2.0L timing belt issue

Car is a 1998 Contour, 2.0L with CD4E transmission.

I pulled the engine since I had to rebuild the tranny, and want to change the timing belt while I'm at it.

I ordered the camshaft alignment tool (T94P-6256-CH) and crankshaft timing pin (T97P-6000-A).

Got the engine on the stand and could find no notches on the crank pulley, so pulled the sparkplug and valve cover to find TDC on cylinder #1.

Cannot get the camshaft alignment tool to go into the slots in the back of the camshafts because the camshafts appear to be BELOW the plane of the cylinder head; ie the flat bar won't fit low enough to go into the slots when layed flat on the head.

I've made sure there's no gasket material on the head. The camshaft alignment bar checks out at .019" thick.

Also, when the intake cam slot is horizontal, the exhaust slot is canted 8 1/2 degrees clockways (viewing from the flywheel, or camshaft slot end).

This car was built in March 1998, and the transmission is a 97 model. Since 98 was such a year for changes, perhaps this is a 97 engine as well.

Any insights on whether or not this situation is abnormal, and how to proceed are gratefully appreciated.

Thanks, Carolina Welder

Car is a 1998 Contour, 2.0L with CD4E transmission.

I pulled the engine since I had to rebuild the tranny, and want to change the timing belt while I'm at it.

I ordered the camshaft alignment tool (T94P-6256-CH) and crankshaft timing pin (T97P-6000-A).

Got the engine on the stand and could find no notches on the crank pulley, so pulled the sparkplug and valve cover to find TDC on cylinder #1.

Cannot get the camshaft alignment tool to go into the slots in the back of the camshafts because the camshafts appear to be BELOW the plane of the cylinder head; ie the flat bar won't fit low enough to go into the slots when layed flat on the head.

I've made sure there's no gasket material on the head. The camshaft alignment bar checks out at .019" thick.

Also, when the intake cam slot is horizontal, the exhaust slot is canted 8 1/2 degrees clockways (viewing from the flywheel, or camshaft slot end).

This car was built in March 1998, and the transmission is a 97 model. Since 98 was such a year for changes, perhaps this is a 97 engine as well.

Any insights on whether or not this situation is abnormal, and how to proceed are gratefully appreciated.

Thanks, Carolina Welder

Are you sure the cams are not 180 degrees out ? You may have to rotate the engine through another whole turn.

Thats what it sounds like to me as well. 180 Off.

The timing pin is used to reference the crank at #1 tdc.

Thats what it sounds like to me as well. 180 Off.

The timing pin is used to reference the crank at #1 tdc.

I have a question. If I have the crank at #1 TDC, the cams in position with the flat bar and the timing belt is 1/2 a tooth out on one of the cams do I loosen the center cam pulley bolt and line it up that way ?

Also what is different about the exhaust cam pulley, it has a 'large block' in the middle ?