Really stupid timing belt mistake

[Saturdee]

Well I went outside to remove my timing belt and front case, and I was rushing around trying to get as much done before I ran out of daylight. Well I began taking off my timing belt, after the bottom portion was off, I realized I completely forgot to align the timing marks... Now this wouldn't be a MAJOR problem, had I not decided to try and remove the crankshaft damper bolt, therefore turning the crankshaft about half of a roation Well I did this, and then the timing marks popped in my head, and I immediately felt royally screwed.

So I then turned it back to about where it was before. Now I'm extremely paranoid about screwing up any of my valve components. Now I at least did remember to zip tie the timing belt to my cam gears, so I know those are still on mark at least.

So this leads to my question, if I put the belt back on to correct my timing, and it was off a tooth or two, or four, would rotating the motor cause serious damage? Is there any way I can get my bottom end realigned since the top is still correctly aligned?

 

[2000mitsygt]

In all honesty its an interfering motor they will hit a timing belt isnt like an intake or exhaust you cant just trial and error it it has to be precise or you risk serious damage to your motor

 

[dsmcrzy]

If you rotate it my hand there will be no issues. Just go slow no biggie.

 

[TallestHERETIC]

Try rotating it clockwise with the belt on with everything lined up. If you feel "resistance", like something in the way, your timing isn't quite right. This means the pistons are coming into contact with the valves. It should instead be a nice smooth motion. DO NOT turn on the car or leave it this way!

Do you still have your balance shafts? That also is to be taken in consideration.

 

[bryanwheat]

Try rotating it clockwise with the belt on with everything lined up. If you feel "resistance", like something in the way, your timing isn't quite right. This means the pistons are coming into contact with the valves. Should be a nice smooth motion. DO NOT turn on the car or leave it this way!

Do you still have your balance shafts? That also is to be taken in consideration.

Before rotating anything, the belt needs to be installed and tensioned properly. You don't turn it over to check for binding so see if it is in time, you use the timing marks. It is either in time or it isn't.

 

[Saturdee]

Try rotating it clockwise with the belt on with everything lined up. If you feel "resistance", like something in the way, your timing isn't quite right. This means the pistons are coming into contact with the valves. It should instead be a nice smooth motion. DO NOT turn on the car or leave it this way!

Do you still have your balance shafts? That also is to be taken in consideration.

No balance shafts, so I know this makes it a little easier. Now I went back out and checked my cam gear marks to see where they were. THey were about a half rotation off. Now would the crankshaft marks correspond to this, and also be about a half rotation off?

Here's a picture

 

[BogusSVO]

Just stop and think for a min. Take a breath.

As of now you may not have suffered any damage.

Pull number 1 and number 2 spark plug. use a long screw driver, or 1/4 extension, easy, by hand turn the crank so both pistons are about halfway down the bore.

This will keep the pistons and valves from meeting.

Now, rotate the cams, one at a time so the dowels are at the 12 O'clock position

** NOTE** if you have aftermarket cams and +1mm OS valves, go a 1/4 turn cam by cam untill both are at the 12 O'clock position. With cams and +1MM os valves, you have a risk of valve to valve contact.

Now go back to the crank, and rotate the crank, forward, or backward so the crank timing mark lines up.


*EDIT*
From your pic, and guessing that the crank marks are in time or within a tooth.

You are 180* out, #1 piston is up, but on exhaust stroke, and #4 piston is up and on compression.

Believe it or not, as long as the crank marks are lined up, you can still set the timing belt on and properly, but instead of 6 crank rotations, go 7 rotations and it will all line up like it should.

 

[Saturdee]

Before rotating anything, the belt needs to be installed and tensioned properly. You don't turn it over to check for binding so see if it is in time, you use the timing marks. It is either in time or it isn't.

But see the crankshaft was rotated slightly after the belt was removed from it. So the crankshaft is likely not on time (I rotated it back to about where it was, but can't be certain it's correct), but the cam gears were not altered, so they are still on their correct timing marks.

Just stop and think for a min. Take a breath.

As of now you may not have suffered any damage.

Pull number 1 and number 2 spark plug. use a long screw driver, or 1/4 extension, easy, by hand turn the crank so both pistons are about halfway down the bore.

This will keep the pistons and valves from meeting.

Now, rotate the cams, one at a time so the dowels are at the 12 O'clock position

** NOTE** if you have aftermarket cams and +1mm OS valves, go a 1/4 turn cam by cam untill both are at the 12 O'clock position. With cams and +1MM os valves, you have a risk of valve to valve contact.

Now go back to the crank, and rotate the crank, forward, or backward so the crank timing mark lines up.

Thank you so much! I'll go ahead and do this, and resume to swap out front cases.

Sorry for getting so stressed out about this, I just haven't even driven the car yet, and it's been a 2 year rebuild, so the thought of screwing up valve compenents about gave me a heart attack. Once again, thank you!

 

[killercolt]

No balance shafts, so I know this makes it a little easier. Now I went back out and checked my cam gear marks to see where they were. THey were about a half rotation off. Now would the crankshaft marks correspond to this, and also be about a half rotation off?

Here's a picture

From the pic, you are way the fxxx out on the cam gears. The dowel pins on the cam gears need to face up at 12'oclock. When you forgot to line up the timing marks, it is easy to line them up safely. Start by removing the number one and number two spark plugs. Stick something skinny and long down the plug holes to determine where the pistons are. Lightly rotate the crank clockwise or counterclock wise to bring all the pistons to 1/2 stroke. With the pistons at 1/2 stroke, you can rotate the cam gears safely. Be care not to cause valves kissing when you rotate the cam gears. Once you line up the cam gears timing, you can rotate the crank up without worrying about bending the valves.

 

[bryanwheat]

It doesn't matter where the cams are right now. You will have to move them to where the timing marks line up than install the belt. There is no guessing here. Line the mark on the crank pulley up and line up the cam gears, install the belt and tension it.

 

[TallestHERETIC]

Before rotating anything, the belt needs to be installed and tensioned properly. You don't turn it over to check for binding so see if it is in time, you use the timing marks. It is either in time or it isn't.

Good catch, bryan. Didn't quite catch this until you pointed it out. Completely forgot about it! I think I might've worded mine wrong.