My brother is doing a headgasket replacement on his Runner and can't get the pass side cam at TDC. He says it spins past the 12 o'clock position and goes straight to the 3 o'clock position. He also told me that before taking the head to the machine shop, he loosened the cam bearing caps and the cam popped up like it was under a lot of tension. Another thing that bothers me is that the shop didn't do a pressure test, they just resurfaced it. What do you guys think? I'd really appreciate any replies. Thanks.

Anyone?

Camshafts don't go to TDC. Are you refering to the cam position corresponding to the No.1 cylinder being at TDC?

I'm not familiar with your engine, so maybe I'm way off, but if you have the camshaft sprocket on the chain properly, then as long as the links are aligned on the two sprocket markers, you should be able to rotate the crankshaft until the camshaft dowel lines up with its sproket (just make sure the chain and sprockets rotate together without coming apart).

Dont worry about it until you have to reinstall the timing belt. Installing can be tricky, make sure the arrows on the cam sprockets are at 12:00 and the notch on the crankshaft is at TDC simply line it all up, turn the motor over by hand twice and make sure it is still at 12:00. the distributor rotor should also point to the number one spark plug <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Buster I'm like you I think I would have had the heads at least checked out if not reworked while they were off. The timing belt is not that hard to line up, if it's a new belt, which I would be putting on while at it, it will be marked Crankshaft, right cam and left cam at the proper spots. If not the crankshaft will be TDC and the camshafts should have a mark on the sprocket and the back plate of the timing belt cver should have an alignment mark on it, match these up with each other. Being careful not to let them slip off while appling the tensioner, either spring or hydraulic, which ever you have. Check this site out for info!!

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB...900823d/80/17/96/fe/0900823d801796fe.jsp

TDC on the compression stroke, right? Never know when a distributer might get yanked.

Went there this afternoon to check it out. I rotated the driver's cam gear/wheel clockwise and it would stop at certain spots. I assume this is normal since one of the "stop points" is the 12 o'clock position which we want. However, when I rotate the other side the "stop points" are in different locations. To line up the marks, I have to slowly turn the wheel. If I turn it a little too far, the wheel will automatically turn/advance to the next "stop point." Does this make any sense? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Ah.. a timing belt. Boy I dunno these things at all, but hopefully this picture will help. This is what someone above posted.

Don't worry about the stop points, just line up the marks!!

OK, guess we're just making it harder than it really is. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />