Timing belt question
 

Hey guys, I'm getting everything back together on my 1g after getting my head back from MAP. Last night I put the new timing components and timing belt on but it seems no matter what I try the marks on the crank gear will be off after I put tension on the belt and tighten the tensioner pulley down.

The mods that might be relevant are HKS Cams(264/272) and it has AEM Tru Time cam gears. Also when I installed the lifters, rocker arms, and cams I followed the procedure of bleeding the lifters of oil before installation and everything seems to be correct there.

Here is what I have tried so far, I put the crank gear one tooth back hoping that it would then be right on when I tightened the belt, this didn't work and it was further away than before. It seems as though if I try putting it one tooth of in either direction i'll end up much further away. So this idea doesn't make much sense. I've also tried multiple times by putting everything right on the mark and I end up this way every time. (Pics attached). After rotating the motor over six times and putting the crank and oil pump right on the marks with #1 tdc, the cam gears look to be off a tooth from each other.

After stopping for the night I have a couple ideas. Should i put the exhaust cam off 1 tooth in hopes that when i rotate the motor it will offset everything and perhaps line up as it should? Should I just ditch the aftermarket cam gears? Or even try timing it without having the cam tool in there holding the cams in place. I did buy the timing belt tool kit in hopes it would make life a little easier. Or maybe where it is now is ok?

The pics attached are what it looks like now in current state, tensioner tight. I just have yet to pull the pin on the auto tensioner. Any thoughts would help.

**Edit** Another thought, these a/m cam gears have the lines that match at 3 o clock and 9 o clock with the dowels at 12, but they also ( see pictures ) by the 3 o clock markings have dimples on the inside. Any thoughts on what those are for?

Re: Timing belt question
 

One thing I've found is you have to use a straight edge or ruler to line up the cam gear marks with the center of the bolts, the angle is too much to eyeball it. Scratch that, I see you're using the tool, I haven't used that before.

Other than that, your marks look good, they never line up exactly perfect once you've milled the head or block. They probably didn't always line up exactly perfect even when new in some cases.

Re: Timing belt question
 

Ok, That's good. The inner ocd in me was trying to make it exactly on. Do you have any idea what the extra dimples on the cam gears are for? two on the exhaust side and one on the intake side. You can kinda see one of them in the picture, the other is tough to see because its @ the end of a tooth.

Re: Timing belt question
 

Not sure, I don't use adjustable cam gears since I still have my ancient old HKS 272's, which install straight up. I'm using factory 2.4 cam gears.

Re: Timing belt question
 

Ahh ok, well thanks for the response. It's a bit of a relief haha.

Re: Timing belt question
 

Yeah, you'll be fine.