I have gotten my b16 back together and I am having real problem trying to get the belt on with the timing marks directly at each other on the cams. It seems that if i get it on the exhaust cam that it doesn't line up w/ the intake cam. The only way it will line up is if I have the intake cam one tooth off. I have the tensioner bolt loose and have plenty of slack. I am wondering if I have the cams lined up wrong. I have the intake cam lined up in the middle of the cam girdle and the exhaust mark is lined horizontally with the intake cams. Is this right because the haynes manual I is not really specific and the pic is terrible about it. Any help or pic would be awsome. I have stock cam gears on ctr cams and ctr underdrive. Thanks

 

Use a straight edge or something to line up the marks. You might have to put slight pressure on the intake cam as you slip the belt on. I used a socket wrench and slightly turn it. Use an allen key or Punch to hold the exhaust cam in place while you install the belt. Always apply pressure counter clockwise.

 

the marks are lined up but do they line up at the closest point in the cam gears or the way that I have it which is the intake cam "up" arrow is lined up with the center of the intake cam girdle. What am I doing wrong. Thanks

 

You want both arrows on the cam gears facing up. They wont be perfect when the dots on the gears are aligned. They should be level with the marks on the timing belt cover. Maybe this will help...
http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/timingbelt/tbelt.php

 

what will the UP arrows be pointing to relative to the cam girdles. I do not have a timing cover to line the arrows on. Will the intake be directly up between the cam girdle humps and the exhaust be pointed more to the front of the car? The pic you linked shows the arrows touching but I can not get the belt on that way. Thanks for your help

 

Here's a little trick for you: the cams and covers actually have holes in them that will help you align them to TDC. If you look at the covers, you'll see a hole in each of them about 3/8" in diameter. The cams have corresponding holes that will align with the cover holes when the cams are at TDC - provided that the gears marks "UP" are in fact facing up. If you get two small dowells, you can drop them into these holes and the cams will be locked in place at TDC. Do this to initially place the timing belt on the motor and remove them before you try to turn the assembly. I've found this much easier than trying to eyeball the cams.

hih

 

I have not had that much time to look at the cams but where on the cams are these holes located becuse I looked for holes on the cam bearing girdles but never foun them. Are they in the middle of engine between piston 2 and 3 or closer to one. I thought that I could do that but was not exactly sure because I thought that that was only for b18 non vtecs. I will look later today. I have not had much time to work on it b/c school is kicking my ass right now. Thanks westcoast.

 

Here you are:

 

This might help too:

 

thanks westcooast. like a charm