***Cam Alignment Pic Requested***

Get your engine at TDC as described in the numerous proceedures you've downloaded.

Remove the CAM Covers. It will be obvious once you see them. In fact, you should be able to see the intake of the rear bank by removing the Oil Fill cap.

Just try to look at them the same way when you take them off and when you get them lined up to put them back on. I noticed that if I looked at the front bank with a mirror (viewing from the passenger side) it looked 'pefect' but if I looked at them leaning over from the driver side they looked 'a little off'.

Just note where they are when you take the belts off and try to get them back in the same place when you put them on. Know that they may not be EXACTLY perfect. If you want to get anal about it, you'll have to get a degree wheel and a dial indicator to get them perfect.

Oh, and it's helpful to put a mark on the passenger side pulley at TDC with a black marker. If you're by yourself, it's easy to shoot past TDC and have to go around again twice.

 

Christopher

It's great that you're keen, but the questions you are asking show you may be out of your depth, with potentially very expensive consequences.

Try to find a mechanic that can do it for you, that knows what he's doing, and see if he'll let you help and/or watch.

I'm happy to let customers come and see how things get done, but some spannermen don't like it of course.

Many carb cars have external cam marks on the back edge of the cam surface against the back of the pulley. there is a factory tool that simply sits on top of the cams to show alignment.

This removes the need to remove covers to check timing marks.

Inside the oil filler, you can see the 1-4 inlet cam mark, so if you get the flywheel on TDC, look at the inlet cam mark, you can check to see if that one cam is ok, and ASSUME the others are, and simply replace the belts using your own external marks.

Verify ignition timing both before and after as a back up to your work.

ps.....you don't need all the ******** everytime you ask a question!!

We'll still answer anyway!

 

I'm with Phil... if you're unfamiliar with "TDC" (Top Dead Center) and don't realize that cams out of alignment definitely cause problems, then you might need more help than just text responses here... you may need to hand this over to someone with more experience as you're learning. It's a potentially critical job!

And yes, please drop the "****" on your subject line.

 

Ok here's a test...

Do you know where the flywheel is.....if so, you should really not need to ask where the window is, it is very obvious. If not, please see previous post!!

 

Give the guy a break you guys! We all started someplace. The flywheel observation window is on the drivers (left) side of the engine right below the oil filter. It's covered with a small metal plate. In fact, when you change oil filters be careful not to let it drip all over that cover because you don't want to get oil in there.

I agree with the guys here though, do some serious research and reading before you do this yourself. If you mess it up, you have a very expensive fix. But this ain't rocket science. Take the belts off and put the new ones on with everything in exactly the same position with respect to each other that you started. Always replace the tensioner bearings at the same time.

Remember that each 2 complete turns of the crankshaft equals only one complete turn of the cams. (If you don't know why, you DEFINITELY need to do a little more reading before you tackle this puppy!)

My advice? Find an Fchatter in your area that knows what he is doing, buy him dinner and pick his brain. I am lucky to have the guru Verell here in MA who has helped me out so much. If you are like me, you will also gain a friend.

Thanks Verell!!

Birdman

 

Chris-

Perchance, are you in the Chicagoland area?

If so, will be happy to give you some hands on help.

 

Believe me , we are giving him a huge break.

I wish somebody had given me this sort of quality advice when I learned some very expensive lessons in my life........

Financial advice like this usually costs thousands.........

 

Christopher:

I went back over your posts and believe that you are in Southern California?

If this is correct, you may want to post that you are looking for a "Chat" member in your area to give you a hand on your first time around on the belt change.

There should be members in your area that can give you some advice and support through the project.

It is not a terribly difficult project in terms of work, just terribly important that the project be done correctly.

If you don't have a workshop manual, you may be able to download one through:

https://www.owners.ferrari.com/cgi-bin/Feros/os/jsp/01_0_login.jsp

You will have to register your car with the site, but the information will help you with your project.

Come on you guys in Southern California ... saddle-up that white horse and ride to the rescue!

 

Christopher,
It would also be extremely helpful if you would put some information in your profile, the least of which should include the model and yeat of your car and the general area where you live. This information makes it a lot easier for others to help you.

Birdman

 

If you have the opportunity, do take advantage of the offers for hands-on help. If you don't have a workshop manual, you will find it's very worthwhile, with lots of pictures, specs and how-to directions. I don't know what car you've got, but for 308QV's, the Mondial manual is actually more detailed than the 308/328 manual.

 

If you can track down a copy of FCA publication Prancing Horse #151, Bill Badurski (FCA Tech Chairman), has a great article on doing valve timing for a V-12. While the details will be different for your car, the PH article is a good introductory article with helpful pictures. Bill's tech articles are always good, but this one is a classic for me.

 

Bryan,
Thanks for the kind words.

 

More good info at http://home.att.net/~ferrari/308faq1.htm

 

Check it out... Have fun.

http://velocetoday.com/lifestyle/lifestyle_30.php

Rgds,
Vince

 

this has worked for a frend of mine when he did his belts ,by the road side !!.

hope this is of sum help ,very slightly lossen the belt , get a very sharp knife and put the blade in the centure of the belt get a budy to turn the engine over by hand ,keep turning till the belt is in two half's
remove the outer part of the belt ,
start the new belt on the edge of the pully rotate engine pushing the new belt on all the time when it is on over half way and tuching the old belt cut of the rest of the old belt,slide the new belt all the way home and re tenshion .

which ever way you do it before you remove any thing put the engine on t.d.c.
paint one point on each pully that lines up with a paint mark on a fixed point,
after fitting new belts turn engine over by hand at least twice and re-check all marks, if in any doubt NO NOT START get help,

 

Pic of cam mark:
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Some pictures that may help.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19678

 

Graeme,
THAT is clever!! Thanks for sharing.

Birdman