Also, the belt will not have any markings unless you made them (which you should have done) There should also be a mark on the crank pulley to line up with a mark on the block.

 

Thanks for the help. I finished up the cams today and everything is lined up with TDC.

 

You didn't just drop them in, but checked the cam journal clearances via plastigauge, yes?

 

I actually did just drop them in. I made sure that the "UP" markings on the gears lined up as well as the etched marks on the teeth of the gears. I made sure the crank pulley lined up with its mark for TDC, and took off the distributor cover to check that it was at TDC. I have yet to use my car; are you saying I didnt do everything correctly?

 

You really need to check those cam clearances. You have no idea of the "play" with your new cams. I'm not trying to be critical, but it sounds like you don't have a helms. You've spent the money for a good set of cams. Now pony up the coin for the knowledge to correctly install them. I don't have my helms here, else I'd just give you the tolerance specs.

FYI: you can only put the distributor in one way. The "key" is offset so you can't install it 180 degrees out of phase.

You don't need to put any markings on the belt. All the alignment info are on the cam gears, crank pulley, and lower timing belt cover.

HTH

 

Make sure to adjust your valves now that you put in a new cam. I had to do mine, they were super loud after I dropped in the Zex cam.

 

I have the next best thing to a Helms, a Haynes. Thus far Ive followed all the directions on installing cams in the manual, but I just need to be sure I didnt mess up anywhere. So since the distributor can only be put in one way, then wouldnt that mean the cams were installed correctly?

 

Is it that important to adjust the valves? Shouldnt they be fine since I didnt do any work on them?

 

It definetly made a difference in my car. It's supposed to be done every so often, might as well do it, it will make your engine quieter.

 

what's the point in checking cam clearances? don't you think a good set of cams would be well within tolerances? isn't that part of the r&d and the price you pay? what's gonna happen if they are out of the tolerance, a little excess cam journal bearing wear? If they were far enough beyond tolerances where it would matter, one would think it would be noticeable, like the wouldn't fit right. Do you have some bad experience with cams journals being out of spec? And of course the distributor can only be put in one way, but who's putting in a distributor? I was telling him to make sure the rotor was at TDC, which means the distributor would be at TDC. The rotor (i think) turns one quarter revolution for every full revolution of the flywheel.