Just a tip that I do when ever I remove/install the t-belt. I always put a big breaker bar on the crank bolt than turn the engine over a few times by hand to make sure the valves don't hit the pistons. If everything is OK more than likely the t-belt is lined up correctly.

 

Sounds like timing...

 

 

Ayup! 2 cranks to 1 cam.

If you get the cam mark more or less on the notch, you *should* see the flywheel mark in the bellhousing. It is small and hard to see though. Also confirm as said above with a pencil or a piece of rubber hose or something. At least you will see where the piston is when the cam mark says TDC.

 

Ok now It starts and runs?

I went and put the car back at TDC and redid the belt, then it started up and ran fine. It has a slight misfire which could be a bent valve, I havent ran another compression test yet.

It starts, idles fine, sounds a little strange, but runs none the less. I dunno whats up. It might be ok, in the event that it is, I am extremely lucky.

 

If it is a turbo, you can be off by 2-3 teeth before it will bend valves. I had mine slip 3 teeth while turning it by hand and there was no contact.

Do another compression test, share the results.
Seems like you always have the worst luck. Hang in there.

 

I'm sure you're tired of working on it, but be sure you're not off a tooth still. (Is that possible on these motors, w/o bending a valve? I'm a noob, but had a similar experience on my VW)

My GTi 1.8T ran fine after a timing belt change, but threw a check engine light the next day. Turns out I was off a tooth on the cam. It ran suprisingly well, even though it was off...though it didn't sound quite right. It took me about 15 tries to get it right...I was not a happy camper. In my defense (i'll never do this again), I put in a lightened flywheel and didn't make a TDC mark...d'oh!

The point of the story is, you wont throw a CEL, so you wont have that indicator if you are in fact off one tooth.

At least it runs though!

Chris

 

In re-reading your first post you mention the "big fatass line" Isn't this TDC as viewed through the bottom inspection hole? If you used this mark for TDC as viewed through the top hole, you were almost 180 degrees off.

This is the TDC mark as viewed from the top....


This is the TDC mark that should be viewed from the bottom.


Photos courteousy of Clarks-Garage

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

 

You can probably be off by one tooth either way and be ok. Any more than that, and I would start worrying. When the cam mark is aligned, the number 4 exhaust valve just closed and the intake is about to open. If you have the crank at TDC, the number 4 cylinder is also at TDC. So when you turn the crank either way, one of those valves starts opening. If you're off too much (I don't know the exact amount), you will have a collision.

Now try that compression check again and give yourself some piece of mind. I think you're ok.
__________________________________________
1986 944 NA Guards Red all original 88K mi.
1983 944 NA Platinum Metallic w/LSD ~120K mi. (needs engine)
1985 944 NA Guards Red w/LSD (donor car)
1984 911 Carrera Coupe (gone, but not forgotten)
"If you're not living on the edge, you're not living."

 

This is ROCK

Guys, this was HELLA off timing. Like REAL REAL BAD. The camshaft was at the alignment line, and the OT mark in the flywheel window was nowhere to be found. I went to the starter to find TDC, the line was still nowhere to be found.

I reset TDC, retensioned the belt and started it up. it runs fine. If it does have bent valves, it runs hella better than it did with 1 burnt valve.

The problem was the way I tensioned it. The first time I tensioned it with a kricket to check my tension, and it ended up to be loose enough to jump teeth.

The second time I did it by feel and it runs fine so far *knock on ******. I havent done a compression test so far, but it sounds NICE but it sounds like there is a slight misfire. Maybe 1 bent valve?

 

do compression and find out

 

If you used the bottom line on top, then you would be out ~140*, that is pretty damn crazy.
If it skipped a couple teeth while turning it, you have maybe a 50/50 shot of being fine. Only way to know is a compression test and a leakdown test. Here's hoping it's all just peachy.

 

TIs Rock again, I havent gotten to do a compression test yet, but ive driven the car for about 1 hr today. DAMN! The thing runs like it did when Dr. Boost first built it.

If it did bend valves, it must have not done that much damage.

If it didnt, then Ive got some freaky luck. However im not counting my chackens before they hatch.

 

Damn chacken hitchers...

glad she's running brother!

 

ok if it doesnt work now.. someone should steal all your tools before you hurt yourself, or any more 944s... the worlds gonna run out of 944 cylinder heads.

hope it keeps working for you