Pictures with my messed up timing.

[Onimacus]

it looked like the gears were not moving synchrinized. I think they were both kind of moving a little differently.

[1PhatCX]

as they have said DONT start ur car
i gotta do the head gasket on mine, and i'll be starting more work tommorow on it, i'll show u how the timing marks are supposed to be aligned
i'd replace that belt tho, thats just waiting to snap now and cause u more trouble

also, if u took the crank pulley off, check and make sure that the 2 guide plates are back on in place , if not the belt will walk off, thats what mine did but it didnt make it all the way off, and thankfully it was when we were compression testing before we finished the swap

[civickiller]

yeah that alittel plate is what keeps it from coming off the crank gear. how did you change the timing belt without pulling off the crank pulley ?

[Onimacus]

haha i didn't change the whole belt, i took it off to do the head gasket. so i just took it off the cam gears.

[Hybrid1990crx]

well then you should definetly change the belt, have you taken the lower timing belt cover off to see whats going on down there?

[Onimacus]

I don't have a lot of space in my garage so I was hoping that I woulnd't have to. I also don't have the tools to do that. Its like 230 lbs of tq or around there. I don't have anything heavy duty enough to remove it

[91civichatch2571]

If you really wanna get the timing right, theres two holes on the cams (one in each) then theres holes on the cam caps (the hold downs) just take a little allen wrench or screwdriver, line the holes up, put the screwdriver or whatever in them and tighten the belt. perfect every time. if you dont know what i mean, im sure i can find a picture somewhere or you can throw some pics up and ill point them out. you'll get this shit running man, dont get too frustrated.

[Onimacus]

I already did that with the cams. Everything was pretty much lined up perfectly.

[kris]

Stop being lazy and pull the crank pulley off, and time it right. If you dont have the tools to do it, tow it to a garage and have them zap it off. Snap on, matco, all the big tool companies sell a special tool to help you get it off, with two 1/2" ratchets. If you dont do it right, you will be posting up in here, in a few days, saying your car wont run right.

Half ass jobs = half ass results.

[Onimacus]

Ya i guess its a half ass job since I've never done it before and you guys are the only ones here who can help me so i am asking questions.

REAL MEN DON'T ASK QUESTIONS THEY JUST GET IT DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!

[civickiller]

thats true, when i did my first timing belt i never asked questions, i just jumped in and did it.

[Onimacus]

I'm sorry I am not as gifted as the rest of you with cars.

[91civicDXdude]

there are holes in the top of the cam caps where you can align the cams with a screw driver or something similar... do that.. it will prevent them from moving while you install the belt as well.

[CBURKE]

So on a ZC the timing is a little off? I am gonna be helping my friend do his ZC swap so i need to know this. I'll be posting all pics as i do the swap.

[travagliante]

Wait you never took the crank pulley off? so did you break the lower cover or what?? Thats why. How can you tell it its lined up on the bottom? You need to get the crank pulley off. That has to be the problem.
Just take out the starter and jamb a screwdriver in the flywheel and hope they didnt use loctite on your pulley when it was put on.

Or a safe way would be to get a good amount of rope and stick it down one of the cylinders and then when the piston smacks it, the engine will stop rotating and it should break off.
Dont use an extension socket also . Jack the car up high enough to get a breaker bar under it. So that you are only using a breaker bar and a 17mm socket no extension! This will minimize things breaking.