mazdaverx7

Before I pulled the head on my 86, I wan unable to put the engine at top dead center using the aligning marks. The valves were jammed up on the pistons (how I bought the car) and would not allow the engine to fully rotate. Anyways, I am going to clean the block up today, remove the timing and balance belts and install the head and I wanted to make sure the engine was at top dead center the way it sits before I install the flywheel lock. I don't believe it can be 180 degrees off at this point, but that's what I'm making this post. This is the first head job that I've done on a 944. Here are some pics:

V2Rocket

yes, #1 should be up
but double check the flywheel mark(s) for TDC, the piston can look close to the top of stroke but can still be a little off.

mazdaverx7

Awesome. Where should I be looking at on the flywheel? Are the marks going to be visible once the starter is removed or visible from the inspection cover hole?

konakat

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/eng-13.htm

Van

I point out what you're looking for in this video. There is "OT" and a line on the flywheel, and a metal "blade" inside the bell housing inspection hole.



For the future, leave the exhaust header connected to the head, it's much easier to take out that way (and fewer bolts to undo!)

mazdaverx7

Excellent link, thank you!

mazdaverx7

Awesome video Van, thank you!

Lecrok

Van's video give a very good overview and points out the view port for the flywheel TDC mark. Before I take my belts off again, I'm going to paint the flywheel TDC mark like Van has done. When I first bought my 924S, two valves were bent and the belts were all torn up and two pulleys were broken. The TDC mark was somewhat difficult to find because of corrosion and doing it by myself was a long process. Have a bright flashlight and get a friend to help turn the crankshaft while you look in the view port.

Lecrok

Also, it looks like your balance shaft belt is still mounted to the crankshaft. Look at Van's video and use the balance shaft pulley markers to get close to TDC.

mazdaverx7

Yea, I left the balance belt on. I bought the car knowing it had bent valves. Guy I got it from said he had the belts and water pump done 15k miles ago and the engine stalled in traffic and would not start. The belts and tensioners look fine but all eight valves were bent. Not sure what happened really. I'm thinking that whoever installed the belts did the job incorrectly and bent the valves on startup.

Van

8 valves! That might be a record. The most I ever had was 6 valves...

mazdaverx7

When I head down to the garage I'll post a pic of the valves that came out of the head.

Here's the head that's going on the engine. Got it cleaned and surfaced and got good valves installed in this one:

mazdaverx7

Van, on a side note, my valves were not sticking out like that. They were cocked in the head and When light was shined through the intake and exhaust ports, I could see light through them at the sealing surface. I honestly don't know what caused them to bend.

FRporscheman

I crack loose the header nuts before taking the head off, makes it easier once the head is out.