Kinda confused right now. I took off my stock cam gears and replaced them with aftermarket, replaced that water pump, crank pulley, and timing belt. Now, is there any way to know if the timing is correct before starting the motor. I turn the motor over but fail to hear the "shufk... pfff" of the pistons compression. The cam-shafts snap at me when i try to turn them. Now, if i am correct, the after market cam gears are set at stock when both are set at 0 degrees and facing in the 12 o clock position. Then, the first piston is up when the crank line in the block is lined up with the small line on the small lower crank gear. Now, with the shafts at 12 o clock and the crank shaft and block lined up at the little line thing, then the motor is correctly timed to stock, right? Haynes manual is confusing the hell out of me, sorry if this might be a stupid elementary question, but im kinda wondering why im not hearing the compression sound that i heard before i dismantled the engine.

 

what engine? if its B18A/B twelve O clock is correct...
-set the cams @ 12, the lines on the gears meet eachother

-On the crank pulley set the single line at the tab on the timingbelt cover TDC...

- number one piston is at its highest point.check with a long screw driver in the spark plug hole to be sure (number one piston is closest to the belts...just making sure).

-slide T-belt on

-tighten the tensioner making sure it leaves no slack on the timing belt

-rotate the engine with a socket long extension and ratchet by hand a full 360 degrees..you should feel the compression in each cylinder. then set again to TDC making sure the lines and cams align perfect to each other

-if its a VTEC engine set cam gears at about eleven o clock..the lines on the gears meet each other...

It doesnt get much easier than that...