New headgasket, timing off?

[kpc_0721]

Just finished changing my head gasket due to the previous owner putting anti-seize on it and fired the car up first try.

Car has ran smoother then ever before and holds idle perfect at around 550rpms. I know idle should be around 650-750 but even that should not make a huge difference how far my timing is off.

Also it sounds like it has a big exhaust leak, put a new mr.copper gasket on and just recently before head gasket put all new vibrant gaskets on the exhaust. I don't think it would be the head gasket some how leaking because I figure there would be water or something leaking from it correct?

Every time I try and give it some throttle it doesn't want to move much and bogs.

I lined the cams up like the jim wolf guide says to do as I have done a few times in the past with no problems but it still seems like its off a tooth.

I am concerned that the previous owner may have timed the lower chain wrong possibly? Would the car even start if he did and if so would it hold idle so well?

I'm wondering if anyone knows how to check the idler sprocket and chain to see if it is correct because I have never had to do it?

[carkook]

Im not sure exactly, because I have a sohc. But I had a similar experience. I did the headgasket and after puting it all back together I had the cam timing off by one tooth. It would start up idle and rpms would climb perfectly up untill around 3500 rpm's then it would bog out. So yes your car could idol even with the cam timing off. Hope this helps a little.

[kpc_0721]

I just checked my cam gears again and it seems to be fine.

Also I heard the double row chain has to be placed in a certain way and can't just be put in, anyone know why this is?

I lined up the silver link with the little dot on the idler gear and the two darker links with my cam marks. Is that wrong?

[kpc_0721]

Here's a pic I just took of the cams. Seem to be spot on so I dunno whats going on?

[Pirate_Freder]

The problem is that when you took it apart the dots/mating link weren't necessarily lined up. You should have made your own marks to use when reassembling. As far as I know you now have to start from square 1 and time it from the crank. So set cylinder 1 to tdc on the compression stroke, take the front covers off, etc. and line everything up by the dots/mating links.

If anyone can confirm that this is all he can do?

[kpc_0721]

Just curious why does it matter how the chain goes on as long as the cams are lined up correctly?

My step dad is the one who pulled the chain off so I don't have a clue how it came off.

[Pirate_Freder]

because the cams or wtv may have moved and then the crank and cams are no longer in sync.

[kpc_0721]

WTV?

Oh one thing I forgot to mention is I swapped the cams back to the stock cams. The guy I got the motor from had 2 intake cams.

I didn't crank the motor or anything if thats what you mean.

[Pirate_Freder]

wtv=whatever

What I was saying is that things can shift(for example a cam rotating a bit) once the chain is off and then you can put then chain back with things aligned wrong. Without have mark the gears and links you don't know that they are lining up the same. understand?

Here's an example of how you could have marked everything. You mark the idler gear on one spot by a tooth and mark the link that's on that tooth and then do the same for each cam gear. In that situation doesn't matter about the mating links or dots.

[kpc_0721]

Ok I get what you are saying and all the past times I have removed cams I have marked them like that but my stepdad pulled the cams off without doing that.

It can't be off but a tooth maybe seeing as I can still start it up fine and it will run.

This sucks.

[carkook]

Yeah, just like I said my sohc was a tooth off, ran fine up untill around 3500 rpms then it would fall on its face. Just like this guy said I would start from step 1 and do it all over again.

[liquid_cool]

ok....i stated this a few times and so have the others on this forum bro..you should search some more..but here is the fix for your issue....remove all the sparkplugs....then..in the #1 cylinder..place some tishue or a plastic ziplock baggie down the hole..dont shove it allthe way down the sparkplug hole....just enough to still sea it from the top of the valve cover......after you do that..bump the starter..not crank...when the baggie goes flying out...thats damn neer "Top Dead Center" or "TDC"......now what ya need to do is rotate the crank with a long ratchet and socket to where your mark is on the damper for tdc.....once your on TDC...remove the valve cover and check your cam's...if they look out of place..re do the chains and you should be set...before you start the car thou you need to do 2 things...#1-A )...roteate the engine slowly by hand "with a rachett from the crank" with the plugs removed...this is to make shure your not slammin the valves with the piston's..and #2).....put the engine back on "TDC"....look at the factory service manual for the 20 degree "BTDC" mark and check your dizzy's timing...ajust for 20btdc...hope this helps ha figure out your issue..good luck.

[kpc_0721]

Problem is fixed now, POS distributor somehow stopped functioning while I took the head off.

The problem was not with lining up the cams at TDC. I am fully aware how to find TDC, and like the picture shows the cams line up perfectly at TDC.

I don't get why people say you need to put the chain on EXACTLY the way it came off, as long as the cams are aligned in the correct position you just put the chain on with the dark links on the marks of the cam gears.

thanks for the help guys.