So I got everything together on my car and after we primed the oil we tried to start the car. While cranking it was noticed that there was exhaust smoke coming out of the air filter.

The car never did turn over but trying to figure out why we were getting smoke out of the air filter.

Its a brand new assembled 2.3L with freshened head, HKS272 cams with Fidanza gears, Garrett GT3582R

Here is a picture of the intake cam/gear and the dowel alignment....



As you can see there are 2 pin holes. Can someone confirm that it is in the right dowel hole? This really is the only thing I can think of right now....

 

Take a pic of both cam gears. After thinking on this, I think you may be 180* out on the crank.

Were they new gears? I don't know much about the Fidanza gears, but could they be assembled incorrect? As in the outer ring placed wrong on the inner?

 

James as far as I have been able to find out, I believe the mark on the gear @ 9 o-clockin the pic, should be at 12 o-clock.

 

It is explained here, though a bit confusing...

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/1265328-post3.html

 

I think the cams are on the wrong dowel pin as well. After looking around and talking to some people I was told dowel pin at 12 oclock position as right now it is at the 9 oclock.

 

No, the dowel pin location is correct. The other dowel hole is for the dsm's. The cam gear marks with the degree lines needs to be at 3 o-clock. The mark which is on the outer ring by itself needs to be the one you align the marks on valve cover.