So I finally got some money today to try and diagnose my bogging problem. Bought a timing light and set the timing, was barely off. Got some block testing liquid to test the radiator for exhaust gases but I think I need something else to do it right.

Also pulled the plugs and the number one plug is whiter than the rest. (switched them when I put them back in to see if the number one goes white again)

When I first started the car and revved it in neutral I got alot of white smoke, then took it for a drive and didn't get anymore white smoke.

So I'm pretty sure this is a headgasket problem.

The ZC uses the d16a1 headgasket correct?
Should I get new headbolts as well? Or reuse?
Thanks.

 

I reused.... just made sure they werent stripped, or anything... cleaned them up and torque'd them down..

 

run a compression test before you continue. I hope you bought one of the timing l ights with the advance dial on the back, those are pimp, I have one.. made by that one company that makes like 5 other ones..i forget.

i don't know on the zc head gasket question, sure someone does. It is recommended that you clean up the threads on the bolts and block with die/tap set (in that order). Can't hurt anything. Consider longer bolts too (if it can handle it). You have lots of options, I'm usually not the first to run out and buy a high tensil strength head bolt set for no reason (especially since i have all these tools to recondition ----).

-ryan

 

again, bad advice quadnie, hondas use torque-teel head bolts, which means they are only good the first time you torque them, If you use them again, i'm not too sure what can happen(they could break, or not function correctly who knows), but it's not recomended. If you plan on removing the head multiple times, get ARP head bolts, they are not torque-teel which means you can re-use them. otherwise, just get new ones.

on a further note, I have heard of people reusing them on several occasions, with no problems, but I have also witnessed a blown headgasket thought to be cause by seusing head bolts.

the zc uses the Head Gasket:-----1988 Prelude-----part number# 12251-PM7-00

COMPRESSION
Minimum -- 135psi (932kPa, 9.5kgcm2)
Nominal -- 192psi (1324kPa, 13.5kgcm2)
Variance Max -- 28psi (196kPa, 2kgcm2)

Timing Belt:-----1988 Prelude 2.0-----14400-PK2-004

numbers are brought to you by...http://hometown.aol.com/nosajuf/nosajuf.htm

also considerr getting the head resurfaced.

 

Which headbolts do I use? 88-89 integra? Thanks for the info guys.

 

Compression tests are such utter crap. Do a leakdown test, much better diagnostic tool.

 

Are the ZC camgears supposed to have the UP arrow directly up on the jdm zc? Mine are off a little, they won't both point straight up but I thought this was normal on this engine until I read this...

http://www.thezcr.com/assets/images/zcbook/2a-11.jpg

This is supposed to be for the exact same engine.
Can anyone verify.

 

mine are straight up, when i got the engine they weren't, and the distributer had to be so far advanced for it to tun right we had to make extensions on the dizzy.

 

How badly did it run? mabye all this bullshit is because of that. What I don't get is that it ran perfect when it was n/a.

 

how far off is it? Mabey one of the cam gears jumped a tooth on the tb?