VVT timing question

[Plova25]

A real quick question regarding the timing of the VVT for a 2.4l LT motor with the VVT on the exhaust cam. This is a follow up to my original post "03 C-70 How much damage is too much - valves hit pistons".

After head replacement I was needing to reinstall the intake cam gear and VVT gear and hub on exhaust. The crank mark was lined up when I installed the head so all is good there. After installing the cam cover I did the followiing.

1.) Marked both gear timing marks.
2.) Aligned the cams and installed the cam locking tool on the "back of the cams" (right side as looking toward engine)
3.) Installed the intake cam gear and made fine adjustments to line it up with notch on cam cover.
4.) Installed VVT exhaust gear. When tightening the gear bolt I set the alignment back about 1 1/2 cogs to I believe what is
referred to as the "rest" position. I should note that the VVT hub moves back and forth as viewed in videos but does not
"spring" back and I assume that this is because there is little oil in it since it was removed and therefore no pressure.
5.) Installed the timing belt per procedure. At this time the VVT hub was moved so that it aligned with the notch on the cam cover.
This was done when the belt was installed. Timing belt was tension was set for temperature and normal.
6.) Removed the cam locking tool.
7.) Turned the crank over by hand 2 times plus 1/4 turn and then back. Crank and timing marks all still perfectly aligned and no
sounds could be heard of valve - piston contact.

I proceeded with putting the various parts back together on the motor and I noticed that the exhaust cam where the locking tool had
been installed is not parallel like the intake cam is although the cam and crank marks are all still aligned. It seems to be off 1 1/2 to 2 cogs from what I can tell.

My question here, "is this normal?". I have noticed in some videos that the exhaust cam has needed to be aligned to parallel when installing the cam locking tool. If this is not normal then did I make a mistake in tightening the exhaust cam bolt when it was in the "resting" position and instead should have tightened the bolt in the "limit" position so that the timing mark on the exhaust gear was aligned with the mark on the cam cover ? Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Ozark Lee]

I think I understand what you are saying and I would say that it is normal. The CVVT preload winds up leaving the actual exhaust camshaft position not at the typical horizontal slot position with the timing marks lined up as would be normal with a non CVVT engine.

Other than the telltale code, P0017 I think, the visual test on whether or not the preload is set properly is that the bolts in the CVVT hub should not be at either limit after the engine is started and run. The bolts will typically will not be centered in the slots but they shouldn't be all the way to either end of the slots either.

...Lee

[Plova25]

Many thanks Lee for the reply. I thought that everything is ok but wanted to confirm with someone who has more experience than me and do so before reinstalling the rest of the parts.

I will check where the bolt is on the hub. If it simply throws a code I am fine with that, I just didn't want to damage the new valves.

Thanks Again, Jeff