scrapheap

Late update: yes the sprockets have double and single marks double double single single. I found a good shop who would do it on the cheap for me $500 >. I didn't tell the guy about the cam issue, but he must've found it and fixed it because holy crap the thing es muy fuerte. I lucked out, I was flipping a coin on that one, because it could've easily seized or blown up. At any rate, thanks for the feedback all. 'preciate it. I learned something: It's better to have a working car and no money for tools than a craftsman starter set and a roller

Thanks, I'm trying to get ahold of a camera so I can post pics.

Thanks Texan, Haven't removed the tensioner or the belt yet. When the hash marks line up on the four cam pulleys, the hash mark on the crank pulley does indeed seem to be off by 45 degrees. I've spun it a bunch and that's how it ends up each time. Is it possible I bent some valves, or effed something else up in my first attempt to get the crank pulley off (cranking it hard the wrong direction in 5th gear/before I pulled the spark plugs)?

Hello all, I am doing a timing belt job on my 98 outback (2.5 DOHC, MT). A mechanic friend came over and told me that the driver-side cam is off by 45 degrees!!!! Probably thanks to the previous owner's mechanic who allegedly replaced the HG. He was wondering how I'd driven the thing 20,000 miles that way. My question is, after I remove the belt, is it possible to spin the crank or the cam pulley back 45 degrees to fix the problem? Or do I need to pull the engine? Should I just take it to the desert, fill it with holes and set fire to it? That's what I feel like doing. Soob noob here, need some advice. Thanks in advance!