What will happen if the timing belt is like 1-3 teeth off?

I marked the cam gears and the timing belt with some whiteout to indicate the TDC position where the timing belt mated with the cam gear. However, I'm want to be 100% sure my pistons arent going to do the happy dance with my valves.

So any suggestion to get the timing belt slipped back onto the cam gears would be greatly appreciated.

 

If your only one tooth of your car will run like complete ****, I dont think one off is enough to make a piston hit a valve, but I bet three is. Im not positive how to keep it from moving, but be sure you do before you take it off.
gmoore

 

You can use a positive piston stop, pointer, and degree wheel to make sure the crank is at TDC. Or, you can use a dial indicator on a deck bridge if the head is off. The oil pump/timing drive gear marks and crank pulley/lower timing belt cover marks should all be **** on perfect.

Set the cam gears with the horizontal hashes lined up.

Follow the order laid out in the Helm to install the timing belt. Set tension, tighten tensioner down, rotate, and then recheck for TDC #1. If it's dead on, then you'll be ok. Torque down tensioner. No threadlocker necessary.

You should still check piston-to-valve clearance with the intake gear advanced and the exhaust gear retarded to see how far you can go before hitting the recommended p-to-v clearance.