I have a 4.6 romeo. I am doing a rebuild I have the heads on and I cant get the timing marks set. I have the cams set to 90 degree to the heads but I cant get the crank to line up what am I doing wrong?????

 

I found it easiest to position the crank mark at around 11 o clock.

 

Carefully rotate the crank so the crank keyway is at 12:00. Now (important) DO NOT move the crank again until you have reinstalled the chains and the chain tensioners have been released. While turning the crank be careful if you feel any resistence, stop! If the valves are not all seated then they will hit a piston and bend, it dosen't take much. Ideally the crank keyway is at 12:00 before the heads are installed. Now find the offcolored chain links on the chain. If the chains are new then the links are copper colored. If they are used chains then the timing links will be darker colored almost like gun blueing. With the crank in this position you can now install the chains on the crank timing gear first. Make sure the off colored links are on the timing marks on the crank gear. Now holding each chain one at a time and keeping the chain tight move the other end up to the cam gear. DO NOT move the crank...with the crank at 12:00 all you need to do is move the cams... You can safely rotate the cam by hand (18 mm )socket or open end on the gear. Rotate the cam so you cam align the other off colored link (two per chain)over the cam gear timing mark. Repeat this for the other side cam as well. Now visually recheck that the crank timing links and cam gear timing marks did not move. All four timing links, two per chain must be on a timing mark at this point. If one is off even by one link you have to move it so it's on a cam or crank timing gear mark. Now you can install the chain tenisoner guide and the chain tensioner. before releasing the tenioner again visually recheck that the marks did not move off the gear marks and then release the tensioner so it applies pressure to the chain. Once the tensioner is released you can now rotate the crank and everything will stay in time. Once this is done I would perform a leakdown on the engine before building completely up. If you did bend a valve a leakdown will show it and it's much easier to fix now then after its complete. In the future always rotate the crank to 12:00 before removing or installing the cyl heads. It's just good insurance against bent valve issues. Good luck.

 

yeah I did all that and it will only turn over about a 1/4 turn and I can feel it stop against the valves any idea why?

 

could it be the place that did the heads put the cams on the wrong heads?

 

the # 5 cyl. exhaust valve is open when I go to try and rotate the motor after I line up the timing marks

 

Ok. try turning the crank keyway to the next closest 90 Deg. Either at 9:00 3:00 or 6:00. You can't force it or believe me the valve will bend. You should be able to get the crank keyway to one of these positions by turning it clockwise or counter clockwise. Once you reach one of these then the pistons are down enough in all the bores so you can turn the cams by hand wherever you want them. Then rotate the cams so the cam timing mark is near the top and the cam actually turns by itself (sort of snaps into position)in this position the cams will have all the valves closed. You can then rotate the crank back to 12:00. Then follow my directions for timing again only moving the cams not the crank. Again you have to be really carefull here as these valves will bend with very little pressure if they hit the piston. Another option is to remove the heads and start over with the crank at 12:00. But the head gaskets will be toast and you'll need new ones.

 

well with the chains off I can rotate the motor and the cams it is once I set the timing and I did have it at 12:00 from the start. the problem is when I set the timing the # 5 cyl. exhaust valve is open and when I go to rotate the motor the piston comes up to it. I am wondering if the shop that did the heads for me put the cams on the wrong heads. they had one cam on backwards. and that is the head that is giving me the problem

 

I am assuming this is a 2v right?

 

yes it is a 2v and I have done everything the way you have told me and the same thing each time

 

The rightside cyl head will have three bolts across the front cam cap. This is the reservoir and it is at the front of the rightside cam. The leftside cyl head front cam cap will only have two bolts holding it down at the front of the cap. The reservoir is at the back of the left head. These heads are both machined exactly the same only assembled reversed depending if it is a left or right assembly. You said they installed the cam backwards, I'm just wondering if you reversed the correct cam. Not sure how you knew which one was reversed as both heads would have appeared to be either lefts or rights. May want to take the heads back to the people that rebuilt them and have them check them out, make sure they are assembled the right way.

 

well when I got the heads home I laid them out just like they would go on the motor and thats when I noticed the cam sprocket on the one head was facing the wrong way. I used the head gaskets to figure out what one it was. thats why I say I think they have the cams on the wrong heads causing the valves to be open at the wrong time. then I am going to have to get new gaskets and head bolts. the bolts are torque to yield

 

Some will disput this but the head bolt suppier told us the head bolts can be used several times with no problems. I have used them over two-three times with never a leak. Head gaskets yes you will need new ones.

 

so do you think that they may have the cams switched around. I had them on the phone today and they told me that they didnt do anything wrong but when I brought up the fact that they had the cam on backwards and a plug in the oil hole for the chain tenisioner. they didnt want to talk about it anymore and said that I am doing something wrong. the heads are on the right sides as the head gaskets wont let you reverse the heads and one is marked with a L on it

 

DYNOTECH where are the cam lobes supposed to be on the #1 piston when it is at top dead center?