It's Alive!
 

I turned the key last night on my first engine project. The results were pretty much what I expected. It started, but ran pretty rough. Here's the rundown:

F22B1 rebuild
Bottom:
Wiseco 11:1 pistons
Stock rods
Stock (replaced) rod bearings
Stock (replaced) rod bolts
Home hone job (green scratch pad)

Top:
Mild head mill (just to flatten after blown head gasket)
Intake ported
Intake manifold port matched
3-angle valve job
All head items are stock

Miscellaneous:
AEM CAI
DC 4-2-1 Header
AEM True Power pullies
Replaced timing belt, balancer belt, and water pump
Added the balance shaft seal retainer

Here's my question: Is it difficult to time this motor? I'm thinking that's why it's running so rough. (I tried just messing with the distributor, but gave up quickly because I didn't want to advance or retard the timing to the point where I caused problems. I'm buying a timing light tonight.) Any other comments or suggestions on what to do next would be extremely helpful.

Thanks,
Brent

why not replace the stock rods??

$$

Anyway, I got it timed, and the valves (I had assumed the machine shop put the head back together to spec... not so.). It's running much smoother now, but I am still having a fairly loud ticking coming from the valve train. Now that all the valve clearances are adjusted to Honda specs, I am really at a loss as far as what I should check next. I should tell you that I retorqued all the cam holder bolts just as a precaution.

BTW, timing was easy :thumbup:

First I will say, I'm not very well up on the details of getting your engine properly tuned to run at maximum efficiency, but one thing does jump out at me.

You say you adjusted the valve clearances to Honda spec, but did you take into consideration that you're running higher-compression pistons than OEM and as such, your valve clearances may need to change?

Hmm. Good point. I think this enters into the arena of which I am fairly uneducated. I did build the motor, but I was just following directions, basically. Would I need a larger valve clearance for increased compression, or would it be a tighter clearance. I currently have them adjusted to .010" (intake) and .012" (exhaust).

When I went to adjust them there was no clearance at all. I couldn't get a feeler guage between any rocker arms/valves :eek:

Thanks for any input and/or ideas on what I should do next.