Hey Guys, a little help here... I'm doing my first head gasket change, and now im down to the nitty gritty with it and have some questions... I removed the head off the block without first aligning the timing marks as everyone says I should do.. I just took my head to a machine shop, had 6 new valves put in, resurface, etc... NOW I have the head back down on the block, but im confused now as to the situation with the timing belt. I have read mixed posts. Some say to align the timing marks for the sprockets, other say to align and then turn the crankshaft back 3 1/2 notches... can anyone give me some good details on how EXACTLY im supposed to go about getting the correct timing? Thanks a bunch in advance!

 

this might help...if you dont understand sumthing or have more questions then just post them and sumone will reply

https://dodgeforum.com/m_543405/tm.htm

 

ok, so now I got that the camshaft is aligned while the crankshaft goes up 3 notches, then back a half.. now one more question.. when I go ahead and put tension and give the shaft 2 revolutions to assure that the marks are aligned, SHOULD the crankshaft still sit 3 notches up, or will it acually align with the TDC mark?

 

i dont under stand why you put the crank off 3 notchs. there a notch on the (sohc) cam pulley, line that up with the arrow on the plastic back plate and on the crank theres a notch and a marking in the block line that up then put the belt on the crank then on the water pump put tension on it as u put it on the cam gear make sure there a little tension on the belt and put it on the cam gear thelpull the belt over the tensioner pulley push the tensioner up a little tighten bolts, pry pull pin. then done. that how i did mine i did it 3 times with no problems. that 3 notch thing however it is i dotn get it so i dont do it that way

 

Alright, sounds like some people are confused. You want the cam sprocket to line up with the mark on the inner timing cover. The crank gear, you want to set it at TDC (arrows aligned), then rotate it counter clockwise 3 notches, then back 2.5 notches and it is aligned.

 

you have to move the crank sprocket back a few notches because when you put tension on the belt, it should pull the crank into alignment

 

I always thought the moving the crank sprock back then forth was to put tension on the pull side of the timing belt. Then you take out the slack by pushing the tensioning plunger housing as far as it will go against the tensioning pulley arm.

 

i do my timing a little differently....

i align the crank sprocket....then align the cam sprockets....
install the timing belt with no slack on the water pump side.....
install the tensioner pin....then put a screwdriver under the bottom of the tensioner and pry up....then tighten down the tensioner bolts and rmove the allen wrench to deploy the pin....