I've got quite the problem....I think

pmftv · Jul 20th, 2003, 01:57 PM

OK, I had a blown head gasket in my '87 pulsar, so I had a lot of time on my hands, so I decided to do the fix myself..everything came off fine, I put the new gasket in, yadayada.

But now comes the probelm, I'm putting the engine together and the timing belt wasn't going on properly, the bottom part of the belt was on the bottom gears, but it was off at the top, so me being the genius that i am, thought, If I crank the flywheel it will push the top belt onto the top gear (the one attached to the cylinder head) but that didn't exactly work...and probably wasn't the best idea, so now I'm kind of wondering how do i get the timing belt on and set my pistons and valves back in order??

any help...anything at all, would help me out largely!!! In those haynes books they should have a section for screw-ups...they should really look into that.

Thank you in Advance

Mike

Myetball · Jul 20th, 2003, 02:02 PM

First question....were your timing marks properly aligned when you reassembled?

If not the best thing to do would be unbolt the head, lift it up a bit and get everything lined up properly before you retorque. You may need a new head gasket depending on what type you put in there. Make sure you check it out when you pull it back apart.

EDIT: If things weren't lined up and you rotated the crank you may have some problems. Make sure there aren't any marks on the pistons from contact with the valves.

pmftv · Jul 20th, 2003, 02:08 PM

Well, I Marked the camshaft gear (topgear, attached to cylinder head) with the alignment mark. But i never marked the bottom gear...so i probably didn't properly align the timing properly.

Myetball · Jul 20th, 2003, 02:29 PM

Assuming you have an E16 engine...the bottom spocket has a mark that should be pointed straight down. The cam sprocket has a mark that should be pointed straight up.

Don't forget to align the jackshaft pulley. It has marks but I forget how they line up.

pmftv · Jul 20th, 2003, 02:34 PM

OK so if I remove the head again and line the marks up everything will be fine??

it is the e16i engine..I just got a replacement gasket...it was $15...its made of like the cardboard stuff with a layer of some sort of metal or whatever in the middle of it.

I'm trying to spend the least amount of money on this car (because I have limited funds ($100 in the bank)...I bought it for $150 and the only thing that is wrong is the blown head gasket. everything else is in top shape. I've spent $47 total on parts (this is all canadian funds) I want to fix it get it running and sell it or part it out...most likely sell it.

well, thanks for replying so quickly..

Mike

Myetball · Jul 20th, 2003, 02:40 PM

Hopefully everything will be fine. The only worry would be that the valves came in contact with the pistons during the torquedown or when you rotated the crank. If so there is a chance you bent a valve. Let's hope not.

Some head gaskets are a gray/silver looking material that will stick to the head and block when you torque it down. If you pull it back apart the material may peel off.

Get it apart and let us know what you find.

Crazy-Mart · Jul 20th, 2003, 04:18 PM

without getting the head off... have you got the crank pulley off ????.... if not you can allign the timing mark on the 0degree... better if you had take it off in the 1st place cuz you will get to see the spot mark on the sprocket, align it with the back plate mark and going on like this...

pmftv · Jul 20th, 2003, 04:40 PM

Ok. I removed the cylinder head again..(after it stopped raining) .the gasket is fine!!!...I didn't crank the flywheel enough for the pistons to go up and hit the valves..so i'm in the clear...I'm gonna align all the timing stuff up tomorrow, because the ground is all soaked and I don't want to get soaked.

Thank you for all your help! I really appreciate it!

Mike

blownb310 · Jul 20th, 2003, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Myetball
Assuming you have an E16 engine...the bottom spocket has a mark that should be pointed straight down. The cam sprocket has a mark that should be pointed straight up.

Don't forget to align the jackshaft pulley. It has marks but I forget how they line up.

***** All good advice Myetball. Just one note though, the jackshaft pulley need not be aligned to anything. I don't know why there are marks on it. The jackshaft simply runs the oil pump and [fuel pump if its an E16S]. Neither needs to be timed.

pmftv,
Have you turned the timing belt tensioner all the way to the slack position and tightened the 13mm nut to hold it while you slide the belt in place? If so, it should go on for you. Remember, the dowel for the cam gear should be pointing straight up at TDC. Make sure all of the slack is out of the tensioner side of the belt. Let the tensioner's spring tension set the belt's tension. [got that?

] If you try to tighten the timing belt any more than that, it will whine when you start the engine [moreso when the engine warms up].

BeEleven · Jul 21st, 2003, 02:30 PM

I was just reading this and I have an additional question....back when I was assembling my motor and putting the head on, i may have tapped the valves with the pistons when rotating the crank, what are the chances of bending a valve? I mean, it seems like you'd really have to torque it to bend one...

Myetball · Jul 21st, 2003, 03:39 PM

More than likely you'd have to rotate the engine enough to push a piston up pretty good with the valves extended. If you just tapped it you don't have anything to worry about.

Originally posted by Blownb310***** All good advice Myetball. Just one note though, the jackshaft pulley need not be aligned to anything. I don't know why there are marks on it. The jackshaft simply runs the oil pump and [fuel pump if its an E16S]. Neither needs to be timed.

I know Mike just sometimes I get a little anal.....I am an intelligence analyst after all