Good morning,



I need help with realigning the timing chain marks on my 95 Dodge Ram 1500.

I removed the timing cover to fix a coolant leak and the timing chain marks moved out of alignment when I removed the harmonic balancer bolt. The harmonic balancer would turn when I would try to loosen the big bolt. I was able to remove the bolt and the balancer but the timing marks got out of alignment. I put the balancer back and it looks like I can turn the shaft clock wise but I’m not sure if this is the correct way of doing it. Do I have to put the gear set and the chain back together to turn it? Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks

 

Did you remove the chain and gears?

 

Yes I did.

 

Then you have to put the chain back on to align the marks

 

It's not an interference engine. Put the gears back on without the chain. Rotate them back into alignment and then reinstall the chain.

 

If the crank turns without the cam everything will be out of sync

 

You put the gears back on and rotate each shaft so the marks on the gear is pointing towards the middle. If this was an OHC engine, it would be different. However, it isn't. I wouldn't rotate the engine completely around, just move the marks to where they point at each other. When the marks are aligned, remove the gears and put them back on with the chain installed. This is one of many reasons I like the first gen Magnums. They are just easier to work on.

 

Thanks to every single one of you for your advice!

I really appreciate it!

ya’ll rock!!

I’m trying to learn. I like working on my old truck.