Timing Belts

[turbomacncheese]

Well, this timing belt is a little odd. It has the right number of teeth between marks, but the marks don't line up properly with the gears. They're all off by a half tooth.

Also, this is the first engine I've worked on that the timing marks don't come back around to the marks on the belt. I think I spun it 20 times and the closest it got back around was within a tooth. The gears all lined up with each other like they were supposed to, though. The right exhaust gear was maybe a half tooth off.

I did all this twice, with the same result.

76641 76642 76643

Seems to me the gears lining back up is all that matters, but is this normal?

[STiPWRD]

Yes, it's normal for the timing marks to not line up once you start turning the engine. They only need to line up at the time you install the belt.

[turbomacncheese]

Thanks. I thought it was weird, but I guess not.

[DMC7492]

The subaru engines are a special type engine, due to the head configuration, decking the block ,head gasket thickness and resurfacing the heads. Read below for the issue, has any body used these idlers?

http://www.licmotorsports.com/blog/2010/12/31/lic-adjustable-timing-idlers

[turbomacncheese]

Yeah, that brings back memories of the dodge motor I used to build. Didn't occur to me because the left side seemed spot on, but now that I think about it, I could have been slightly off on the crank gear because my oil pump doesn't have the mark.

I'm still convinced it's more than adequate for what I'm building, but if I were building a race engine (and spending the money that goes along with one) I'd probably pony up a few hundred more and get adjustable gears.

Thanks for reminding me what happens when you deck a block and mill a head.

[SixStar]

The subaru engines are a special type engine, due to the head configuration, decking the block ,head gasket thickness and resurfacing the heads. Read below for the issue, has any body used these idlers?

http://www.licmotorsports.com/blog/2010/12/31/lic-adjustable-timing-idlers

Great part! Make sure you get them dead nuts and tight.