Camshft timing marks 5SFE

[bill buttermore]

I'm working on a 97 Camry 2.2 liter. I am installing the camshafts after installing the cylinder head and I am not sure I have the correct marks matching on the intake and exhaust cam gears. My Chilton's says to align the timing marks, but don't confuse them with the other marks on the gears without saying which is which. On the intake cam there are 3 countersunk marks over about 90 degrees of surface. On the exhaust cam are also three marks (going clockwise) - a double punch mark, then a single, then another single. Following the directions in the book, I ended up with the most clockwise mark on the exhaust cam aligning with the most counterclockwise mark on the intake. But I have no confidence that this is correct. Can anyone help?

[deekay140]

ignore the double punch. line up the 2 single dots on each cam they will roll into each other (so line up the top set of single and as u roll down you'll see the bottom set will also be lined up)

2 other things. Did you have a bolt in the exhaust cam so you didnt lose the spring action?
and make you lube the journals with white grease or stp or something more then just oil.

[bill buttermore]

Thanks, deekay. Yes, I installed the bolt between the sub gear and main gear on the exh cam, and I used 70w oil on all bearing caps and between buckets and lobes.

But...I have three marks on the intake cam, all way bigger than the punch marks on the exhaust cam.

I will try to post a couple of pix to show how I have them now.

[bill buttermore]

Thanks, deekay. I think I finally understand. To get the marks that are 5 teeth apart to both match up, I will need to move the intake cam 8 teeth CCW relative to the exhaust. I'll re-do it and post another pic just to make sure. Don't wanna get this wrong!

[deekay140]

you sound like u got it, the picture is wrong, rotate the intake counter clockwise.
the 2 little dimples on the ex cam will line up with the 2 big dimples on the intake

gl

[bill buttermore]

Here's how it looks now. Those lobes look a lot better now. At the TDC mark, the intake lobes have passed the buckets, and the exhaust lobes are straight up. Both little marks on the exhaust now line up with both big marks on the intake gear.




If this is correct, it may help the next guy better than the practically worthless description in Chilton's. Thanks again, deekay.

[deekay140]

thats it

[bill buttermore]

Excellent! I really appreciate the help. Now if the weather will cut me a break, I can build the rest of it back up, bolt it to the trans, and get it back in the car.