Cranking the engine by hand. It locks at 45 degrees in either direction

[Turkeypantz]

I just did the timing belt on this 93 vg30de. All the timing marks are perfectly lined. After installation, I try to turn the engine and it stops after 45 degrees (both directions). With all the spark plugs removed, I watched each piston until I get resistance (lock position). When #3 gets to TDC, there's evidence of that piston hitting something (valve?). #3 stops and has the slightest shift just as the engine locks. The reason I mention the shift, is because it depicts that the piston is coming in contact with something. Not that the piston is loose.
When doing the timing belt, the cam sprockets had sprung to their desired spots a couple times. I've experienced this many times when I was a nissan tech (15 years ago). The sprocket springing forward or back had never caused an issue. Plus: In this case, the #3 piston was far from tdc during the belt installation. Can the vtc be doing something I'm not considering?

[nissanfreak12]

If the rotation stops, its hitting something as you stated. Without taking apart the entire engine, try and take the cam cover(s) off and see if there is issues at the camshaft.

If that shows nothing, do a leak down test, it is possible you have a bent valve or a broken spring/collapsed spring. You may even do a leak down first so nothing has to be torn down.

The VTC is only actuated on oil pressure, besides, it wouldn't just be on one cylinder if the VTC had issues. Are you absolutely sure nothing fell into that cylinder like a nut or something? I know you said the timing is perfectly lined, but did you count the cogs on the timing belt? This is honestly the most precise way to make sure the timing is accurate.

[Turkeypantz]

nothing fell into the cylinder. Nothing was open for that to happen. I removed the timing belt and gears. I found the right side intake gear had crushed the pin dowel. Less specifically, I crushed the pin dowel. In my experienced opinion, I felt it took too long for the bolt to reach 98ft/lbs. It also felt mushy. I thought I was just having trouble keeping the cam gear from rotating and that my senses were off. I hope this helps everybody avoid this sloppiness. I guess I felt the gear was in place, as it passed some resistance from the new oil seal??? Anyway. I've learned that cam pin dowels don't prevent the gear from slipping (once installed). The pin dowel is only for lining up the gear. Just the same. I am not fabricating anything. The pin dowel is still available from Nissan. I've drilled the old one. It's not a very hard steel. There is a little bit still in the cam. I'm waiting for the new pin dowel, before I complete the drilling. I never understood how the timing gears could be dependent on the strength of pin dowels and woodruff keys. After some reading, I find that I was right. They are primarily for positioning.
I guess mustangs have had issues with their cam bolt coming loose. In those forums, everybody agrees that the pin dowel is never to blame. Even when sheared, the pin damage is a result of the gear's bolt coming loose. It's close to 20 years since my first timing belt job. Its time I start using loctite on the cam bolts. The more you know. The more you worry.