Setting the cams when doing rebuild?

[DrMango]

Hey guys so I finally have a day off tomorrow and want to get my RB20 rebuild started. I have everything but the oil that I will pick up in the morning when I pick up my head.
The cams have been moved from their original position and the head has been cleaned so I lost my original marks. The Cam gears obviously still have their markings but I had made some off of those marks on my head itself. LIke I said those are one now.
Does anyone have any good links to setting the cams and crank in position? This is my first rebuild ever and Im trying to do it right lol

I dont want to have them all out of alignment to eachother and fire it up, poof

Thanks

Kyle

[Skym]

Interesting.

Cam degree kit is your friend -

http://holeshot.com/images/cache/250x337_078651685_tools_cam_degreeing_kit.jpg

This is a guide to degree aftermarket cams on RB20DET -

http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=425466

[rb-racer]

Hey guys so I finally have a day off tomorrow and want to get my RB20 rebuild started. I have everything but the oil that I will pick up in the morning when I pick up my head.
The cams have been moved from their original position and the head has been cleaned so I lost my original marks. The Cam gears obviously still have their markings but I had made some off of those marks on my head itself. LIke I said those are one now.
Does anyone have any good links to setting the cams and crank in position? This is my first rebuild ever and Im trying to do it right lol

I dont want to have them all out of alignment to eachother and fire it up, poof

Thanks

Kyle

The gtr full manual goes through how to set TDC for both the cams and crankshaft. it is the same procedure for the rb20. you can also use the rb engine manual

[DrMango]

OK so Ive taken a look at the manuals and checked things out. I only see info on finding top dead center in the skyline bible. Nothing to be seen in my search on GTR manual. Maybe I dled the wrong one..

The next thing is that the head is still together and the cams were never removed at all. The only reason the head was at the machine shop was to remove some broken manifold studs. What are the marks on the stock cam gears for? I dont see anything in the bible about these marks.
The crank is set to TDC by using the marks on the crank pulley but the pully has been removed and I cant remember if the pulley can only be put on it one spot relative to the crank? Like will those marks just end up anywhere because the pulley can just free spin on the crank?

Thanks guys

Kyle

[mcfly]

The pulley on the crank only goes in one location. You do not want to line up with just that though as it is easy to be off a tooth and then your timing will be off.

page en72 in the gtr service manual shows setting cams to tdc.
its page number 89 if you enter it manually in adobe.

[DrMango]

So if the pulley only goes on in one spot relative to the crank then I can follow the service manual in that I will line up the "0" on the pulley with the mark on the timing belt cover.
Also, without the head on yet I can check the number 1 piston so that it is for sure TDC, just to verify?

Cams I can easily follow the manual in that number 1 is TDC when both cams do not move the valve lifters?

Basically if I put number 1 piston to TDC, then I should make sure to put the cams to number 1 TDC?

Kyle

[mcfly]

I wouldn't, mine was a tooth off when I used the "line up" method.
if the head off tdc on the block is easy, just leave number 1 at it's highest point.

[DrMango]

Ok so Ill set the engine as closely as I can by eye with the head off and make sure the crank doesnt move. Then use the manual to set the cams. That seems like the best bet for a DIYer to not fuck things up?

Kyle