timing belt question

[mgsx98]

so i'm replacing my headgasket, i read that first you got to remove the timing belt and so i did.

this was the thread i was following.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/182787-how-change-your-timing-belt.html

i got to step 11 when i realized that i had to set the timing to TDC before taking the belt off or so i think so? im not sure so if this is ok tell me. i think i already messed up my valves.

the belt is off and i tried lining up the marks as best as i could.

 

[jemsoccer]

They say to line the marks to TDC to help keep everything timed when you go back to install everything. It will not hurt the motor or head if everything is not at TDC when you disassemble. In reality, if you were to mark the belt and pulleys, you would not even have to worry about trying to set timing later. Just us a good white marker to mark everything (and don't wipe it off).

Now you will just have to go through the hassle of setting the timing when you re-install the belt, no big deal.

 

[beating4g63s]

When tearing it down it doesn't matter where the belt is, it helps to have it set at tdc. but if it's not at tdc when you take the head off adjust the cams with I believe it's a 17mm socket to tdc and before putting the head on make sure 1 and 4 pistons are all the way to the top you can look at the crank plate and see a notch that lines up to I believe it's an arrow on the block, and the oil pump gear goes at say 10 o'clock there is an arrow that matches up. then continue with the write up. if this is your first time then check the timing marks and the tensioner 100 times before starting the car.

 

[evileclipse909]

Though it doesnt matter when you take it off, make sure your pistons are NOT at dtc when you spin the cams into place. Line the crank so that it is about 1/4 turn away from tdc. Or better yet, just set the pistons all at the same hight, spin your cams into plase, put the paperclips on the belt, then turn the crank to tdc. Line up the other pullys and you'll be golden once you have everything lined up.

 

[mgsx98]

good.. i was worried about that.

now one more thing what would happend if instead of turning clockwise you turned counterclockwise?
i kinda did it... i felt like a retard not knowin which way F***

 

[mentalTSiAWD]

I have heard people say that it is not good to rotate the crank or cams counterclockwise. I have not had any trouble out of rotating the crank backwards but I really would not recommend rotating the cams counterclockwise.

make sure your pistons are NOT at dtc when you spin the cams into TDC.

 

[jemsoccer]

You can turn it CCW a small amount, for example if you passes the timing mark because the motor jumps itself just past. I wouldn't do it more than that.

 

[JusMX141]

I have heard people say that it is not good to rotate the crank or cams counterclockwise. I have not had any trouble out of rotating the crank backwards but I really would not recommend rotating the cams counterclockwise.

I believe what you're hearing is that it is not good to rotate the engine counterclockwise while the belt is on. By doing so, the side of the belt with the tensioner is no longer the side of the belt that would have slack....the slack is then on the opposite side of the belt.

Another thing you should never do (and my buddy learned this the hard way) is NEVER rotate your engine over using the 17mm bolt on the cam gears for the same reason that is listed above. He tried turning the engine over by the exhaust cam gear to get the marks to line up, and the next thing he knew it skipped 5 teeth.

The entire timing belt system is designed to be powered by the clockwise-turning crankshaft....if you move it using anything else, you will risk skipping the belt.

 

[mentalTSiAWD]

Okay, with the head bolted down and cams installed, it's not good to rotate the cams very far with any of the pistons at TDC. If the head is off, disregard that statement and set everything close to TDC before you set the head on the block. That will keep you from damaging valves and pistons.

 

[mgsx98]

so let me get it straight.

once head is off you can set the cams to TDC.
or if you jus put it back on align it using the crank not the cams right?

 

[beating4g63s]

you can align the cams while off with a 17mm socket. now while the head is on the car you'll need to still align the cams and the crank. it's easier to align everything when the head is off.

 

[mgsx98]

Ok so let see if i got this all correct

It doesnt matter where the timing marks are if you are taking the head off, but when putting it back the cylinders 1 and 4 have to be at DTC right? and to get the belt aligned again use the crankshaft to align everythin am i correct? anything else im missing?

One more thing how do take of the two bolts holding the intake manifold? I dont think I can get them from the bottom.

 

[DRAGIN]

You monkey it and go around the trans side of the car from the top if I remember correctly. Hint: Don't put them back in after. Bypass that ghey bracket and eliminate it. IF you have vac lines just use inline barbs to put them together. Better still remove as much unnecessary vacuum stuff as your local emissions law will allow for. Or remove it all like I do and use some alcohol in the tank before you go to emissions. Gets the sniffer all confused. heh

 

[knochgoon24]

When I did the timing on my car, I took a picture. I then pulled the belt and did all the work I ended up doing. Then when it came time to put everything else back on. I looked at the pictures, counted teeth, and lined everything back up. It would have been easier to set it to TDC, but I forgot and had to rely on counting the teeth.