SR20 head machining+VCT delete

[renegade_ewok]

Head is off after a HG failure, and I am eliminating VCT in the head. Running an S13 ecu, cams, and HKS cam gears, solenoid was also shot so I have good reason for it.

Question: Who here has experience removing the entire VCT situation from the S14 SR20 head? Before I start poking and prodding into this head, some guidance would definitely be good...

Question 2: What is the standard to shave off of a head for a rebuild? Im sticking a 1.2 apexi on the thing with ARPs

[HYPNOTIK]

I could be wrong but to get rid of the VCT I think all you would need to do is change out the intake cam gear for a S13 style one. Then just don't plug in the VCT solenoid since you are using a S13 ecu anyway.
As for the head, just shave enough to make it flat. Shouldn't be much.

[Om1kron]

Originally Posted by HYPNOTIK

I could be wrong but to get rid of the VCT I think all you would need to do is change out the intake cam gear for a S13 style one. Then just don't plug in the VCT solenoid since you are using a S13 ecu anyway.
As for the head, just shave enough to make it flat. Shouldn't be much.

wrong...

there is a thread about this, search for "s14 head on s13" block. explains the changes needed to be made to the head.

[jspaeth]

I just had my head milled, and the guy took off 0.004". This is not enough to really effect compression ratio, as I have done the calculation.

If you take off a similar amount and use a 1.2 mm Apexi, you will be fine.

[renegade_ewok]

Alright, from looking around and feeling around the head it seems that there is 1 oil opening leading to the solenoid... Is that all that needs to be blocked? Nothing extra that leads to the VCT cam device because that, too, has a port that is obviously pressure based.

[renegade_ewok]

Originally Posted by Om1kron

there is a thread about this, search for "s14 head on s13" block. explains the changes needed to be made to the head.

Thanks, exactly what I needed. Didnt know what to search.

Problem with those threads is that I am putting my S14 head back on my S14 block and the machine work pictures in those threads are nothing to do with my project. I just need to know what VCT passages to block off and not to worry on how the S13 block is different and not the timing chain tensioner pressure source on the S14 head which I dont need to modify.

I need confirmation that the only thing I need to block off is the oil source to the solenoid and plug the solenoid hole (machine work and a simple brass/steel plug).

[garagelu]

If you want to get rid of VTC, just unplug the VTC solenoid. You really don't need to do anything else if you don't want to. And either leave the solenoid in there or find a plug to replace it with.

The way that works is once the VTC gets a 12v source to it, the solenoid opens and lets oil through a passage to the VTC cam gear and resulting in the VTC to be "turned on." If you unplug the VTC plug, there is no way of getting power to turn the solenoid on so VTC will not work.

I would get a s13 intake cam gear just to get rid of that bulky VTC cam gear anyway. And unless you decide to put it back on later, you can sell those things for decent money. But looks like you already have aftermarket cam gears so thats taken care of.

But like I said, no need to plug any ports up. If you guys ever get a chance to study a s14 head, its pretty cool to check out how the oil flows to the VTC gear.

[renegade_ewok]

Yeah, but you gotta realize that if there is a oil passage in the head with no backpressure on it.... Yeah, lower oil pressure everywhere in the head. There will NOT be a solenoid in the head. Its gone, out. I am just putting a plug on top of the VCT opening (a steel plug with a half inch drive in it or something...) and if you read OP I have HKS cam gears to replace the gears.

Just pulling the solenoid out and leaving that oil passage with no backpressure is completely irresponsible. I want to simplify the motor, but it takes effort. And, in theory, if the head is designed to flow the same oil amount with the addition of that entire setup, I should be getting slightly higher oil pressure everywhere if it is plugged. The gain will probably be minimal though.

Correct me if I am wrong.

This motor had a bad VCT rattle and I dont know if it is the cam gear or the solenoid that went bad so I dont want to sell either. Not gonna hand people something that is broken. If there was a way to verify the solenoid, that would be sweet.

[garagelu]

Yeaaaa......you're thinking way too far into this.

Think about people with oil cooler setup. The oil has to run through 4-5 feet of line, so wouldn't this lower the pressure also.....? Much more that you're situation here.

And the head doesn't get its oil source from that passage anyway. There are 2 ports coming up from the block through the 2 head studs in the middle of the block and up into the camshaft oil squirters.

Study the engine and think about it before you come up with these conclusions.

If you don't want to listen to me, that's cool but you are thinking way too far and wasting you're time. If it makes you feel better, take your head to a welder and have him weld up the oil pressure hole for VTC. Waste of money and time imo. Or just go find a used VTC solenoid and put it back. I believe that solenoid is normally closed so if that solenoid is in there, it should keep oil from flowing through it.

[HYPNOTIK]

Originally Posted by garagelu

If you want to get rid of VTC, just unplug the VTC solenoid. You really don't need to do anything else if you don't want to. And either leave the solenoid in there or find a plug to replace it with.

The way that works is once the VTC gets a 12v source to it, the solenoid opens and lets oil through a passage to the VTC cam gear and resulting in the VTC to be "turned on." If you unplug the VTC plug, there is no way of getting power to turn the solenoid on so VTC will not work.

I would get a s13 intake cam gear just to get rid of that bulky VTC cam gear anyway. And unless you decide to put it back on later, you can sell those things for decent money. But looks like you already have aftermarket cam gears so thats taken care of.

But like I said, no need to plug any ports up. If you guys ever get a chance to study a s14 head, its pretty cool to check out how the oil flows to the VTC gear.

Exactly what I thought...

[renegade_ewok]

I had a massive VCT rattle - no point in saving the cam or the solenoid. I dont know which one is bad. Head is apart already.

[Z33dori]

Originally Posted by garagelu

Yeaaaa......you're thinking way too far into this.

Think about people with oil cooler setup. The oil has to run through 4-5 feet of line, so wouldn't this lower the pressure also.....? Much more that you're situation here.

And the head doesn't get its oil source from that passage anyway. There are 2 ports coming up from the block through the 2 head studs in the middle of the block and up into the camshaft oil squirters.

Study the engine and think about it before you come up with these conclusions.

If you don't want to listen to me, that's cool but you are thinking way too far and wasting you're time. If it makes you feel better, take your head to a welder and have him weld up the oil pressure hole for VTC. Waste of money and time imo. Or just go find a used VTC solenoid and put it back. I believe that solenoid is normally closed so if that solenoid is in there, it should keep oil from flowing through it.

x2, def way over thinking it. The main holes that file the oil squirters are a inline with holes in the block, they added the hole for the VTC, it should have no effect on you oil squirters for your cams, and the rest of the valve train.

[garagelu]

Originally Posted by renegade_ewok

I had a massive VCT rattle - no point in saving the cam or the solenoid. I dont know which one is bad. Head is apart already.

Search the forums for VTC rattle. It's the cam gear that makes that sound. Either way, have you ever heard a solenoid make a rattling sound....? No....

Give the solenoid 12v and see if it clicks. I doubt the solenoid is bad.