"Timberwolf, I think you might want to take another stab at setting the timing correctly. I can imagine that this is not exactly what you want to hear, but better safe than sorry. Now, the question is, how do you go about finding the crank mark???" - I did locate the mark on the crank gear...

Mine looks nothing like yours. No mark on H.B., and the sprocket mark is an extremely small v groove on the inside(toward the block) of the sprocket that is barely visable. I have 20/20 vision and it took me forever to finally find it. It's all put back together, or I'd take pictures. There are two...

http://precisioncopiers.com.au/SNC00282Small.jpg After reviewing this thread I just want to be sure so I've posted my own pic. Are you sure the marks on your crank look exactly like this pic? Can't even begin to understand how the engine can fire up unless they are at least close. Mine looks nothin...

So how's your confidence in your mechanic at this point? Hope he didn't charge you much for the diagnosis. I'm confused about how you set the cam timing relative to the crank though. Did you realign the marks the way you thought it should look (i.e. cam and crank marks on target) then loosen the be...

Update: My wife said I HAD to get the Volvo out of the garage, so I thought I would give it one more shot. I removed the plug from cyl #1 and used a broken fishing pole and a piece of cardboard to determine TDC. I totally ignored the marks on the crank sprocket and lined up the cam sprockets. I put ...

Update: My mechanic says it's toast. I already went out and bought another car because he said it would probably be $1500 - $1800 to fix it. I have owned Subarus in the past, and liked them, so I got a 2003 Legacy Wagon (not an Outback, just regular Legacy) with only 46,000 mi on it. I got an incred...

Well you guys have given me new hope. I'm done with it though. I'm going to take it up to my mechanic and have him look at it. I am going to check TDC on cyl one though, just to verify that the crank sproket is in the proper position. To answer Lee's question, I tore it back down after I posted, and...

Well, I did the compression test. Obviously I couldn't get it up to operationg temps, because it won't run. I only tested cyliners 1-3 because they were at: #1 50, #2 60, #3 90, so I figure it's a goner. Now I guess my dilema is try to find a used engine, or buy a new car. I really hate to buy a new...

OK, I'll do a compression test. What should the compression be?

Yes, I turned the motor over by hand with a socket on the crank. It alternates between turning easy and hard (like when the piston gets to the top of a cylinder). When I turn it over, it chugs, it doesn't seem to spin freely. Will a compression test tell me if I damaged anything?