rb25det timing belt installation confirmation

[ANVIL]

ok so its been a long time since ive worked on my rb and im trying to get the timing belt back on. i did it about 10 times and im still kind of unsure about the timing marks. when i install the belt, all the marks line up perfectly. each line on the belt are aligned with each tooth with the timing dot. when i turn the crank 2 times with the tensioner loose it always ends up not lining up again.(the dot on the cam gear to the line on the cover) usually with the crank and exhaust side lining up and it appears the intake to be a tooth off. is that how its supposed to be? ive done it over and over and it keeps doing that... id leave it like that then take the belt off, and move the intake cam to line up again and re-install the belt and then during the tension step it ends up doing that again.

[ANVIL]

i just realized that the inner timing cover can move if i make it.... meaning... lining up with that isnt the end all to the timing belt install right... ? as long as everything (belt lines to gear dots) lined up when i initially installed the belt i should be good right?

[robbie2883]

it takes several rotations to line the marks on the belt back up with the marks on the gears. the big thing is that the marks on the gears line back up with the marks on the block and timing cover

[RB26needaparachute]

Hey Anvil Im having the same problem I hope you dont mind me asking questions in your thread but Im super worried about bending a valve etc I have a new built head and suck at timing and need some of the same answers as you...when I took my car to the dyno I was off by a tooth and I had the timing marks dead on. Both the small cover on the bottom and the plate behind the timing gears can move to a certain degree(I lined the notch up aswell). I would like a fail safe way of getting it perfect and getting TDC exactly while having my cam gears lined up perfect..even if it takes me buying a $200 tool(of course I would rather not lol) etc. I have the valve covers off atm and can see the cams..any help getting our timing right would be appreciated.

[ANVIL]

Yeah I'm aiming to get the all the belts and covers back on today hopefully someone can chime in by tonight...I just want it to be right

[gawdzilla]

belt lines (or belt teeth valleys) to gear dots is the way to go. if your timing belt does not have marks (i.e. it's used and you're putting it back on), COUNT the number of teeth between the top 2 cam gears and the belt. also count the number of teeth between the gear mark on the exh cam down to the lower crank sprocket mark. the FSM tells your exactly how many teeth there should be.

do not try to line up the belt by looking at the marks on a stationary object like the lower timing cover or the cover plate behind the cam gears. those are just for general reference and are easy to skip a tooth with your eye.

[RB26needaparachute]

Thanks Gawdzilla....Anvil can you pm me your email. Ill try to email a pdf to you of wat Gawdzilla is referring to. I have the manual on disc but didnt understand the counting part and now I have it. I just installed my timing belt and my Greddy belt has the lines that Gawdzilla mentioned..plus the dot on EXH side timing gear is 47 then the tooth after(counter clockwise) is 1..count where the teeth go on the belt from from EXH side to intake side when you get to the timing mark on the intake side you should be at 38 right on the intake cam gear dot. Ill send you the whole manual if I can compress it and send it to you.If not Ill send all the part of setting the timing.