Okay, I'm reinstalling a timing belt on a b18a. The engine is out of the car, and there's no tranny bolted up. Nothing is lined up, and the belt is already off. What is the best way to line everything up before I put the belt back on? I don't want to do something stupid(er) and bend up my valves.

I noticed that the cams have a nut pattern molded into them, so I can turn them with a wrench. As for the crank, how should I line it up? Should I put the crank pulley back on, and turn the engine clockwise? (so the bolt doesn't back out) Should I line up the cams first, then the crank, or the other way around. Thanks.

I can't wait until this **** is ready to go in.

 

put the head on and put a screw driver in cyl.1 and rotate the motor till the driver shows TDC then make sure the cam gears are ligned up on TDC n put the belt on

 

how should the cam lobes be positioned when they're at TDC for cyl. 1 (driver's side)?

do i have to worry about smashing valves when the cams and crank/pistons are moving independent of one another?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MugenDude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how should the cam lobes be positioned when they're at TDC for cyl. 1 (driver's side)?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've done this on a b16a so i would imagine a b18 is similar.

The word "up" is etched into the cam pulley. Make sure "up" is up. There's another mark 90 degrees from up (one per pulley). These marks should face each ohter and be parallel with the head.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MugenDude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how should the cam lobes be positioned when they're at TDC for cyl. 1 (driver's side)?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i would also like to know this

 

Since nothing's positioned, you want to FIRST move the crank away from TDC.

Find the TDC notch in the crank pulley, turn it directly to a sideways position. You want the TDC notch to be 90 degrees away from the pointer, either towards the front or back of the engine, doesn't matter which. Even if you have to turn it backwards, just don't turn it THRU TDC or BDC. Now all 4 pistons are at mid-stroke, & you can spin the cams any way you want...

Now line up the camshaft sprockets to their #1 TDC positions.

Now turn the crank directly to the #1 TDC position. Even if you have to turn it backwards, just don't turn it thru BDC.

Now put on the belt & finish tensioning/checking it.

 

The cylinder with the cams set to TDC (compression stroke) should have the lobes pointing upwards in diagonally opposing directions...kinda like bunny ears.

When the cam is off the lobes, then the valves are completely shut.

 

thanks for answering my questions, guys!