The Engine Tick - I Found It!

So, finally got that triple-square (double-hex) tool that I've ordered... It works like magic! Well, I suppose it was designed to be used on those head studs... So lesson learnt, dont try to use an allen key, it wont work! Anyway, the triple square even got the rounded off head stud off! It took a little bit of light hammering, but once the triple square bit was in there, it turned the rounded off stud with little effort. So I separated the head from the rest of the block... finally!

A few discoveries...

Cylinder 1 - WTF! Little plastic bit jammed in the intake tract.

Cylinder 2 - Normal

Cylinder 3 - Normal

Cylinder 4 - Another little plastic bit jammed in the intake tract.

So, this was what was causing the ticking noises from the head! It must have been the valves hitting the plastic on the way up... Also, did a careful examination of the cylinder bores and pistons... Everytime I did a compression test, one of the cylinders always came up a little lower then the others...

Heres the visual proof of this! Compare the positions of the two outer pistons. Note how the left piston is not REALLY at TDC, while the right most piston is... Probably explains why I never managed to get over 200whp, even when running 10.5 psi!

Now, have gotten to the stage where I can really do no more on the engine without the right tools. Will be calling a friend for access to his facilities! :-)

Also, still waiting for the last of the manual conversion parts to come in... the shifter shaft is still not here, nor are the clutch lines... *sigh*