hey guys i am putting my 3vze back together. I put the metal cover on behind the cam gear and put the cam gear on. It seemed like it was right up against it. So i turned the cam gear on the driver side and it scrapes up against it. is this normal? what should i do?

Turn the gears around.

I have them on the way the service manual shows them to be on. The driver has the lip on the outside and the passenger has the lip on the inside. Is that the right way?

Yes, that's right. Are you sure the metal cover is on correctly, or maybe it got bent.

I am pretty sure its on right i even bolted up the small metal plate that goes in the middle. I don't think its bent it looks fine. Any sugestions on what i should do? just put it on and say oh well?

No, no....you don't want it scraping. I ran into that same problem before. Turns out because I threaded the bolts for the timing cover backing plate back into their respective holes after I removed it (so as not to lose them), I hadn't pulled two out when I put the plate back on. So, the plate wasn't going on flush and the cam gear scraped. I, of course, pulled the bolts out and the plate went on flush. Is there something keeping yours from doing so? Look around real good again. It should go on flush if it's not bent or you don't have the plate turned around.

You know what i think i did the same thing with those bolts so i didn't loose them i think there are two still on the cover they are longer than the other bolts right? i hope that is it. thanks i will check.

Yes, the two (8mm) in the center of the plate that sit in deeper. Good luck.

O.k i just went out there and it wasn't the bolts. So i took a hammer and banged it a few times and now it seems like it fits. thanks.