iantdopps

I am getting ready to put my timing belt on my 82. If I line up to TDC and line the cams up perfect, shouldn't the timing be in perfect timing? The manual does not mention timing guns, nor has anyone else. Just curious.....first time for me.

Shane

No timing light required. Make sure you do the victory dance once you remove the old belt, and before you start installing the new one. It is very satisfying to do this work yourself.
Have fun <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Eric Dvorak

a timing light is used for ignition timing, setting your crank at the 45 deg. mark is more safe, this is because if the valve spring pressure causes the cams to turn, the valves won't hit any pistons as they are more likely to do at top dead center. Check John Pirtle and Greg Nichols web sites for excellent instruction and pic's.

Tony

Once that key is turned, starter engages, your committed... Its as if the life of your car passes in front of you as you think to yourself and keep an ear out for wierd noises ..."sure hope i did it right"!!

Its a very critical component which is why you should inspect and replace all worn parts of the SYSTEM when you change it. Not just the belt and the pump

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

John..

I can second the statement of not taking the belt off at 0 degrees. The cams will turn!!!!!! If you put the belt on not knowing this has happened, you will collide the valves. I was doing mine and went in to answer the phone....I came back out and the cam had rotated! ALWAYS check your marks and run it over by hand before starting. Bent valves cost a lot!! It is normal to have the ps cam off about 1/2 a tooth, this is no big deal. I ALWAYS mark my old and new belts with different colored paint to make certian the new one is exactly like the old one. I also check the factory marks.

Greg86andahalf

iantdopps,

[quote]If I line up to TDC and line the cams up perfect, shouldn't the timing be in perfect timing? <hr></blockquote>

STOP!

Before you do ANYTHING, tell us what position your crankshaft is in now. Don't turn anything, just verify where the crank is.

You are supposed to have the flywheel lock in place. Turning the crank should not be an option at this point.

If you try to turn the crank now (without the belit in place), you can easily destroy the valves!!! Let's verify the crank and cam positions before turning anything.

If you have a digital camera, take pix of the cams and the crank with the ballancer on or at least show the position of the key on the crank.
If you cannot post the pix, email them to me.

Greg

Greg86andahalf

iantdopps,

I just noticed on another thread of yours that you're assuming the 82 is a non-interference motor. There has been much discussion, and no real agreement about which motors are non-interference.

I would not assume that your 82 is non- interference. I would treat it as if it IS an interference motor.

Better safe than sorry. Please read above.

Greg

iantdopps

I did take the belt off already. When I did, the crank was at TDC, and both the notches were lined up on the cams. Is it ok to turn the crank if I did that?

Greg86andahalf

No.

The crank balancer's 45 degree alignment mark is the only position for the crank which makes turning the cams safe. Without a timing belt in place, "you can't get there from here". If you move the crank without the cams turning, you may crash the valves.

According to the Workshop Manual p.15-106, "Camshafts may be turned without damaging the valves after aligning the 45º mark."

If it were me, I would first go to this site and print the instructions:

<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/tbelt.html" target="_blank">John Pirtle's timing belt procedure instructions</a>

Then, I would put the belt back on and turn the crank and cams together to the 45degree mark as indicated in the instructions.

Then follow the instructions from there.

I'm glad you're asking the questions. proceed carefully.

BTW, do you have a flywheel lock and tension gauge?

HTH
Greg

Eric Dvorak

No! don't turn anything, the best thing now is to gently install the new belt without putting to much on the cam gears, get some help routing the belt, and after it's on put the balancer back on, hand crank the motor two revolutions and make sure your marks still line up. If all is ok after final crank bolt tightning remember to remove the flywheel lock. Good luck!

Greg86andahalf

Eric's right.

Also, be careful not to put the balancer on backwards (it can and has been done!)

When you stand in front of the engine, the numbers should be readable and not upside down.

Here is a pic. Note the direction of the numbers, not the position. I just took a shot of my car in the parking lot. It's not aligned to 45degrees in the pic.


HTH
Greg

WallyP

I don't believe that his '82 even has the 45 deg marking on the vibration dampener.

The FWM (Page 15-14 clearly tells him to do the belt installation exactly the way that he has done it - at TDC.

Put the belt on with the crank at TDC, cam sprocket notches aligned with the marks. Tension the belt.

Put the guide washers, vibration dampener, etc., on. Turn the engine two turns (always clockwise). Carefully check the timing marks. If they are correct, check the belt tension again.

Sounds as if he is in pretty good shape ...

Greg86andahalf

iantdopps,

Just wondering how the T-belt job is coming along? any update?

thanks,
Greg