Hello to all...

My first question and first post ever.

I just received my motor back from being built. I had my friend helping me do the install and to me it looks like he did the timing belt wrong. I dont know a lot about cars but I know some things. The timing looked on when you lined up the cam gears and crank, but the belt was super loose in between the cam gears. Soo loose to where it looks like if I were to pull it tight, it would be off one tooth. The car drives perfect though. Thats what I dont get. So my question is, if it were off 1 tooth, would the car be able to drive ok? or would it run like crap? Cause the car drives beautiful and I had my buddy tune it while the belt was this loose. And the car runs mint. Thank you for time.

 

Make sure the crank is top dead center the numbers on the crank should have the number point across at the top. Keep in mind the camshaft groove marks should line up with the markings on the valvecover if they do not get it lined up.

 

If the cam wheel marks line up on the cover and........ you have 17 cogs (belt nobs) between the two index marks your all good, if 18 it will be way loose 16 too tight... its easy to jump one tooth....... too easy..

 

Line it all back up again at TDC#1.
if you still have way too much slack in the belt between the cams, check your hydraulic tensioner as it and the pulley might not be adjusted correctly.

 

well that was the problem...every time we lined it up to tdc #1....there was only slack in between the cam gears. It was tight everywhere else, even on the tensioner side. There was only slack in between the cam gears at tdc. Thats why we were confused. It didnt matter how many times we cranked the motor over....only at tdc was there slack. Which is why we thought it was off one tooth. Make sense?