Camshaft Timing Alignment problem

[CFK]

Hi, just got the car and decided to replace the cam, oil pump seals, TB, WP, idler bearings & Tensioner pulley.
Aligned timing marks before disassembly and as soon as I removed the TB, the right camshaft sprocket turned clockwise out of alignment.

It easily can be hand turned 40 degrees in the same direction (CW) that it went out of alignment, till pressure starts building, but when turned back the other way (CCW) to set it to the mark it just springs back the same way (CW).

Is this normal and if so how do I align it. Never worked on an engine with rocker arms before

[CFK]

Oh, and before I started the work I did a Compression test and on cylinders 1&3 it was 142 PSI and the plugs had a oilly/gas like mixture on them. 2&4 had 148 PSI and were clean & dry.

Haynes ( ) said the specs should be between 142-170 PSI

I think I need the dealer service manual.

[CFK]

A worn cam lobe

I can't believe you have to remove the head to take out the camshaft. I assume you can remove the VC & rocker assembly to inspect the camshaft

Im just staring at this thing not knowing what to do, replying to my own thread, LOL. PLEASE HELP !!!

These rocker arms are scaring me and now I really want DOHC heads To bad the heads would probably be worth more than the car.

[gijonas]

To answer you about the alignment.It is totally normal for the sprocket to spring around once the belt is off.I wont go into detail as the forum already contains enough of the info.

read here.

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... iming+belt

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... imingbelt/

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... P_4984.JPG



BTW rocker arms are simple and most engines have them,dont worry about that.Also I have never tried it but you should be able to remove the cams in car,again never done it.

[CFK]

Perfect thanks, I guess it just felt weird since the drivers side is more difficult to turn and the passenger side quite easy. but that is a relief. I just found a similiar thread on USMB stating that you just need a second pair of hands to hold the pulley in place while installing the belt.

Another said that he used clamps to hold the belt in place on the crank and other cam pulley and slipped it on that one last.

Thanks for the help and the links, looks way better than following the haynes !!!

[gijonas]

Yeah haynes sucks.And i second the mention of using clamps or vise grips to keep the belt in position,works nice.

[CFK]

So I just went back and slid the crank sprocket on and whoever worked on it previously used the arrow on the front to align it with the oil pump hash for what they thought was TDC and made there own marks on the cam and crank pulleys. Wrong

Therefore confusing the sh t out off me, now that I realigned all of the proper factory markings the cam pulley sits aligned just fine.

So basically I shouldn't have gone off marks that someone had previously made and just re-set them to the factory marks

[CFK]

Well, now that I got that confusion sorted it was extremely easy to put the rest back together.

Only 1 more ?

I couldn't remember ever taking off a timing belt guide, don't think I lost one. Are those only on the later or 2.5 motors ?

[kimokalihi]

There is no timing belt guide. Only idlers, tensionor, crank sprocket and cam gears.

[subytech]

Yeah haynes sucks.And i second the mention of using clamps or vise grips to keep the belt in position,works nice.

The Home Depot has awsome little clips in the tool department that are coated in a plastic on the ends, best part is they only cost like $.79 each!!!

[CFK]

Good stuff, I didn't think so. We're already re-assembled and once I lined up the factory marks everything stayed in place and the belt went on just fine, everything stayed still. Just gotta throw the rad fans and stuff back in and i'll fire her up !!!

Thanks for everybody's help. As soon as I get back from Cuba I will be getting the TMIC, FCR, MBC and she'll be the nicest " Winter Beater " ever.

[beatersubi]

FWIW, I use office-style black metal clips when doing timing belt stuffs. They work pretty well and are readily available.

[CFK]

aahhh, bulldog clips. that would work great. Good idea.

Seems to be alot of PNW subie owners. I always travel to shows and cruises in Washington in my VW & Audi, might have to switch it up and bring the Subie !!!

Baker meet , stevens pass perhaps !!!