Cam And Gear Swap - Now Car Wont Start

[No Crust Racing]

Swapped my CA18 intake cam for an exhaust cam and fitted adjustable gears at the same time.

Took pics of the timing marks and was pretty sure the car was at TDC on the comp stroke, confirmed by the piston location (removed spark plug) and cam lobe and valve location when I removed the rockers, so I know it wasn't TDC on the exhaust stroke.

Put it all back together and now it will crank but won't fire, managed to get it to fire and idle roughly with a bit of throttle but as it was running like crap I shut it down.

I also marked the CAS ad tried advancing and retarding it, no dice.

I'd have thought it'd still start if a cam or both cams were 1 or even 2 teeth off.

Thoughts?

Edited August 15, 2012 by ActionDan

[DVS JEZ]

Recheck cam timing. It may be the CAS, get a timing light onto cylinder 1 and see if the timing light lines up with the timing marks on crank pulley

[No Crust Racing]

OK to try and time it while cranking?

I'd resolved to pull all the timing gear off again and start from scratch. Everything was fine until I did this swap, and the CAS is back where it was so I'd say it's off a few teeth in a few spots.

[DVS JEZ]

Yeah it can be done whilst cranking.

But recheck cam timing aswell. Leave the top cver off anyway if u have adjustable gears. Makes life easier for the Tuner

[No Crust Racing]

I AM the tuner If the cover is off, the CAS can't be mounted without a new bracket which I don't have so it has to stay on.

How far would it have to be out to not start, the marks are pretty much dead on according to my before and after pics. If it was that far out surely it would've fouled when I turned it by hand first.

[No Crust Racing]

Ok good news. Got the missus to give me a hand and got the gears in place and the belt on (intake was about 3 teeth too far advanced, exhaust was about the same but retarded so no compression... Counted the teeth between the marks and it's spot on.

Will re-assemble tomorrow night and see if it starts.

[DVS JEZ]

Should start now that the cam timing is correct

[No Crust Racing]

All good, started it tonight, idled fine. No timing light here but if nothing else the idle revs are the same.

I have other issues now but they go beyond the scope of this thread and I'll continue on that path in my build thread.

At least we know it wouldn't start because the timing was out too far so I'm a goose.