Thread: SOHC timing help

So I have read many guides and a manual on how to time the SOHC, the specific one im working on is on a 97 base. Every guide I find shows the crank sprocket timing mark at an angle and the one of this oil pump is straight up and down and I have to be seeing the right thing cause nothing else down there looks like it could be it. Secondly I have retimed it over and over, still can't get it to start, all the timing marks stay lined up, the belt isnt jumping teeth, it has plenty of tension, looks like the belt is trying to work itself off the gears though, could have too much tension? would this cause the car not to start?

PS, this is the spring/pivot style tensioner, not the gay hydrolic style

Where is Stealthee when you need him?

Originally Posted by Alex3000gt

Where is Stealthee when you need him?

lmao, he's here, give him an hour or two

This may be a stupid question, but did you change the oil pump? Is it the correct one? It almost has to be, but try to rule out silly things first.

As for placement of the crank sprocket, its been so long since I worked on the timing of my car I can't tell you right off hand. If you are still struggling with this later I will see what I can dig up.

No, to be more thorough I had to pull the front head off, have it resurfaced, put it back on with a new head gasket, re-timed the motor with a new belt, and now it wont start. Did not change the oil pump. Very frustrating because its such an easy motor to time!

The distributor was off, even though its pointing at 1 at TDC could I have put the disty in the rear head when the cams were in the wrong position in time

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You have to set the TDC of the Distributor as well as the TDC on the crank at the same time. The distributor rotor should have teeth on it for the timing, I believe each tooth is 3 degrees...

I have a '99 SOHC. From your description it sounds like you have it lined up correctly. '97+ SOHC marks are different. Most manuals out there are for '91-'96. This confused me too the first time I did my timing belt. If I remember correctly the crank angle sensor is also in a different location.

Since your doing the timing belt, you should do the whole 60k/120k maintenance.

Not sure why it isn't starting.

Originally Posted by Dbeltran24

I have a '99 SOHC. From your description it sounds like you have it lined up correctly. '97+ SOHC marks are different. Most manuals out there are for '91-'96. This confused me too the first time I did my timing belt. If I remember correctly the crank angle sensor is also in a different location.

Since your doing the timing belt, you should do the whole 60k/120k maintenance.

Not sure why it isn't starting.

Well at least you know what im talking about, im not doing the full service cause its not my car.
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Posting this follow up for anyone using search to find answers to the same problems I had. I needed to put the metal dust shield from the lower timing cover on, this prevented the belt from walking, also there must be no slack between rear cam gear and crank gear when everything is on timing marks. If you take the distributor off on the sohc you have to get it on the exact right tooth for the car to run proper

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