Daniel5691

So I'm in the process of removing my passenger cam gear to inspect for an oil leak. I have the crank positioned at [ 0 ] exactly with the mark on the center TB cover. I notice that the V notches on the cam gears are "almost" aligned with the indicators on the rear cam gear covers.

1) From where should you position your eyeballs to accurately align the cam gear marks? As you know, as you wobble your head and eyeballs around the marks "move" in relation to one another....

2) Better question: Since all these parts are moving "as one" with the TB belt in place, how close is "close enough" for those pesky cam gear v notches to align?

As noted, my crank is prexactly aligned. Thanks for helping a n00b yet again.

Landseer

Radially.

And expect one of them to be off by half a tooth.

The Deputy

First, I found the notch on the back of each cam gear and then using a straight edge...scribed a plumb-line on the inside the cam gear with a black marker, adding a small arrow pointing towards the top. Then all I had to look for was "plumb" (straight up and down) on each cam when aligning the timing marks. Instead of bending your eyeballs around to see the rear of the cams and notches.

Brian.

ammonman

Rather than locking the engine at '0' set it at '4|5'. The cams will be under less tension from the valve springs and less likely to turn due to spring pressure. Plus, you can turn the cams all you want and not risk hitting the valves with the pistons.

Mike

StratfordShark

I would look at the marks from directly overhead, but bear in mind that because the cam gears are slotted, they may not align exactly even if timing is set to factory spec (2 deg retarded RHS, 0 deg LHS cold engine).

You need the Porsche tool or Porken's brilliant 32vR tool to set timing precisely.

GlenL

Please put your car year and engine model in each new post.

Daniel5691

Hi Glen!
It's in the signature line below. Thanks !
Dan

jpitman2

Make a mark on the front face of the cam wheel to make sighting easier. The left (car's left) cam should be VERY close to the mark, looked at from dead ahead, while the other side will be ~ 1/2 tooth retarded (anti clockwise) when cold. The block expansion at working temp is apparently enough to pull the timing into alignment, ~ 2 degrees.

jp 83 Euro S AT 56k CIS

GlenL

I turn those off as too many are a waste of my screen space.