Cam doesn't line up - Can someone help?
 

When I took my timing belt off I noticed my right cam was approx 60* off of where it should be at TDC. If I turn the cam, it snaps (spring tension) past the correct alignment. What do I need to do to fix this? Thanks in advance for pointers.
-john

I am assuming spoke on the cam sprocket with the mark (notch) is supposed to point straight up at the mark on the timing cover. Is that not necessarily the case? Is it possible that it doesn't have to? I'm baffled.

Well, after fiddling with it for a while it looks like I can get the camshaft to stay in the right place if I'm careful.

Can anyone confirm that the #3 IN and #5 EX are supposed to be open at TDC?

Hey! I'm assuming you have a 3.0 v6 since you have a timing belt. The notch on each of your cams is suppose to point at the mark directly above each cam on your timing belt cover. Your crank pulley should also be at the 0 mark. I'm not sure why your cam was 60* off. It probably snuck a move in when you weren't looking. There's no way your engine would run with one cam 60* off when compared to the other cam and crank.

When I did my timing belt, I had a few problems with the cams springing forward or backward too. If you can see what direction it sprand, turn it in the opposite direction untill the points line up again. Can be kinda tricky.

When you have everything back together, turn your engine over by hand (rachet on the crank bolt) a couple of times just to make sure everything is all lined up.

As far as your last question in your last post goes, I don't really have an answer for that. Sorry.

Well, hope that helps.
Have fun. :)
DH6twinotter

I've got it all sorted out now. Thanks for the input. I'm sure that's what happened... it just sprang on me when I took the belt off.

I'll have it all back together tomorrow some time if my new camshaft arrives. I'm replacing the camshaft while I have it open because I noticed the lip that serves as a thrust surface behind the #1 journal had pieces broken off of it - maybe 25% of it is gone. It didn't do any damage to the bearing surface, but if I don't replace it it'll eat away at it. I fished the parts out of the head. They broke off in 3 pretty big pieces.

Anyone else ever seen this happen?

Sorry, i was looking around and found some performance cams at DOA, you might have already seen them but what do you think? Would this be a reasonable mod. http://www.doaracingengines.com/camshafts.html