After cam swap, no compression in cyl #1

[gsxboost19]

So my friend just did a cam swap in his 96 talon tsi. It has the stock 7 bolt engine in it. He just had a cam swap done from stock cams to FP2's. He also replaced the timing belt and put in 3g lifters. After they got it done the car ran like crap. We did basic stuff that needed to be done anyways like plugs and wires with no changes.

The problem has been traced to an oiling or lifter problem. Cyl 1 in always wet inside. The other three cylinders are fine. This morning he noticed that the lifters on cyl 1 were not working correctly. He moved the two lifters from cyl 1 to 4 and vs versa and same problem. Then he put oil into the hole of the cyl 1 lifters and started it up. It ran great for about a minute then back to the same as before. Cyl 1 still wet and not working, cyl 4 was fine.

Just now he did a compression test. 130 on 2, 3, & 4, but nothing at all in #1. The lifters on the intake side do not compress ever. They just stay solid. What would cause this? Why would the lifters not compress? The lifters are obviously good as the problem stays with the cylinder and not the lifters. And since the engine ran great with oil in the lifter hole I can only assume the valves are fine as well.

Here are some pics so you can see what I am talking about with the lifters.

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Any ideas?

 

[92AWDHX40]

Sounds like your going to have to pull the head and check your valves in cylinder one.

 

[romeen]

Agreed^^ Check for bent valves.

 

[BogusSVO]

before you pull the head, to check for bent valves, perform a leak down test, with the cams in, then another with the cams out, or the followers removed.

IF the leak down shows issues with the cam in, but not the cam out test the base circle of the cam lobe could be to large and cracking the valves open to alow the compression to escape.

to verify this , with a microcomter measure the base cirle of the cam on #1 then the base circle on one the other cyl that are not giviving issues.

yes, is is a VERY rare occurance, but can happen.

 

[Rideit636]

Did he forget to bleed one of the lifters? I have a good feeling that he may have kissed a valve. I would put compressed air to the cylinder (leak-down tester, or a compression tester hose will work) and see if you have air leaking out of the intake.