Replacing my timing belt. Its a 98 impreza outback sport with just a sohc.

My big question right now is if the cam on say the passenger side spins 180 is it 180 off? Do I have to find tdc of one of the cylinders if the cams spin an unknown number of times? I was told never to turn it back to the left and now Im worried its all off.

When I put it all together it seemed to line uo but when I hand spun it, it didnt feel like compression it felt like it was binding up.

Any help?

Crank it over til the 3 lines line up per the manual. Not the arrows.. Put it together, rotate it 3 times, verify it... Release pin on tensioner, and rotate 2 more times.. Call it done

 

Don't worry about finding TDC, the belt is not installed at TDC on a Subaru

Your talking the 2 cam lines and the crank line?

So once the belts off if one or both of the cams spin an unknown amount of times, as long as theyre lined up its all good?

Well, you got an interference 2.2. If the crank isn't on the mark, you can bend valves rotating the cams, but you shouldn't need to touch them

im saying, the cams have already been rotated multiple times with the belt off. really just the passenger side. to get the water pump out

Your fine as long as the crank was on the mark. Nothing in the ej engine can be damaged rotating backwards on its own. It can jump time turned backwards with the belt on but that's it

ahh gotcha. thanks! Im used to jeeps where you have to rotate it multiple times to get the pistons back in the right positions but that is a straight 6 vs a flat 4

Do NOT crank it. Hand turn cams and crank with ratchet or breaker bar. Engine is interference.