I am in the middle of re-assembling my 22RE after a head gasket replacement. I have a new timing set installed and I cannot get the cam sprocket to slide back onto the camshaft. Are their any tricks to give me a few extra millimeters of clearance?

 

This write-up has some tips which may help:

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/timingchain/

 

Got it back together. If you rotate the crank back and forth while applying upward pressure to the cam gear you give yourself some more slack in the chain.

 

but was your crank TDC when the chain slid in to the cam sprocket?

 

slide a small punch into the hole in the cam and rotate it just slightly to make it easier to slip the cam sproket on.

 

I have a long screwdriver that reached down to the tensioner which slid it back- also used a 1/2in extension with a larger socket to guide the sprocket on- nice n tight.

 

make sure you didn't put a wrong size bolt on the TG cover/oil pump cover. The bolt that goes in right under the timing tab should be a short one or it will interfere with the tensioner.

 

thanks for all the responses. I just started the truck tonight and everything seems to be in order. Only noises are the squealing of a bad power steering belt tensioner and the valve lash is a little too loose but I'll take care of all that tomorrow. Thanks again guys, let me know if I should continue to check anything over the next few days to make sure its running right.