Is it possible to have the timing off if all the timing marks are lined up correctly? The rotor on the distributor points to # 4 with the timing marks aligned on the cam? Could I have the crank 360 degrees off?

 

The crank only hits TDC once a turn, so it has to be lined up. The sprocket of the cam has up stamped on it (make sure that is pointing up), then you look at the marks on the cogs line up with the cylinder head.

If those two items are lined up, then you installed the distributor 180 off. Just unbolt the distributor and turn it so the rotor points to #1. Then reinstall the distributor into the cylinder head. The end of the distributor is offset, so you shouldn't be able to install it 180 off. I did it once, so it is possible.

 

I didn't take the distributor off when I put the belt in. The problem that caused me to change the belt was that I was driving the car and it just quit running. I took the oil cap off and tried turning it over and the cam didn't turn. After towing it home I took the valve cover off and the timing belt cover to find that the cam sprocket was turning on the cam. After taking the sprocket off I saw the key was missing. I bought the car used so who knows what someone else has done to it. I took the pulley off the crank and then the balance belt where I found the key that someone dropped I guess at the precious timing belt change. I guess they tightened the cam sprocket tight so it wouldn't spin. Could it be possible they put the distributor on 180 degrees off and just located the cam sprocket where the wanted it? I know the timing marks are all lined up when I did it because I triple checked them. I am getting no compression on all 4 cylinders.

 

Once the camshaft and crankshaft are out of timing (camshaft not turning when engine was turned over), there is a high probability of damage to valve train when pistons hit the valves. This probably happened when engine first quit.

You will need to pull the cylinder head, rebuild the head (new valves, seals, head shaved), and install new head gasket. No compression pretty much confirms bent valves, but if you pull the valve cover and look for loose valves (valve spring can't pull valve closed), you know the valve stem is bent.

Sorry for your problems.

good luck

 

I am going to pull the valve cover and check each valve to see if the gap is way over the specs. If the are then I will know they are not coming all the way up and seating correctly. Then I will pull the head. I wish I would have done it while I had it apart!

 

All the exhaust valves were bent. I put all new exhaust valves in, lapped all 16 valves, and all new valve seals. Runs great now. It did start the high/low idle problem so now to fix that.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post your followup results.

good luck

 

I also changed the valve cover gasket, the spark plug gaskets, and the oil pan gasket. And obviously the head gasket and intake manifold gaskets since I had it all apart. Total costs were about $300 for everything I did. I can't imagine what a shop would have charged.

 

You can't be 360 deg off. 360 deg is a full circle, so you would not be off. I think you mean 180 deg off.