i have a vvti ls400 1998 vintage. i bought this car as a non runner, suspected head gasket. when taking apart noticed that the lh cam pulley was at tdc but the timing gear was set at the single dots as opposed to the twin dots and therefore upside down. going by all the pics i have the cams seem to be definitely upside down but if i just rotate the whole lot the cam position sensor is in the wrong place. there was also a plate washer missing from a head bolt so some monkey has had a go at it. any advice would be greatly received
ian

 

tear it apart and pray he didnt bend the valvetrain/destroy the pistons.

 

i have taken it apart to the cylinder head and valves etc are fine. the issue i have is putting it back together again. how is it possible that the timing mark on the pulley is at tdc but the cams are upside down. i can see no way of putting the pulley or vvt actuator on upside down. will the fact that the cam position lobe on the pulley is 180 degrees out make any difference. i suspect it will.
ian

 

i assume by the resounding sound of complete silence that i am basically f+@?ed.
ian