Timing Mark alignment and adjustment

zanzabar · Post by **zanzabar** » 14 Nov 2010, 22:54

Why are aa-ezra's marks different than confused_al's? Mine looked like Al's and I was unsure of how to line it up exactly. I did not use a cam lock tool.

aa_ezra · Post by **aa_ezra** » 15 Nov 2010, 00:22

MAN, and thought i was done. good think i have not done anything else to it.

The reason for me doing the timing belt is because i had to do the head gasket and the cam gears were taken off and and i adjusted them to what i could see were the original markings. took out one of the 3 bolts holding the cam gears and made sure the hole the bolt goes in was centered from a pdf file i found on a shop manual link somewere made sure that Camshaft marks on the rear of the engine had the groves lined up corectly and then adjusted the cam gears so that they were on the center of the v mark. HEADACHE! So the correct setting is to align the marks closer 'inwards" on the part of the "v" mark that it pointing downards correct?

So what would you suggest i do Jerrymcc?

Looks like in my picture i am off by 1 tooth it looks like?
I could not get a good picture of the crankshaft but i will try again but it looks similar to that of confused al. but i do see how it is slightly off the little notch on the gear.

I think my bottom crankshaft alighnment is "spot-on" as i did realize after looking at it that i had to look down at an angle and not staight down as it gave the apearence of it being in alignment. I shot for the tab on the oil pump to be centered in the groove that the notch is on.

Now im Confused. took me 10 min just to get the crankshaft aligned, as it kept jumping a little past each time

Sorry if some of this makes no sense in dead tired and a little loopy

please please suggestions

Post by **confused_al** » 15 Nov 2010, 07:27

zanzabar wrote:Why are aa-ezra's marks different than confused_al's?

The top 2 marks, IMO, is relative references since the top cover is a piece of plastic, which has been moved around over the years. In my case, the top cover was cracked pretty bad and was replaced ($15) after that pic was taken. That is why I found the bottom mark was more important to me, it took me three tries to get it "spot-on". Yes, the camera had about 15 degrees angle shooting down. However, if you try to line up the "V"'s (\ and /) its right there.

This is a set of pics from Bay13; http://volvospeed.com/Repair/timingbelt2.php

: CamPulleysR.jpg (20.86 KiB) Viewed 8884 times

: CrankGearR.jpg (16.48 KiB) Viewed 8884 times

Retired MVS Contributor · Post by **Retired MVS Contributor** » 15 Nov 2010, 07:30

Don't take anything apart yet...Move the crank so that it is spot on, and if the cams are also, you are good to go...My point was that if you do not get it spot on, you wil have difficulty getting the belt to go on easily...

Remove the spark plugs when trying to spot the crank...Engine compression will fight you if you don't...

aa_ezra · Post by **aa_ezra** » 16 Nov 2010, 10:28

link for Reference made below for cam gear timing marks page 10
Timin mark

i guess i'll use my toothpick trick again. i used a toothpick to align the camshafts in the rear so that the grooves on the end would be parallel with the seam that connects the top cam cover to the head. I guess i could do the same to make sure the crankshaft is set.

Since i can't find a picture and i'm still not 100% sure exactly what you mean jerrymcc. I found this shows the alignment marks perfectly and they seem be both centered But, the exhaust cam gear has the timing mark a little of centered to the left and closer to the tooth, The Intake cam gear has the timing mark dead center between the teeth (in the goove).

My Gears howerver seem to be in reverse of the picture and im 100% i put the gears back exactly as they were originaly. car had some 100-180k miles i would asume it had a belt change sometime in it's life or esle it would have ripped no?

In reference to the timing marks on the gears Confused all's picture have the timing marks on both gears the exact same.. what gives!

I'm going outside right now to see what i can do hopefully i don't put dynamite under the car and blow it up.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 16 Nov 2010, 20:40

The adjustable cam timing can mess you up, particularly if you are working at the outset with a worn/stretched belt. My suggestion is to center the bolts in the slots on the cam gears and work from there. The adjustably will let you tune the car for more low end grunt or high RPM speed but centered is pretty much where they all came out of the factory.

Center the timing pulleys, put on your new belt, roll the crankshaft through by hand a couple of revolutions and recheck the timing marks. If they line up less than a tooth you should be good to go.

...Lee

aa_ezra · Post by **aa_ezra** » 18 Nov 2010, 15:43

So this is where i am at now and i triple checked to make sure the crankshaft was centered and my exhaust seems to be the same perfect from what i can tell but the Intake now more counter clockwise and the belt from intake camshaft down to the crankshaft is very tight and i can't imagine if i am off 1 tooth. but i could be worng

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 18 Nov 2010, 17:01

You look fine so long as the crankshaft is lined up.

...Lee

aa_ezra · Post by **aa_ezra** » 19 Nov 2010, 10:52

Ok Just to be sure. Are you supposed to line up the crankshaft like example "A or B" or do you line it up down the center like it's shown on the picture?

Post by **tjts1** » 19 Nov 2010, 11:05

A little bit of whiteout could have saved you a lot of grief.

Timing Mark alignment and adjustment

Re: Timing Mark alignment and adjustment