KazzyEman

Hello, Thanks for reading this.
I have been on this site before but first time posting anything.

So I have a LS400 1990.

My bf and I are working on water pump and timing belt.

The water pump is on so we are good. No leaks...yet.

We have been using this link as our guide because we don't want to take it to the auto shop.

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/engin...ngbelt.html#24

We have also been using a few youtube videos.

We are currently trying to put on the timing belt but we have an issue.

(Here is my reference of directions....right is on passenger....left is on driver side)

We are trying to align the marking of the camshaft to the marking on the engine.

The right side is simple to move( moving by hand).

The left side is very tough. My bf hurt himself a few times.

We are moving the cam clockwise.

Are there any tips or tools that you recommend to use for use to easily move the cam?

I walked to the near by auto shop and he said to just move the bolt.

Is it that simple?

We don't want to loosen or strip the bolt.


I hope you are understanding what I am saying. If you don't understand, I will try my best to explain to you.

aptoslexus

Put a socket on the bolt and work it gently to where you want it.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

The cams should of been aligned before you removed old belt. Are you saying at some point that they moved out of alignment? And now your trying to get them back in position.

KazzyEman

Yes, this is probably the 4th time putting back the waterpump and timing belt.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

being that your car is a 1990, the engine is non interference. you can simply turn the camshaft using a socket to get it back into alignment with the markings. clockwise is correct as to not loosen the bolt holding the cam gear in place. turn slowly.

triple check that the marking are all aligned before buttoning up your work. two full rotations of the crank pulley should realign the markings once again (not the markings on the belt, but the cam gear and crank pulley markings to the motor).

aptoslexus

Those cam bolts are torqued to 80ft-lb. They won't be coming loose without a special tool involved.

KazzyEman

thank you, this worked perfectly

dashan

So, I have a question.
Did I understand it correctly that, as long as you rotate the left crankshaft pulley slowly and in a clockwise way, you could rotate the pulley many times (rotations) without causing any trouble to the engine? And this is to a 1990 LS400?

Is the same also true for a 1996 LS400?

I asked the same question as OPs about three years ago when I did my 1996 LS400 timing belt replacement and did not get an answer to it.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

you can only rotate the cams independently on 90-94 motors bc they are non-interference. the valves would never come in contact with the piston.

95-up motors are interference so you can NOT do this as the valves would contact the piston at some point in the rotation. you can turn counter clock wise a little just to realign the markings, which shouldn't be too far off to begin with, say only a tooth or two.

KazzyEman

Problem solved. Thank you everyone. We just used a torque wrench and moved it.

KazzyEman

Thank you so much for your help.