I got a set of AEM cam gears and want to set them on -0 deg. I also want to install a new T-belt and secondary belt at the same time. I (finally) got the crank bolt off and the alt/AC pulley are now off as are the T-belt covers. I need to know if I can go ahead and pull the belt off and swap the gears the way it is, or do I need to rotate the crank at all? the cam gears are both (almost) pointing straight up. I just need a few pointers before I continue
I found this how-to, but it's pretty shitty, lol.

 

There's a dot on the small crank wheel. Match it with an arrow on the oil pump casing. Also you can block camshafts sticking a small screwdriver in them through the small holes in camshaft holders. Set the cam gears that arrows point to the top and then you'll be able to block them in one position.

 

^^^ What he said, and it looks like that engine had a timing issue, so you will have to line everything up properly once the belt is off.

 

No timing issue, when I was turning the crank by hand the belt got an ASSTON of slack and jumped a few teeth. So the crank gear should have a mark on it right? I'll check it tomorrow when I'm back at the garage. I need to make it point at the oil pump? Thats the wheel at the front of the motor right?

 

No, no. The oil pump has a smal arrow just above the crank gear. Clean it and you'll notice. Then turn the crank until it points the small dot on the crank gear.

 

yes, your crank gear will have a small dot on it, pretty much lined up with the key for the crank pulley, and the oil pump has an arrow cast into it to line up.

 

So the oil pump, the crank, and both cam gears need to be alaigned before the T-belt comes off?

 

You can take the timing belt off in any position. Putting it back needs those settings.

 

It will be easier for you if you align everything to TDC before taking the timing belt off. Also for your convieniance, you can use a bright colored sharpie or white out on the markings on the crankshaft so u can see if it is properly aligned from the top of the engine bay.

 

How do I know the crank is at TDC without taking the head off?

 

Maaan, I'm telling you all the time- dot on the crank gear and an arrow on the oil pump housing.

 

Ah, so anytime those 2 line up it's at TDC? I thought the crank had 2 revolutions like the cams.... maybe I'm a little confused by the stupid *** how tos I have been reading.

 

oh ****, one other question. After I took the balance belt off I spun the pulley on the front of the motor... I think it's the oil pump or something, IDK... it's the pulley to the left in the first pic. I just noticed it has paint marks on it, did I **** myself by spinning it?!?

 

No, just turn it properly before you put the balancer belt on.

 

Ok, so if I were to just take the belt off, not marking anything... could I in theory just get both cams facing straight up and then get the crank pointed to the oil pump arrow and be good to go?

 

There is a maintenence hole in the back of the motor to keep the pulley on the rear balancer shaft aligned. take the bolt off then use a 6x100 mm bolt to hold the gear in place while u put the belt on. I recommend buying a Helm's manual because all these questions you have can be easily answered if you go through the timing belt procedure as directed.

 

I have the helms and chilton for my civic/del sol which is what the motor is in, but not for the car the motor came out of I'm starting to think that might be an investment worth making.

 

Ok, I cleaned it up a bit today and gave it a much closer look. Heres what I found/ think I figured out. All you guys that that know this by heart (pentaq) let me know if I am on the right track.

Line on the left balance pulley....


And I line it up with this right?


Itty bitty triangle arrow thingy on the crank shaft pully...


Line it up with this little arrow under here right?


Now this is where I am really confused, there are 2 markings on this balance pulley, there is this notch in the first pic, and there is a small milled divot on it as well. Which if either do I go by?




And I line it up here I assume?



And after I take the belt off, I can just by hand turn the cams straight up right?

 

I think you are using the wrong marks on the front balancer shaft. On the front balancer shaft there is a groove not on the gear itself but the shaft thing that comes directly out of the block. You aline that with the mark on the block you have pictured here. as for the rear balancer shaft, there are two markings on both the gear and the block. The two groove looking marks line up with the mark that is exactly verticle on the block. The line on that gear lines up with a mark that is horizontaly placed on the block. Hope this helps.

 

I think I saw a place on the shaft itself to align the marks, I will be back out there tonight and I can look again and take more pictures thanks in advance njprelude!

 

Well, didn't go back out tonight. Wife wanted to go out to eat so it'll have to wait till the morning I'll stop and pickup some more brake clean and the new water pump in the morning and then head on out and get to work on getting the pics and trying to see the other marks

 

First: left balancer- mark on the gear should point to the left



Second: you're right with crank and an arrow

Third: right balancer- there's a 12mm screw just like on the picture at the back of the engine. Stick a long screwdriver there and turn the gear until you feel that screwdriver goes deeper and lock the gear. Usually it makes the notch go to the 4-5 o'clock.

 

YEA!!!! Your awake, lol. Ok, so once I get those all lined up perfectly, the belt is ready to go onto them, can I go ahead and remove the T-belt and just tweak the cam gears to point straight up once it's off? Should I tweak them, then install the new gears, or install the new gears THEN tweak them?

 

Gears will go only in one position. Take the T-belt off, install gears, set them pointing up, set the crank pointing an arrow and you're good to go.

 

SOLD! I assume there is nothing to align on the water pump or tensioner... well I know nothing is on the tensioner. The new belts won't be in till later on this week, but the water pump can go on tomorrow now