EDIT: Thread can be considered closed now. Thank you for your help.





Sorry for the caps in the title (if it even displays) but I'm in a bit of a predicament right now. My car is in the shop right now to have the timing belt/water pump replaced (tensioner took a massive dump on me). The timing belt on the engine when I got it was really loose, and even though I pointed it out to the mechanic that initially built it, he said it was ok. Later, I found out the tensioner didn't even have a spring on it. Well, now here we are.


With this new timing belt/water pump installed, all my power from the engine is GONE. It literally feels like I've lost 100+hp. Could this all be caused just from improper timing on the cam gears (Skunk2 Cam Gears)?

And my main question: Do these cam gears look properly aligned to you? Are the TDC marks those larger circles with the straight line to them?


Edit: If those larger circles with the timing markings on them are the TDC marks, they aren't lined up at all are they?
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8...0115130300.jpg

 

What engine is this?

Doesnt look to good to me.

 

B18C1. I was in a bad spot with the car stuck in a different town when I bought this engine, and long story short I got shafted by the mechanic in a lot of different ways upon buying it.

Edit: The guy that put on the timing belt said he didn't touch the cam gears, and that he marked them off to make sure they didn't move at all when he put on the new belt. If this is true, could all this power loss just be from improper timing?

 

That picture doesn't have anything I can use to see if the gears are lined up. Are there any "up" arrows on the cam gears, or is there a tooth marked on each gear to use as a guide?

Edit: your mechanic also sounds like an idiot. Didn't he check timing before giving you back the car? Do not drive ANYWHERE until you get this resolved.

 

The only indicators on the cam gears are those smaller circle indentions on the teeth and the timing marks, as well as the straight line etched in one of the spokes.

 

in order to know you have to crank the engine counterclockwise until the TDC mark is reached on the crank pulley and the up marks or dots line up on the cam gears. i absolutely hate most aftermarket cam gears and unless you really need them put the stockers back on and have a more reliable engine.

 

Wait, this picture isnt with your motor at TDC?

 

Son of a bitch... I didn't even consider that. No, this is after I had picked up the car, so it had been run and was probably nowhere near TDC.

Edit: Even with that considered though, those markings shouldn't have rotated like that if they are indeed the TDC marks.

 

Ouch....first thing i would do is set it at TDC and perform a leak down test to check for bent valves. (after corrected)

 

It's impossible to know if the cams are correct when the crank isn't at TDC. Do that and post a new pic.

 

I will.... Not looking forward to the results.

I don't have access to the car right now, sorry. Should have thought of that in the first place...

I guess we can consider this thread closed at this point. Thanks guys.