All right gear heads - timing marks help

[juno]

So I am going to finish the head swap this weekend and I was playing with the tools last nite. I wanted to line up the heads so I can just swap over.

I have #1 at TDC and the crank tool lined up with the stud, the LH cam sprocket timing mark is at about 12 and the RH about 11.

But, the shiney links on the timing chains do not line up with the cam sprocket timing marks. And the positioning tool for the rear end of the cams does not quite fit. They have to move about a degree for the bar to line up on the two oval/flat inserts.

I know that some motors are not assembled perfectly, but am I overthinking this?
Should I just turn the crank slightly to position the cams correctly for the positioning tool and disregard the crank tool and links?
Everyting will be lined up correctly on the new motor, but everytime I see something that looks fishy and I let it go, I usually end up smelling like fish. :D

[JMan]

Juno,
I'm not a DOHC wizard by any stretch. I'm certain the cam holding tool should lock the cams in their 12o'clock position which is correct for timing at top dead center. Slack in the chains may be responsible for the misalignment issue you've run across. Why not try removing the cam holders and rotating the crank (by hand) two full revolutions in its normal direction of rotation without backing up. That still may not get them perfect due to the hydraulic tensioners on the small chains. But it may take out most of the slack and get you closer to home. I assure you it's not off one tooth on any cam or it would have lit your dash up with fuel trim codes (On a stock tune that is!).

Hope that helps!

J

[Zack]

Took Mac and I an hour to get both sides right. We were'nt using any special tools.
The dot on the crank gear should face straight down. Then line up the links on the chains.

[juno]

Thanks J-man!
I knew it was not off from a timing perspective but I have seen the cams themselves be a little off. Plus the links should have been in the right spot.

It is close enough that 'stretch' could be an issue with the tools. I will play with it some more and make a few more revs.
Like I said, if it smells fishy it usually is.

This is my first experience with a DOHC 4v. It should be as simple as a 2v as you can disregard the secondary sprockets as long as the you don't take 'em apart. But it looks twice as intimidating!!:D



Juno,
I'm not a DOHC wizard by any stretch. I'm certain the cam holding tool should lock the cams in their 12o'clock position which is correct for timing at top dead center. Slack in the chains may be responsible for the misalignment issue you've run across. Why not try removing the cam holders and rotating the crank (by hand) two full revolutions in its normal direction of rotation without backing up. That still may not get them perfect due to the hydraulic tensioners on the small chains. But it may take out most of the slack and get you closer to home. I assure you it's not off one tooth on any cam or it would have lit your dash up with fuel trim codes (On a stock tune that is!).

Hope that helps!

J

[cyclone03]

I've never done the swap myself but I do remember that TDC has little to do with lining everything up.

Start with lining up the marks before you tear it down and take note where the colored links are,then use the cam chain tools to be sure you can repeat it all when you install the new stuff.