Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
OK so looking around on the net for proper pics of the cam markings they are on the back of the cams not the front I went out and checked the backs of them.. Paint marks are very faded but I see small dots.. Here is a pic of the cams at no 1 TDC compression:
![]()
See how there is on dot on the left (driver side cam) then two dots then one dot on the pass cam then two dots. If I were a betting man I'd think it should be two dots -one dot- one dot-two dots? Could the driver side cam be in 180 deg off? According to this diagram:
Maybe we have something here? If this is the case how hard is it to turn that cam around 180 degrees? Is it as easy as just unbolting the thing and turning it around 180 deg then bolt it back up? Torque to specs of course..
and the mystery plot thickens for @Eicca although I thought the stuck valve was a pretty good story myself
COngratulaitions on getting this far! You are teaching your son some SERIOUS troubleshooting! Assume NOTHING.
Right now, you don't know WHICH cam is out of spec, or even if they are BOTH out of spec. They may have been dropped back in, UNRELATED to TDC.
Fortunately, this is a NON-interference engine, so the valves would not crash into the top of the pistons. Gotta say though, that starter sounds HORRIBLE!
I understand the NON-interference principal with the valves not coming in contact with the pistons but with the cams out of sequence could the intake and exhaust valves collide? I'm trying to figure out why the inconsistent readings with the compression test. Could the valves be bent and rotating, sometimes sealing better than others?
I will bet that if the compression test was run MANY times, you would see a numeric pattern emerge of it hitting 120 PSI every 12th time or 24th time or something. Since the cams were out of time with EACH OTHER, then the intake valve or the exhaust valve was open at the WRONG time. When the piston would come up, it would NORMALLY be on the compression stroke every OTHER rotation (4-stroke). However, since the cams were off, it would exhaust out the INTAKE sometimes and out the EXHAUST other times, but the spark NEVER occurred during a compression stroke along with a fuel injection. Many things must happen at the same time.
I do NOT think the valves are bent. No, they will not overlap and get hooked on each other or collide with each other in the same cylinder. During normal operation, there is SUPPOSED to be valve overlap (of XX number of degrees) for proper scavenging of the cylinder. I do not know what it is on these engines, but I'm sure SOMEONE on here knows. (@scottryana probably). Valve overlap is that BOTH intake and exhaust valves are open (or partially open) at the same time.
I will bet that if the compression test was run MANY times, you would see a numeric pattern emerge of it hitting 120 PSI every 12th time or 24th time or something. Since the cams were out of time with EACH OTHER, then the intake valve or the exhaust valve was open at the WRONG time. When the piston would come up, it would NORMALLY be on the compression stroke every OTHER rotation (4-stroke). However, since the cams were off, it would exhaust out the INTAKE sometimes and out the EXHAUST other times, but the spark NEVER occurred during a compression stroke along with a fuel injection. Many things must happen at the same time.
I do NOT think the valves are bent. No, they will not overlap and get hooked on each other or collide with each other in the same cylinder. During normal operation, there is SUPPOSED to be valve overlap (of XX number of degrees) for proper scavenging of the cylinder. I do not know what it is on these engines, but I'm sure SOMEONE on here knows. (@scottryana probably). Valve overlap is that BOTH intake and exhaust valves are open (or partially open) at the same time.
Hey guys thanks for all the replies and suggestions I am still trying to wrap my head around everything.. This is about as deep as I have been with internal engine issues. I have the FSM and plan on reading up on the proper method on removing the cams.. The last thing I want to do is to make it even worse or seriously damage something. I got a bit of info on the guy that did this repair from the PO today. He is\was a mechanic by trade, but I guess a the time he was going through some very difficult personal problems and self medication if ya catch my drift. I just don't think his head was totally there (obviously) when he did the fix. I also confirmed that after he put everything back together it never did run. He was going to try contacting the guy and asking him what he thought about it.. But I am not holding my breath on that one. As for he question about good gas and filter yes I drained all the old gas and put in fresh as well as a clean filter.. So we are good there. @BILT4ME if you wanna get your hands dirty I'd love to have ya over to take a look at is as it sounds like you know way more about this kind of problem than I do.. I'll take ya to dinner or feed ya some beer if that is your kind of thing ;>) if not I plan on coming to the tornado cruisers meeting this Sat.. I think you were planning on it as well. Anyhow look forward to meeting ya..
This thread has unexpectedly picked up in another thread you can go here it view more. Hope to test it out to night
Pics of cams at proper TDC