Please sticky this thread.
I've been promising this for a good while now. So here ya' go!
This is how you time a 2.6 4ze1!
1st bare crank end with new seal.
Next install this washer.
Set the lower timing (crank) pulley in place on the key and crank. The bolt was installed so the crank can be rotated. This is what it looks like when the lower timing marks are lined up. (not perfect line up in these pics yet).
When the crank pulley is on the mark the pistons will be in this position. Both #1 + #4 are in the top dead center position. At this point the engine doesn't care which is which.
If the crank were rotated 180 degrees(not 360) the #2 + #3 cylinders would be up like this.
Anyway next step is to install the cam pulley and rotate untill the mark on the pulley matches the mark on the plate. At this point the cam shaft is set so that the #4 cylinder is at TDC. So when both the lower and upper pulleys are on the mark we are timed for #4 TDC. This is Isuzu spec. The cam now decides the firing order from now on. Just a note. The white mark in this pic will soon be changed to red. that way all important base marks are red in my pics. I also counted teeth so that I could paint another mark on the opposite side of this pulley for setting the valves.
Once both pulleys are on the marks you want to fit the timing belt from lower pulley, over the oil pump pulley, onto the cam pulley so it is tight on the left side. It will now be hooked behhind the tensioner. The proper way to get slack in the tensioner is like this.
Now rotate the crank a few turns clockwise and reset to #4 TDC at the crank pulley.
The cam pulley should also line up. Since I have a NEW head mine lined up perfectly!
At this point you can now tighten up both bolts on the belt tensioner.
The next step is to adjust the valves. but I'll skip that step to finish the timing and come back to valve adjustment.
Leave the engine at #4 TDC. Find the dist cap and look inside for the terminal marked #4. Make a mark on the edge of the cap that lines up with this terminal.
Note this is a screw down cap as opposed to a clip hold down. the pick ups got a slightly different dist.
Now put the cap on the dist and mark the dist body to match. Notice my paint ran a bit so I made a precise mark with a sharpie.
Next I put a put a new O-ring on my dist and lubed it with silicone spray. I also installed the timing plate to the head. (Note-this part is different between the clip on and screw on dists) Lube the shaft and gears with assemby lube or motor oil.
Now install the distributor while pushing and turning as it engages the cam gear. It may take a couple of tries. When all is said and done the rotor should just be starting to point at the mark you made on the dist body. (dist turns clockwise). This is with the mark on the dist adjustment base and the timing plate centered.
Congratulations your engine is now timed very close to right on for start up.
But there is more. Next install the lower timing cover. You did see fit to high light the timing marks correct?
I'm now going to not only stress to "never install a timing belt by the harmonic balancer/damper marks" but I'm going to show you 2 good reasons why.
1st is my old damper. The engine is set at #4 TDC. The big white mark in the lower left is what should be on the TDC mark now. The outer ring of this damper has slipped badly.
2nd reason. This is a brand new OEM Isuzu damper. It's not quite on the mark either. So I marked it in the correct place. Never had a new damper that was off before. The smaller mark on left is factory. The larger mark on right is mine.
What it should look like when all is right.
I've been promising this for a good while now. So here ya' go!
This is how you time a 2.6 4ze1!
1st bare crank end with new seal.
Next install this washer.
Set the lower timing (crank) pulley in place on the key and crank. The bolt was installed so the crank can be rotated. This is what it looks like when the lower timing marks are lined up. (not perfect line up in these pics yet).
When the crank pulley is on the mark the pistons will be in this position. Both #1 + #4 are in the top dead center position. At this point the engine doesn't care which is which.
If the crank were rotated 180 degrees(not 360) the #2 + #3 cylinders would be up like this.
Anyway next step is to install the cam pulley and rotate untill the mark on the pulley matches the mark on the plate. At this point the cam shaft is set so that the #4 cylinder is at TDC. So when both the lower and upper pulleys are on the mark we are timed for #4 TDC. This is Isuzu spec. The cam now decides the firing order from now on. Just a note. The white mark in this pic will soon be changed to red. that way all important base marks are red in my pics. I also counted teeth so that I could paint another mark on the opposite side of this pulley for setting the valves.
Once both pulleys are on the marks you want to fit the timing belt from lower pulley, over the oil pump pulley, onto the cam pulley so it is tight on the left side. It will now be hooked behhind the tensioner. The proper way to get slack in the tensioner is like this.
Now rotate the crank a few turns clockwise and reset to #4 TDC at the crank pulley.
The cam pulley should also line up. Since I have a NEW head mine lined up perfectly!
At this point you can now tighten up both bolts on the belt tensioner.
The next step is to adjust the valves. but I'll skip that step to finish the timing and come back to valve adjustment.
Leave the engine at #4 TDC. Find the dist cap and look inside for the terminal marked #4. Make a mark on the edge of the cap that lines up with this terminal.
Note this is a screw down cap as opposed to a clip hold down. the pick ups got a slightly different dist.
Now put the cap on the dist and mark the dist body to match. Notice my paint ran a bit so I made a precise mark with a sharpie.
Next I put a put a new O-ring on my dist and lubed it with silicone spray. I also installed the timing plate to the head. (Note-this part is different between the clip on and screw on dists) Lube the shaft and gears with assemby lube or motor oil.
Now install the distributor while pushing and turning as it engages the cam gear. It may take a couple of tries. When all is said and done the rotor should just be starting to point at the mark you made on the dist body. (dist turns clockwise). This is with the mark on the dist adjustment base and the timing plate centered.
Congratulations your engine is now timed very close to right on for start up.
But there is more. Next install the lower timing cover. You did see fit to high light the timing marks correct?
I'm now going to not only stress to "never install a timing belt by the harmonic balancer/damper marks" but I'm going to show you 2 good reasons why.
1st is my old damper. The engine is set at #4 TDC. The big white mark in the lower left is what should be on the TDC mark now. The outer ring of this damper has slipped badly.
2nd reason. This is a brand new OEM Isuzu damper. It's not quite on the mark either. So I marked it in the correct place. Never had a new damper that was off before. The smaller mark on left is factory. The larger mark on right is mine.
What it should look like when all is right.