was out of my hands the whole time...

The good folks that built my motor think there is likely a valve issue, and are going out of their way to make it right.

That should take a little less time and money than a ring/piston issue.Let us know how you make out. Good Luck.

for a supposed new motor, thats messed up.. I'd be getting my money back along with another good engine for them wasting my time.

 

It's fixed. Delta ground the cams wrong. I now have stock cams and all is right in the world.

 

CCR rules, btw. Thanks guys/girl!