I'm not quite sure if I understand your question. When you go to remove the original belt, you're gonna want to set it to TDC which makes it easy to set the next belt. The cams rotate one time for every two times the crank rotates though so it's half the speed of the crank rotations.
I had the same issue where I didn’t align it properly before, and now my driver side TDC mark is aligned with the mark, but the passenger side and crank mark is not, I see where you try to explain what you did but I’m just not understanding, did you just use a ratchet to turn the passenger side cam into place?
Correct, I just used a ratchet on the cam to get it to the right spot. The marks are also just to help get it in the right area. The lines on the belt are the most important thing to follow. There should be 40 teeth between the two cam gear marks, and 43 teeth between the right (drivers side) cam and the crank marks.
@@TheZGarage I tried moving the passenger side cam ( the one that’s facing more down) and it seems to have a lot of pressure on it, I didn’t move it all the way up to the mark to make sure I didn’t break anything. I saw in your video you said you kept it in the lower spot while you put a ratchet on the crank, does that put the cam into the right spot if I move the crank and keep the cam down for now?
That cam is pressing down on a spring when it's lined up correctly so it wants to snap forwards or backwards. I left it in a non-loaded position until I got everything else aligned and then carefully aligned it so it didn't snap forwards
@@TheZGarage so would you suggest I keep that I keep the unaligned cam where it’s at with a pole or something, and move the crankshaft so it’s aligned since the other cam snapped into place already? And is it safe to just move the crankshaft without moving the cams? Sorry I’m a new mechanic and this is my first time doing timing.
No worries! You should be able to move the crank to where it needs to be. Since the engine is not running even if the piston hit a valve it won't cause any damage because there's no force behind it.
just bought a 1986 300 ZX non turbo auto. been sitting 10 years. I'm a 31 year ASE certified master technician... looking for a gas tank for it.. ill get it running then a timing belt after. awesome vids. how old are you?
a little late but i also picked up a non turbo z31 from 1985. my gas tank was rusted through so I ordered a fuel cell instead since the fuel delivery is better and its just cheaper than finding a fuel tank that old lol. doing the install this week. did you end up finding a tank or did you also just get a fuel cell?
That's a good idea. Usually I forget because I'm excited. You also need to take off the guide plate off the front of the crank sprocket in order to see the timing mark, so it's easy to forget while you're pulling everything off.
@@TheZGarage oh gotcha. Ya I was confused why it wasn’t set to tdc. But I’m also a mechanic so I’m used to doing things a certain way. Kudos to you for getting timing set properly!
@@TheZGarage oh and forgot to mention. There is timing marks on the pulley. There’s like 4 lines in the pulley. They very first Mark when turning clockwise is tdc. Just have to pull the distributor cover to make sure once it’s all lined up to confirm it’s firing on one. Those marks will line up with tdc for cylinder 6 as well.
pretty brave dude letting those get that far off from each other!
How did you mark the cams? Did you turn 1:1 or 2:1 ratio to its mark?
I'm not quite sure if I understand your question. When you go to remove the original belt, you're gonna want to set it to TDC which makes it easy to set the next belt. The cams rotate one time for every two times the crank rotates though so it's half the speed of the crank rotations.
I had the same issue where I didn’t align it properly before, and now my driver side TDC mark is aligned with the mark, but the passenger side and crank mark is not, I see where you try to explain what you did but I’m just not understanding, did you just use a ratchet to turn the passenger side cam into place?
Correct, I just used a ratchet on the cam to get it to the right spot. The marks are also just to help get it in the right area. The lines on the belt are the most important thing to follow. There should be 40 teeth between the two cam gear marks, and 43 teeth between the right (drivers side) cam and the crank marks.
@@TheZGarage I tried moving the passenger side cam ( the one that’s facing more down) and it seems to have a lot of pressure on it, I didn’t move it all the way up to the mark to make sure I didn’t break anything. I saw in your video you said you kept it in the lower spot while you put a ratchet on the crank, does that put the cam into the right spot if I move the crank and keep the cam down for now?
That cam is pressing down on a spring when it's lined up correctly so it wants to snap forwards or backwards. I left it in a non-loaded position until I got everything else aligned and then carefully aligned it so it didn't snap forwards
@@TheZGarage so would you suggest I keep that I keep the unaligned cam where it’s at with a pole or something, and move the crankshaft so it’s aligned since the other cam snapped into place already? And is it safe to just move the crankshaft without moving the cams? Sorry I’m a new mechanic and this is my first time doing timing.
No worries! You should be able to move the crank to where it needs to be. Since the engine is not running even if the piston hit a valve it won't cause any damage because there's no force behind it.
how’d you get the harmonic balancer off?
bgironella you need a harmonic balancer puller. Can rent one at autozone or buy one. Harbor freight has them cheap
just bought a 1986 300 ZX non turbo auto. been sitting 10 years. I'm a 31 year ASE certified master technician... looking for a gas tank for it.. ill get it running then a timing belt after. awesome vids. how old are you?
a little late but i also picked up a non turbo z31 from 1985. my gas tank was rusted through so I ordered a fuel cell instead since the fuel delivery is better and its just cheaper than finding a fuel tank that old lol. doing the install this week. did you end up finding a tank or did you also just get a fuel cell?
@@diesel.bimmer I sold it 2.5 years ago to a young kid. I just didn't have time for it. no clue if its up and going or not.
Er, you can adjust the cams before putting on the belt. It's a bit interferency after all.
Why not just set it to Top dead center before you even pull the belt off?
That's a good idea. Usually I forget because I'm excited. You also need to take off the guide plate off the front of the crank sprocket in order to see the timing mark, so it's easy to forget while you're pulling everything off.
@@TheZGarage oh gotcha. Ya I was confused why it wasn’t set to tdc. But I’m also a mechanic so I’m used to doing things a certain way. Kudos to you for getting timing set properly!
@@TheZGarage oh and forgot to mention. There is timing marks on the pulley. There’s like 4 lines in the pulley. They very first Mark when turning clockwise is tdc. Just have to pull the distributor cover to make sure once it’s all lined up to confirm it’s firing on one. Those marks will line up with tdc for cylinder 6 as well.
Chain wrench on the pulley for basically any Nissan. I know this is 5 years old lol!