mini me problems!!!!
 

Last weekend i decided to do a mini me on my 90 crx si. i bought the z6 head off of someone on this site. when i got the head the third cylinder looked a little funny but i didnt think anything of it so i just scraped the carbon off. after everything was installed and timed it wouldn't start. i retimed it and retimed it and retimed it. it still wont start. its getting spark, its getting fuel, and its got compression---but, the compression is all over the place. cylinder 1-210/ cylinder 2-182/ cylinder 3-151/ cylinder 4- 179. the first cylinder fires sometimes but none of the others. i have no idea what it going on. also....from all write ups on the mini me it said i could use my stock a6 timing belt, but it was too long. i had to use a z6 timing belt. someone please help, this car is my daily driver.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

first id only really worry about compression on #3, others are only 30psi at the most off.. just an older engine. WHat head gasket did u use? do you smell fuel ?? check spark plugs.. smell them, if they smell like fuel you can clean them off really good, let dry, then put them back in and try again. Thats all the help I can offer, good luck, let us know what else you've check, FPR??

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

what ecu?
what distributor?

is cam timing perfectly on?

the cylinders maybe getting odd readings if any fluid would have got on the cylinder walls. If it was running fine before you took the head off I wouldnt worry about that then. Unless the head gasket isnt sealing or the valves are not sealing. You should be able to use the a6 timing belt no problem.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

ok, i smell fuel and i cleaned the plugs more than once. im nearly positive the cam timing is correct. the cam and distributer are stock from the crx. i used the z6 head gasket. i a6 timing belt wasnt even close to fiting. it was too long. the z6 fit perfectly.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

uhm, u need to camshaft from the Z6!!! think about how VTEC Works. it uses an extra cam lobe to open the valves differently, if u use the a6 cam then it wont work.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

im an idiot i was thinking ecu and i typed cam.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

ok ok phew, ,sigh of relief. If u take the head off again, check the gasket b4 u take the gasket off, make sure it looks normal. then check the valve seats. make sure u clean the plugs really good. but it might be too late and they are beyond help.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

im so pissed about this thing i think im gonna pull it back off and put my a6 head back on, and then im gonna put the z6 on ebay and sell it for 3 times more than its worth. im still really curious about why the a6 timing belt was too long and the z6 was perfect, the a6 had only 15km on it.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

Because the cam gear sits shorter.. youhave to use the Z6 belt..

You sure you had your block at TDC? Also, if you're using your stock distirbutor.. you need to hack off tow of the ears to set the ignition timing. The timing will be WAAAAAY retarded if you just bolt it on.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

i am almost positive i had it at TDC. i hacked the tops of the tabs off so the bolts would fit. to intally set the distributer i set it so the top tab was centered under the top bolt. is this right?

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

If you're on the passenger side of the car.. looking at the distributor, the one at the top, and the one closest to the radiator are the ones you have to hack up. If you don't, the igition timing won't be set correctly when you put all three bolts in.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

ok, thats what i did. i was just wondering if aligning the top tab in the center of the top bolt is a good place to start to get it started and then time it from there.

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

When you did the swap did you pull the oil plug in the block??

I did this swap on my 90 civic ex(4dr) and i made sure to pull the oil plug......I heard if you dont you could risk your engines starting ability.

The car turns over right? It just wont fire.......hmm sounds like cam timing/fuel problem.....

Good Luck

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

hrmm, something really simple u might have over looked in the excitement of the swapp... did u re-attach the ground from the valve cover???

Re:mini me problems!!!!
 

It should still start with the oil jet.. the problem is, the oil pressure gets to high in the head and causes problems because the head has it's own oil jets.

Still sound slike Cam timing, or ----, could be a bad head. Did oyu try a leak down test before you put the head on?