We got the cams in. Everything is set to TDC, caps & everything are torqued to spec. Its running as if the valves aren't opening/closing all the way, it will idle sometimes @ 1000rpm then when u give it a little gas it will drop down and almost die around 100-300 rpms. Its also slower to rev up that it was before. Both cams are set at 0 degrees, timing wise everythign seems to look ok.

I'm guessing that the valves needs to be adjusted, can anybody give me some help here. These are skunk2 stage 2 cams, and I do have a fully built head w/ complete portflow valvetrain, so just incase nebody is gonna say you need valvetrain for those cams.

 

sounds like your mechanical timing is off, set everything at tdc, make sure your cams and crank pully are all in sync, and adjust the valves to skunk2's specs

 

Ok. Were adjusting the valves to spec as we speak. So once we finish with that we'll see how it runs. The valves seemed to be really loose.

 

Alright well, we adjusted the valves, that isn't the issue. The car just will not idle right now, and is backfiring, and just really doesn't seem to have any power. I'm not really sure what exactly is going on. Does this sound like a timing issue, anybody have any ideas?

 

Well the dying at idle issue.. It happened to my brother and my friend.. THey got it tuned then that fixed that problem..

For the backfiring.. im not sure.. do you have the cam timing right? Does it feel weak when you drive it?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMOrangeFever &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well the dying at idle issue.. It happened to my brother and my friend.. THey got it tuned then that fixed that problem..

For the backfiring.. im not sure.. do you have the cam timing right? Does it feel weak when you drive it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea it feels real weak when I drove it around the block.

 

what kind of motor?

 

when you adjusted the valve lash, did u slide the feeler between the rocker and the cam, or between the valve head and the adjustment nut? Did you make sure that the timing belt hasnt jumped? do the cams line up at top dead center along with the crank pully lining up with the pointer on the timing belt cover?

 

This really sounds like an engine management issue more than a mechanical problem. The funny thing though is i have the same cams and the same problem. But i beleive its a tuning/ignition/fuel issue.

 

check the timing belt, could be a tooth off and check spark plug wires order on the cap, make sure there not in the wrong order...

 

Yes If it is a tooth off.. It will feel quite weak.. If you check cam timing and its all good.. then tuning is needed

 

We put marks on the timing belt before we took it off that were lined up w/ the cam gears on the old cams, then lined those up to the marks on the new cams which had diff cam gears on it. I mean how else could I tell/check if the belt is off a tooth or not?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMod &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We put marks on the timing belt before we took it off that were lined up w/ the cam gears on the old cams, then lined those up to the marks on the new cams which had diff cam gears on it. I mean how else could I tell/check if the belt is off a tooth or not?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Did you keep tension on lower half of the belt when you removed it? If you didnt, your timing belt probably turned a few teeth..

You should just go ahead and align the crank then the cam gears.. Might as well make sure the timing is correct..

 

Ya we didn't leave tension on it when we took it off, so thats probably what happened. So we'll just go ahead and pull it off, get everything aligned, and try it again. So I want to get the crank & cam gears at tdc right?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMod &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ya we didn't leave tension on it when we took it off, so thats probably what happened. So we'll just go ahead and pull it off, get everything aligned, and try it again. So I want to get the crank & cam gears at tdc right?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, this is what you want

 

does the pointer on the timing belt cover need to be aligned with the red or white mark on the pulley?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMod &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does the pointer on the timing belt cover need to be aligned with the red or white mark on the pulley?</TD></TR></TABLE>
white...ur still gonna need to have it tuned once u get it running...

 

Ok I got the crank set at TDC, the marks on the cams aren't lined up tho when the crank is at tdc. So what do I need to do, take the belt off the cam gears, get the cam gears lined up, and get the belt back on with them lined up?

 

why arent your cam gears set at zero? Am i missing something here. Take the belt off, zero your gears. then align the marks..

 

they are at zero, its just the angle of the pic that makes it look like they aren't

 

yep what he said above

set the actual camgears to zero before aligning anything else
then double check the crank is at TDC then put the belt on the gears with those lined up

once that is complete check the timing with a light and u will need to do another
valve adjust since u adjust the valves with the gears not zero'd

 

Yeah your gears should be set at zero... But if the crank is lined up and the gears arent remove the top part of the belt then use a 14 socket and turn the cam gears until both are aligned correctly.. then place the belt on (loosent the belt tensioner first) and then tight the tensioner. If the belt wont tighten then do it the way your supposed to and take off crank pulley... But ghetto way works most of the time.

But the picture looks like it is at zero.. so it could just be your gears . just set them at 0 and that will probably fix your weak problems...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AK94GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yep what he said above

set the actual camgears to zero before aligning anything else
then double check the crank is at TDC then put the belt on the gears with those lined up

once that is complete check the timing with a light and u will need to do another
valve adjust since u adjust the valves with the gears not zero'd</TD></TR></TABLE>

Great advice, try that and see what happens.. Make sure you are on the tdc mark on the crank, the furthest mark away from the 3 closest together.. Set timing to 16btdc.

 

Aight well we got the gears aligned now @ tdc, and the crank pulley is aligned at tdc, they all line up now at tdc. Which they weren't before. So should we go ahead and pop the valve cover back on and give it a try?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JMod &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Aight well we got the gears aligned now @ tdc, and the crank pulley is aligned at tdc, they all line up now at tdc. Which they weren't before. So should we go ahead and pop the valve cover back on and give it a try?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i wouldnt until you did a valve adjustment...since you did adjust them while the cams werent aligned..