Time saving trick on 16v front cam seals and o-rings
10-29-2011, 06:40 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Time saving trick on 16v front cam seals and o-rings
After getting my '84 Euro S started again after an engine out refresh, I had a leak at the front cam seals(which I did not replace because they were dry). Instead of draining coolant and pulling off most of the front accessories and covers, I figured I would try a shortcut.
All I had to remove was the front cam gear covers and the distributor. I couldn't get the driver side cover off with the dizzy in place.
Turn the motor by hand to line everything up TDC. It is not necessary, but it only takes an extra 10 seconds.
Use white out to mark each cam gear in 2 places as well as the corresponding belt tooth that is in that groove. I made my marks about 2.5" apart on each side.
Put the car in gear and just loosen the bolts that hold the cam gears.
Loosen the tensioner to get slack in the belt and slide it off the gears. Keep upward pressure on the belt to make sure that it stays fixed on the lower crank gear and use zip ties to hold both looped belt ends up and out of the way.
Now remove the gears and proceed with the replacement of the seals and o-rings(I am sure that is covered in another thread here.
When you have the seals replaced all you have to do is line the 2 marks on the belts with the cam gears and you are good to go. I lined up the drivers side first and then the passenger side because the tensioner is on that side.
Then re-tension the belt
Turn the motor by hand a few times to make sure TDC is still lined up on the balancer and gears. Now all you have to do is install the covers and then the dizzy, which on a twin you need to set in time with the rest of the motor.
All I had to remove was the front cam gear covers and the distributor. I couldn't get the driver side cover off with the dizzy in place.
Turn the motor by hand to line everything up TDC. It is not necessary, but it only takes an extra 10 seconds.
Use white out to mark each cam gear in 2 places as well as the corresponding belt tooth that is in that groove. I made my marks about 2.5" apart on each side.
Put the car in gear and just loosen the bolts that hold the cam gears.
Loosen the tensioner to get slack in the belt and slide it off the gears. Keep upward pressure on the belt to make sure that it stays fixed on the lower crank gear and use zip ties to hold both looped belt ends up and out of the way.
Now remove the gears and proceed with the replacement of the seals and o-rings(I am sure that is covered in another thread here.
When you have the seals replaced all you have to do is line the 2 marks on the belts with the cam gears and you are good to go. I lined up the drivers side first and then the passenger side because the tensioner is on that side.
Then re-tension the belt
Turn the motor by hand a few times to make sure TDC is still lined up on the balancer and gears. Now all you have to do is install the covers and then the dizzy, which on a twin you need to set in time with the rest of the motor.
