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Xel1 · 10-24-2009, 01:53 AM

Car: '88 325i

Background: old timing belt broke, bent all valves. I got a new head, swapped the cam into it and installed. Got new timing belt, head gasket, bolts, water pump.

Problem: I line up the engine(Crank) at TDC marks properly, line up the cam at it's mark as well (as per all the articles I found online), but the engine won't turn freely now. I turn it by hand maybe half a turn and then it gets stuck (valves touching pistons). Spark plugs are out.

What am I doing wrong? All marks line up but engine won't even do 1 full rotation by hand?

I got the new head used, but all valves looked fine in it. I swapped everything else from the old head, the cam and rocker arms. Did I do something wrong when swapping the cam? It seemed pretty straight forward.

p.s. if anybody from BC can come out and figure this out, I'll gladly compensate. PM pls.

Xel1 · 10-24-2009, 01:18 PM

Update:

So I don't know what's going. Here is how it sits right now

For the engine(Crank) at the TDC mark, Pistons 1 and 6 are up.

So now, logically, valves for cylinder 1 and 6 should be closed. I look at the head to make sure that Valves for cylinder 1 and 6 are closed, but here is the problem. Valves for cylinder 1 are closed, but for cylinder 6 are open a little bit.

Cam at TDC mark

This is what head looks like at TDC mark. Valves for Cylinder 3 and 4 are open, which is fine. Valves for cyl 1 and 6 appear to be closed.

Close up of Valves for cylinder 1

from the top, cam lobes are pointing down

Now here is the problem:
Valves for Cylinder 6 are a tiny bit open?!

Whats wrong with this?!

Here is the top of valves at cylinder 6. Cam lobes are pointing to the sides kinda?

\

Do I need to do some adjustments for Valves at cyl 6?

This 21 year old car is kicking my arse.

Xel1 · 10-24-2009, 02:30 PM

One more bit of info. My old head says 2.5 and 2.7 on it while my new head says 2.7 on it. Is that gonna make a difference?

Xel1 · 10-24-2009, 02:56 PM

yes it does, one is 885, other one is 200. Xel1 you suck at life, go get the proper head.

kukuls · 12-25-2009, 10:35 PM

i did the same thing, put in the head gasket, put on the heads, dont tighten it and try to turn the motor over. The pistons should clear the valves.

10-24-2009, 01:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Xel1 newbie Joined: Nov 2007 From: Vancouver, BC Posts: 6 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	Timing Belt Help: Can't get it right?! Car: '88 325i Background: old timing belt broke, bent all valves. I got a new head, swapped the cam into it and installed. Got new timing belt, head gasket, bolts, water pump. Problem: I line up the engine(Crank) at TDC marks properly, line up the cam at it's mark as well (as per all the articles I found online), but the engine won't turn freely now. I turn it by hand maybe half a turn and then it gets stuck (valves touching pistons). Spark plugs are out. What am I doing wrong? All marks line up but engine won't even do 1 full rotation by hand? I got the new head used, but all valves looked fine in it. I swapped everything else from the old head, the cam and rocker arms. Did I do something wrong when swapping the cam? It seemed pretty straight forward. p.s. if anybody from BC can come out and figure this out, I'll gladly compensate. PM pls.

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10-24-2009, 01:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Xel1 newbie Joined: Nov 2007 From: Vancouver, BC Posts: 6 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	Update: So I don't know what's going. Here is how it sits right now For the engine(Crank) at the TDC mark, Pistons 1 and 6 are up. So now, logically, valves for cylinder 1 and 6 should be closed. I look at the head to make sure that Valves for cylinder 1 and 6 are closed, but here is the problem. Valves for cylinder 1 are closed, but for cylinder 6 are open a little bit. Cam at TDC mark This is what head looks like at TDC mark. Valves for Cylinder 3 and 4 are open, which is fine. Valves for cyl 1 and 6 appear to be closed. Close up of Valves for cylinder 1 from the top, cam lobes are pointing down Now here is the problem: Valves for Cylinder 6 are a tiny bit open?! Whats wrong with this?! Here is the top of valves at cylinder 6. Cam lobes are pointing to the sides kinda? \ Do I need to do some adjustments for Valves at cyl 6? This 21 year old car is kicking my arse.

10-24-2009, 02:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xel1 newbie Joined: Nov 2007 From: Vancouver, BC Posts: 6 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	One more bit of info. My old head says 2.5 and 2.7 on it while my new head says 2.7 on it. Is that gonna make a difference?

10-24-2009, 02:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Xel1 newbie Joined: Nov 2007 From: Vancouver, BC Posts: 6 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	yes it does, one is 885, other one is 200. Xel1 you suck at life, go get the proper head.

12-25-2009, 10:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
kukuls newbie Name: kukuls Joined: Dec 2009 From: abilene Posts: 1 iTrader: 0 Thanks: 0 0 Times in 0 Posts	i did the same thing, put in the head gasket, put on the heads, dont tighten it and try to turn the motor over. The pistons should clear the valves.

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