2002 Subaru Impreza WRX - Pops @ 5K, Timing Jumps?

[cindyhg10]

We changed the head gaskets and put the vehicle back together. Now when rpm's hit 5000 vehicle pops and timing jumps 1 tooth and will not run right. It has happened twice.

[steven kiser]

need a little back ground here. was the gaskets replaced because of an overheat? were the heads machined? if the heads were warped more than 10 thousands then you might as well call alabama cylinder heads and throw the ones you have away. these heads will warp and also have a habit of twisting when unbolted. i've had cams jamb so bad on some heads that they snap. not on this particular engine though. it does sound like that this is the issue here though. the cam is binding and jumping the belt. if i could go back in time to my learning fubar (much like this one) if i had just replaced the heads i would have saved much aggrivation, money, and had a happy saved customer.