So I have done a ton of timing belt replacements and never had this happen before. I searched but couldn't really find what I was looking for. During the changing of a timing belt, the crank pulley was rotated clockwise without the tensioner having tension while the belt was on. Then he tried to fix it by taking the belt off and rotating the cam gears individually. Once I saw what was going on I tried rotating clockwise but now there is a lot of resistance and I can tell things are bumping into each other. So how do I get everything back in synch? My factory manual doesn't really help in this situation. Car is a 92 LS.

 

that resistance is the valves you're fighting that's fine set it to TDC, stick a 12'' 3/8 drive extension down the #1 plug well and set it that way. as for the cams turn/set them with a 14mm socket on the cam gear bolt.

 

Is this with the belt on or off. Because at no point does everything line up like it used to.

 

yes

 

What? please reread my question....Belt on or off?

 

you only asked one question....
the belt has to be off

 

Why are you rotating clockwise in the first place? You need to rotate the crank pulley, with no belt, back to TDC using the timing marks. Then set both cams at TDC. Then put the belt on, take out the slack with the tensioner, and turn the motor over (rotating counter clockwise).

 

Read what I wrote. Why would I refer to myself as "he"? If you must know I was showing a group if friends how to change their belts. 3 worked out fine, one just made a mistake.

 

If the belt is off (and plugs are out) it should be a fairly simple matter to turn the engine whichever way is possible.

Turn the engine so the pistons are all at the half-way point in their travel. At that point, the cams ought to turn freely so that you can set them to their proper positions for the new belt. Now turn the crank carefully and slowly either way so that the #1 cylinder is at TDC compression (see distributor rotor).

If you meet resistance before the crank is at TDC compression, you'll need to play with the camshafts and the crank, turning each a little at a time so each can get past the other until the crank can be set correctly.

Hopefully now you can get the belt on with everything aligned properly.

 

Thanks, hopefully we can get it back to where it should be. My buddies car has been in my driveway for a while now and it's taking up to much room.

 

You know their right. Take out the spark plugs and cam gears should move freely. Like mentioned above
1. Take belt off
2. Turn crank pulley counter clockwise and set it to TDC. Either by sticking your oil dipstick in spark plug hole 1(cylinder closes to the belt) and watching as it goes up and right b4 it goes back down it's at TDC. Another way to know is to take off your crank pulley and checking if the crank pulley sprocket line is lining up with the oil pump mark.
3. Take your 12mm wrench and turn your cam gears till they both point up. You know their lined up when the holes on the cams line up with the holes in the head.
4. Put belt back on

 

Thanks a lot, it worked out perfectly and now everything is humming along