HELP with i head swap

[ginger1340]

recently i swapped the head off of my i motor onto my eta block. i kept everything stock on the bottom head (crank, pistons, etc).

from what i read, i could put the 885 head directly on the eta block with stock pistons. the fitment would be fine but the compression ratio would be really low which would be perfect for boost which was a distant plan of mine. i put the head on and when i went to hand crank it, i could not get a full rotation. from the feel and the sound of it, i believe the piston is hitting the head.

so my questions: does anybody have this setup? (stock eta block mated with stock 885 i head). am i able to use stock eta flat topped pistons with the 885 i head? is there any other problems i should be looking for other than my suspicion that the pistons are hitting the head?

thanks r3v

austin

[Swanny]

Timing is off. Double check your cam and crank marks.

[ginger1340]

Timing is off. Double check your cam and crank marks.

I don't even have a belt on. Shouldn't the Pistons be able to have a full movement along with the valves? The engine is not in the car or anything. It is sitting on a stand.

[Swanny]

Its an interference motor. There's no way to have the head on and rotate the crank without a valve getting in the way.

Unless of course you don't have a cam installed in the head at which point all the valves will be closed.

[ginger1340]

Its an interference motor. There's no way to have the head on and rotate the crank without a valve getting in the way.

Unless of course you don't have a cam installed in the head at which point all the valves will be closed.

So what you're saying is that once I get the timing right and the belt on, I should be able to hand crank the engine with a full rotation? But until then the head of the piston is up against the valves thus prohibiting me from getting that full rotation. Correct?

[Swanny]

Exactly

[ginger1340]

Exactly

Fantastic. I appreciate your help immensely!

[e30onBBSs]

So what you're saying is that once I get the timing right and the belt on, I should be able to hand crank the engine with a full rotation? But until then the head of the piston is up against the valves thus prohibiting me from getting that full rotation. Correct?

Yes. Like he said, they are interference engines which means the valves and pistons could touch if the engine isn't in time, because the valves and pistons would overlap inside of the cylinder if there was nothing from stopping them. That's why when a timing belt breaks there is so much carnage, as the pistons and valves wanted to occupy the same space.

And stock eta+stock 885 works

[Ether-D]

How hard did you crank on the crank? Do a compression test when you get your belt on. You may have bent that valve. Good luck.

[ginger1340]

How hard did you crank on the crank? Do a compression test when you get your belt on. You may have bent that valve. Good luck.

Not hard at all. I'm sure I didn't bend the valve.