Demon I Am
08-07-2012, 03:54 PM
I am installing a 1996 1.8 into a 1990 Miata. I have a few weeks before the actual swap, and have been doing as much preliminary work as possible. I am in process of installing the new Timing Belt and have run into two issues. I searched M.net for info, but actual info was hard to find through the E-penis contests, and outright wrong info.
1. The cam gears were removed before I received the engine, with no marking as to the original positions. I installed the new water pump, cam seals and pulleys, however, the pulleys do not "rest" on any of the I/E markings. When you turn a cam, it "rests" on 1 of 4 positions. The closest I get leaves the intake side "E"s about 2 teeth away from the alignment mark (withe the primary cam lobe facing the fender). The exhaust side "I"s are about 1 tooth shy. Is this where I need to manually set both and clamp the crescent wrenches together (or get an extra set of hands)? The cams have enough tension on them, that I can't hold both in place and slip the belt on. I just want to make sure I am installing everything correctly.
2. I have my crank pulley lined up properly, but to do so, I had to rotate it, via the boss bolt. When I do this, it starts to go 1/4 turn, and then gets suspiciously hard to turn. I did not want to put any more pressure into it, as the boss bolt started treading in instead of turning. Any clue what might be going on?
1. The cam gears were removed before I received the engine, with no marking as to the original positions. I installed the new water pump, cam seals and pulleys, however, the pulleys do not "rest" on any of the I/E markings. When you turn a cam, it "rests" on 1 of 4 positions. The closest I get leaves the intake side "E"s about 2 teeth away from the alignment mark (withe the primary cam lobe facing the fender). The exhaust side "I"s are about 1 tooth shy. Is this where I need to manually set both and clamp the crescent wrenches together (or get an extra set of hands)? The cams have enough tension on them, that I can't hold both in place and slip the belt on. I just want to make sure I am installing everything correctly.
2. I have my crank pulley lined up properly, but to do so, I had to rotate it, via the boss bolt. When I do this, it starts to go 1/4 turn, and then gets suspiciously hard to turn. I did not want to put any more pressure into it, as the boss bolt started treading in instead of turning. Any clue what might be going on?