I checked over everything in my engine bay. My vac is -10 and sometimes whwn i go to drive it drops to around 6-4 and then almost shuts off. Whenever i rev at idle, a big cloud of white smoke comes out and while driving at high rpms. I replaced my timing belt and water pump. O2 sensor is fairtly new, new injectors, new vac lines, and other stuff i forgot. There is a loud sound that can be heard louder if i put my ear to the valve cover. I think a valve is hitting something or came off or something with my valves. I am gonna buy a new head soon, so hopefully it is that and i run fine afterwards. I just want to know the problem. I am lost as of now after checking everything. My question is could the valve be causing my low vac and problems? Thanks in advance to any one who suggests anything.

Have you tried a compression check?

You need to check your timing ASAP. If your timing is off it will cause low vac. Also the sound may just be lifter tick. Many 420a's have that.. You can run a comp check to see if all is well with your valves, but check the timing first...

I'm willing to bet that your timing is one tooth off. I had the same shit happen to me a while back after the rebuild.

That was my next suggestion :)

I know it is not lifter tick because i can hear that. This sound started after a shop put my valves in after my timing belt snapped and bent 4 valves. Ever since then it has been loud and not like before. What is needed to do a compression check, where can i get the stuff or do i have to take it to a shop. I can do it soon if i know what to get to do a compression check next.What numbers should i be looking at. How do i check for timing. I saw the arrow pointing down on the block which is where the marks are supposed to be lined up, but the arrow on the pulley doesnt match that. I have no clue whats up, sorry about sounding dumb on some things, i am trying to learn more and would like to fix the car myself to learn about our engine. Could timing cause white smoke to shoot out the exhaust, though.

I don't understand how you have a built motor and a turbo kit but don't know what a compression check is. Not being a dick but its common knowledge.

Go to a autoparts store and ask for one. You remove your spark plug, thread this unit in, hold your gas pedal to the floor and crank the motor over. (Disconnect your injector harness before doing so). A guage will display your numbers. Hopefully you dont have a large variance. I had 190 across the board when i tested mine a while back, i'm running JE pistons 8:8:1. You'll need a friend to help you with this btw unless you have really long arms.

Your right, but ever since i got the motor rebuilt, it has given me nothing but headaches. The car has not run its best since before i blew the rings months ago. I will do the compression check soon, thanks for the help. I got je 8.8:1 also, so i will post the numbers if i get them today.

It really sounds like its out of time to me. My car did the same things yours is when I put my motor back in. And I had my timing off by like 1 tooth. I had the smoke, metallic sound in the head, and around 8-10 hg on the boost gauge. Take the viewing cover off the cam gears and have someone turn the crank pulley w/a breaker bar, watch the cam gears for the 2 timing marks. They should line up straight with one another and per perpindicular (sp ?) to the ground. I'll bet this is your problem. Good luck




Oh, you don't like altezza's? Too bad, your gonna get a good look at mine.

I did the compression test. The results are: (one next to cam gears)is 230, 220, 220, 200 (one farthest from cam gears). Why do i have variance like that. What should i look at now. I think they were a little high due to carbon build up. Also, i looked at my timing and i dont find any marks on the cam gears, just some small yellow paint marks, i am just assuming those are the marks, but not sure. They are off if they are the right marks. Can someone explain the compression numbers so i get a better understanding.

Could i still have a bad headgasket even with those numbers. I have to do the test again just to double check over everything. I got white smoke constantly when i press the gas pedal, the more i rev the more that comes out. I am leaning towards that, but am not sure yet. How can i fix my timing if it is off. I just had a new timing belt and water pump installed, but want to do fix the timing myself if it is off. Do i have to take the tensioner off, or any of the pulleys?

Originally posted by freddy_00_69
Could i still have a bad headgasket even with those numbers. I have to do the test again just to double check over everything. I got white smoke constantly when i press the gas pedal, the more i rev the more that comes out. I am leaning towards that, but am not sure yet. How can i fix my timing if it is off. I just had a new timing belt and water pump installed, but want to do fix the timing myself if it is off. Do i have to take the tensioner off, or any of the pulleys?

Yes you have to take the crank pulley off and the timing belt cover,as well as the tensioner. Its kind of a pain but you can do it yourself. As for your compression #s those are very good. Are you running stock compression? Try it again and put 1 cap full of motor oil in each cyl. Get yourself a hayes manual from your local auto parts store and read up on the timing. Also there is tons of info here if you search for it. Thats how I did mine.



Oh, you don't like altezza's? Too bad, your gonna get a good look at mine.

Well, i checked my timing marks on the cam gears and they are off. I started to do everything over again to time it right. I get the marks right on, but now i think i have to take the tensioner pulley off and the tensioner bracket to make sure everything is good and not have slack like it does now. After that hopefully all my problems will be solved. I am glad to see my compression is alright.