2G Cam Sprocket Timing marks

[OG_Nocturnal]

So I'm getting ready to replace my timing belt and I noticed one of my cam gears has 2 marks on it... is this normal?

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[99dsmer4g63]

Yes, cam dowel pins at 12 o’clock. Those marks need to face each other in the middle and the 4 marks should be parallel to the top of the cylinder head. If you take a straight edge all 4 marks should line up together. You should look into getting the tool for the cam gears. It is nice to line up and then the cam gears will not want to move will installing the timing belt. I usually zip tie the timing belt to the cam gears while I’m working on getting the belt on the bottom and apply tension to the happy face pulley. Also your exhaust cam seems to be a little bit past 12 heading towards 1 in the picture it looks like to me.
-Daniel

Also here’s this http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G.html
I did my first timing job years ago before I ever made a profile on here with just the how to and purchased the 4 piece timing tool kit. Makes life a lot easier and usually a better product with them.
-Daniel

 

[OG_Nocturnal]

Thanks man, but I've done the research and found the vfaq post you speak of, I've ordered the piece that locks your cam gears into place, the tension release tool and the adapter for the pulleys. I'm just wondering why my left cam gear has 2 marks on it.

I'm not trying to be a dick but I try to do my research before I post on here...

 

[99dsmer4g63]

All 4 of my 97-99 heads have had 2 marks on the intake and exhaust cam gears. The aftermarket ones I have on my car now also have two marks on the cam gears. You not having 2 marks on your intake cam gear seems more off to me than having 2 on the exhaust tbh. Only thing I think of is because it’s a 95-96 intake cam gear that has a trigger plate on it for the cam sensor.

I'm not trying to be a dick but I try to do my research before I post on here...

All good man I was just trying to get you some good info. I think that tsb is a pretty good page to follow for someone doing it the first time. I wasn’t trying to be a dick either. If I didn’t wanna help I would have just ignored the thread.
-Daniel

 

[OG_Nocturnal]

Ok thanks for your help bro, im no expert when it comes to these cars, I did alot of work on it years ago, but unfortunately at that time I was in a different state of mind... im trying to do things right this time thanks again for your knowledge brother!

 

[99dsmer4g63]

No problem. Kinda the only reason I made a profile on here was to try to help people and try to give back to the forum that has helped me over the years with just basic google searches that led to this site time and time again. Also I looked in the garage and the only 95-96 head I have in there only has 1 timing mark on the intake cam and 2 on the exhaust. All the other 97-99 heads have 2 on both gears. So it’s confirmed that’s why you only have 1 on the intake gear and 2 on the exhaust gear. Apparently it’s a 95-96 thing.
-Daniel

 

[steve]

As you can see the 95/96 Intake cam sprocket is different from the Exhaust one.

The exhaust sprocket is used as both a intake and exhaust on the other years and since it can be on either cam it has two marks. Only the inner marks are used for timing so one mark is for when it's an intake sprocket and the other when it's an exhaust one.

The 95/96 intake sprocket has mounts for the Cam Angle Sensor wheel used those years.