Timing Problem/Question

[freak4jesus_bt]

Well, here's the question. I put new gaskets on my engine last week, and new belts (timing, balance shaft). When the timing marks on the bottom were lined up, the dowel pins on the camshafts were both pointing straight down, which both my Haynes and Chilton manuals say that they are 180 degrees off.

Is this true? My car seems to idle and run fine. I thought about turning them to what the book said, but it runs fine now, and I didn't want any bent valves on my car. What should I do, and how would I know if my car timing is off??? thanks for the help.

 

[steve]

Yes your valve timing is off. So when you should be firing cyl 1 your actually firing cyl 4 and because of the waste spark system it's works since the plugs fire in pairs.

Steve

 

[TransAmConvert]

Actually, it might not make a difference... See if you can turn the crank so that everything lines up with the dowel pins pointing up. It might take several rotations to get it in phase. If you can do that, its fine.

I can't believe it would run fine if the timing was messed up.

 

[freak4jesus_bt]

If the dowel dins are point up, everything else underneath is off. But, things are fine and lined up when they are pointing down. I've been driving the car (over 600 miles in the last 3 days) and it seems to run like always and gets 24 mpg.....