I've been putting a motor in my son's car. He had a blown head gasket in his 212k motor that notched the head between 3 and 4. I found a motor with 135k for less than the head job. I had bought gaskets and new cams the repair the original motor before I found the newer motor. The donor motor had between 150psi and 165psi compression across the cylinders. I proceeded the install new timing and water pump chains and guides, cam phasers and solnoids as well as water pump and thermostat. The cams had rusted on the wear path on the loabs, so I replaced them too. I lubed the cams and squirted a little oil down the cylinders. Before installing the front cover I did verify the timing marks. All was correct. After installation upon initial start up the motor turned over faster than usual for a 2.2.2l and didn't try to fire. I checked for fuel pressure, OK. I then checked all my electrical connections and also where ok. I then checked compression, it was around 30psi in all cylinders. I went back an verified the timing marks on the cams and crank where ok. They were, 5 o'clock exhaust, 2 o'clock intake and the timing mark was lined up on the pulley.
There was a IAT and MAF code I didn't plug the connector completely.

What am I missing?

I messaged the wrong position of the exhaust timing mark. I watched a video to talked about installing the timing at 5 o'clock. I must have been thinking about that because it confused me.

 

5 o’clock exhaust? Should be 10 o’clock, you may have bent valves



The crank mark is at 5 o’clock

 

The crankshaft is at 5:30. There is another pic of the cam marks at 5 and 7 that is for installing the phasers not the chain.
The most common "new engine won't start" is the fuse box did not get installed all the way; it needs to click at least once no matter how tight you think the bolts are.

 

I'm sorry for incorrect description of the exhaust timing. I have watched several videos about timing and compression on the ecotec engine. The video that described installing the cam gear at 5 o'clock confused me. I was under the impression that the cam gear could only be installed in one position, and the exhaust gear timed at 10 o'clock not 5 sorry again and the intake gear at 2 o'clock.
I turned the motor over by hand while on the stand. I didn't get anything more than the rotating resistance. I did however after that spin it over with the starter to circulate some oil before installing the plugs and coils. The motor has sat for a couple of months while I have had it and no telling how long it was sitting before I got it. I checked 2 and 3 with a bore scope. There are no signs of contact from valves on the pistons in either cylinder. As all the cylinders have about 30 psi l can't see valves being the problem with no marks on the pistons. I did swap the lifters out of the original motor since the ones in this motor had rust on them just like the cams.
I am at a loss.

 

A bit of work but try the OEM cams for that engine

have you looked at 1 and 4 with the scope

 

Somebody a while ago received the wrong head in the right box from the vendor. Maybe it was the cams were reversed, I don't recall. The cams are not interchangeable.

 

I don't have a lift and I have to R&R the motor the old fashioned way through the top. I don't remove the fuse box. That's a possible headache I don't need. I torqued the cam bolts to 22ftp plus 100 degrees.

 

You can also check all cylinders with compressed air at TDC to confirm where that air is blowing to .

 

Meaning the exhaust and intake are different. I think the person in question found the head came with them installed reversed.

 

I bought OEM cams from Rock Auto. Intake cam 12611996 and exhaust cam 12604896. There is a 996 on the Intake cam and the exhaust cam looks to be opening with the timing marks in the installed position, so I don't think I installed them incorrectly and should be the correct cams.