Well, as some of you know, last Friday I installed my new Comp 400 camshaft and a few days ago my new Maddog 72% STS. My car has been on jackstands for a week as of today (the actual cam install took four hours), since i needed a new outer timing cover and it took the dealer an entire week to get one![:@] Then today I put everything back together, started her up, and BANG!!! I had a huge backfire through my intake which made my bellows tube explode and some nicwe black smoke came out the intake manifold...fun stuff.

Anyways, my timing was off by less than 1/2 notch on my crank sprocket...but that little difference that I overlooked (this is my third cam install on a Neon, and something like my seventh cam install in general) has turned into a $300 mistake because now I need to replace all 16 valves. Hopefully, I'll have everything in by Monday, or Tuesday at the latest (payed the extra $40 for overnight shipping ) and I'll have the R/T back up and running in no time. Just wanted to tell everyone, no matter how experienced you think you are, or however unexperienced you are, when your working on your Neon, take your time and double check everything or else you'll pay for it later!

On a happy note, I installed my new Maddog STS and shifted it in my car (which is on jackstands ) and the shifter feels AMAZING! It makes the Mopar STS feel like a hobo Ebay shifter in comparison...couldnt recommend it anymore highly.

 

that sux *** man hopefully you get it all right...if it makes you feel better i break something pretty much EVERY time i work on my car lol

 

That does suck that your timing got screwed. Hopefully eveything comes in in a timely fashion!

 

Hopefully that is all that is wrong. Good luck gettin the car running again. You'll have to let us all know how she runs with that cam.

 

Good luck with the Neon. U can never double check too much.

Does the engine have to be broken down to see the timing on the crank sprocket? Is adjusting the timing hard?

 

No, timing really isnt hard at all, which is why I'm so pissed at myself that I missed it [:@]. Basically, to replace your timing belt, you have to remove the three engine mount bolts, then the power steering pump, the crankshaft pulley, the engine mount plate, then the outer timing cover...from there you can see the timing marks on the cam gear and the crank sprocket...

 

Oh; You're talking about the timing on the cam gear.
I thought there was a timing adjustment needed on the crank too.

 

Yeah there are two...there are marks on the crank sprocket and oil pump housing that must be lined up, then there are timing marks on the cam gear and inner timing cover that must be lined up.

 

Sorry to hear about the car but maybe this will give you some time to put on that TB..
Well good luck

 

Well I got the new valves installed and the car starts up fine...I'm running VERY rich and throwing a P0068 and have a sustained idle of 4,000RPM. So tomorrow I get to take apart my intake manifold, throttle body, and CAI to chreck for vacuum leaks and the such. Hopefully the high idle is because of the discrepency between the MAP and TPS sensors...

Once I get rid of the CEL I'll drive her around and let everyone know how the new cam works!!