Installing 272/272's and Fidanza Adj. Gears but not changing Timing belt. Tips?

[brandnew161]

Ok I will be installing a set of BC 272/272 Cams along with Fidanza Adjustable Cam Gears. The motor was freshly rebuilt by the previous owner no more than 5k miles ago. During that rebuild he put on a new Kevlar Timing belt. I read the v-faq and some posts on the web but its nice to get personal responses since its the first time doing a timing job. Do i still follow all the same steps as in the vfaq even though i'm not swapping belts? Anything I can skip over? Any special tools? Do i line up fidanza gears (when 0'd out) just like the stock gears?

Or if anyone could link me to old threads thatd be helpful too. I searched but with no luck.

Thanks

 

[turbodsm007]

hey man you can still follow the same directions as vfaq. just make sure not to move anything like tensioner pulley. leave it as is.

 

[LTUSPE]

Yes, you can just follow the VFAQ. I think when I did mine I just went by RRE's tutorial.

One note about the Fidanza cam gears; the timing marks on them typically are not exactly like stock. Stock gears have timing marks were one is on the peak of a tooth and the other is in the valley of two teeth. Fidanza's usually have one of the timing marks slightly off. I just lined up the marks and everything worked out fine.

 

[brandnew161]

thanks guys. I read the vfaq but the RRE guide is nice. Is it possible do one cam/gear at a time so that it has a better chance of staying in time? I loosen up the belt and put slack in it by using the tool that looks like a long screw right?

 

[Moparbishi]

Im not sure, but I have heard that BC cams need to be adjusted with cam gears because they are degreed wrong outa the box. Somebody correct me if im wrong.

 

[JLindback]

Im not sure if that is true or not, but that shouldnt worry him too much being he said he is installing fidanza adjustable cam gears. If thats right then as long as he can figure out how to set them then hes good.

 

[SpawnedX]

I know some people just vice grip the belt onto one gear while doing it. Never tried it myself.

Also that degree'd wrong out of the box is absurd...I don't see how he wouldn't have fixed that already or stayed in business.

 

[HurleyTSi]

Im not sure, but I have heard that BC cams need to be adjusted with cam gears because they are degreed wrong outa the box. Somebody correct me if im wrong.

'Degreed wrong' is an incorrect term.

Degreeing a cam shaft is done using adjustable cam gears to adjust the valve timing and over lap.

BC cams have shown little improvement over stock without degreeing the cams versus other cams using the stock valve timing.

However to get the most out of any cam shaft you would want to degree them. No matter the brand.

 

[manrightchea]

Here's a good tutorial, just use some strong bulldog clips on each side of each gear. and drop the belt on the gear.

YouTube - Installing Cams on Evo VIII - Part 1

 

[brandnew161]

thanks for all the help Definitely more at ease now.

Besides any vice grips/zip ties etc, the only REAL tool for doing this is the long bolt looking "tool" which is used to loosen up the belt correct? And the other thing i forgot to mention is when I take out the stocks cams I bleed the lifters. But after reinstalling them and putting the BC's in do i need to do anything else to them? Is it okay for the lifters to be "dry" on startup?

 

[JLindback]

Here is a really good write up on how to do it. Should help you out.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/265060-how-replace-lash-adjusters-lifters.html

 

[hellfire_17]

Jay's racing has a tool kit for timing belts.It has a plastic part that goes between the cam gears to keep them from turning.
try
Jay Racing Timing Belt Tool, Fix Cam Gear Position [TBT3] - $25.00 : Jay Racing

 

[brandnew161]

great info. thanks for that link

 

[JLindback]

No problem. Its helpful for a just a reminder on a lot of things and also is helpful for just learning how to do it your first time. I tend to reread it from time to time ha

 

[brandnew161]

haha i hear ya. I rather learn and do it myself then pay someone. I have the tools so why not

 

[tkelly27]

It's going to be a lot easier to just pull the belt completely off and re-time it. In the videos they keep the cam gears in time using zip ties. You can't do this when you are replacing cam gears! If the belt gets enough slack to get a toot off on the crank side it will suck trying to put it back together and you'll have to re-time it anyway.

 

[brandnew161]

It's going to be a lot easier to just pull the belt completely off and re-time it. In the videos they keep the cam gears in time using zip ties. You can't do this when you are replacing cam gears! If the belt gets enough slack to get a toot off on the crank side it will suck trying to put it back together and you'll have to re-time it anyway.

yeah your right but thats why i was thinking of only doing one cam/gear at a time. Honestly, retiming it will probably the fastest route, i've just never done it before and i dont want to horribly screw it up and damage the motor

 

[goodbuds]

im about to do this on my car as soon as the adjustable cams come in. i hope i dont blow something up i suck at timing. but im gonna try anyways. the mechanic quoted me 300 to do it ..no way not me. hahaha