anyone with a picture of installed diamond pistons. i want to know which way the "F" goes. i cant get the motor to turn over. does the F face the timing chain or you standing infront of the motor. thanks

 

Yes, the F generally means FRONT of engine- timing chain end
Either you put the pistons in backwards on the rods/crank and the valves are catching on the relief cutaways in the piston (as the intake and exhaust valves are different size diameter)
OR

You dont have your cams timed correctly and valves are banging the pistons
Here's thread with a brief explanation of how to correctly time the cams
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/2-0l-lsj-performance-tech-47/timing-76613/

PS> Depending on how hard you "tried" to turn the engine, the damage may already be done, so you may want to pull the head again.
Wop

 

i cant get the motor to turn to check timing.

 

Pull the cams (or the head) to see if you have "contact"
Wop

 

ok we have pulled the head and the cams off 3 times now. but we didnt take off both cams. just the back cam and pulled the head off that way. do i need to pull both off.

 

Well if you dont want to pull the head again (and save a gasket) you can just pull BOTH cams and see if the engin turns. You may want to make sure all the valves "come back" to the same spring height before you try to turn it though. If not the valve is bent and the head would have to come off anyways. (and IMO should probably happen STILL unless something else is keeping your engine from turning. I assume it turned freely BEFORE the head was installed??
WopOnTour

Also were your piston to deck heights checked?? You are using an LSJ specific piston I presume??

 

yes lsj pistons and they do sit above the deck. pretty high. everything is installed to the alldata web site. so they are in right. i havent check to see if a valves are bent. now the motor wasnt blown so everything was in working order before the build. i have no idea and im running out of things to check.

 

OK so both cams are removed, the valves are all seated (springs all at same height visually) and you STILL cannot turn the engine????
What head gasket are you using???
Wop

 

take the car out of gear

 

ok i will get back to you guys tom. b\c the shop is closed so i had to leave. im using the 2.2 gasket b\c its thicker.

 

good news the motor turns over and started. everything is working great. you did have to take both cams off. i still dont know why but O well. it was weird you dont have to take the front cam off to get the head off but you do have to for some reason to get the vavles to not hit the piston? thanks for all your help.