I just replaced the head gaskets on my 1990 loyale ea82T and I am now installing the timing belts. I went to line up the marks to gear connecting to the camshaft and it was tough to move, unlike the pasenger side which moved with ease. I am wondering if this has something to do with the distributor causing tension or is this a problem. It will move then about a half a turn then their is resistance then it will release and about half a turn later there is resistance. During the head gasket replacement I did not mess around with the camshaft or distributor at all, i pulled them off and kept them together, the rocker arms seem to be right in place as well. Any thoughts?

that sounds normal, really.

 

You gotta remember that when you turn the cam shaft, you need to compress the springs and open the valves. Does the passenger side free-spin? If so, it sounds like there's something wrong with it :/

Never mind, I understand whats going on. The passenger side doesnt free spin I just thought it did, just paniced a little bit and got ahead of my self. I opened the cam cover and everything is fine.

Completely normal to have the one cam be tight and want to spring back while the other will turn more than 1/2 turn before it does the same.

 

If you are following the manual be sure you dont follow the part where it tells you to point both dots on the cam gear up or down. The correct way is One is up, one is down.

Shoot, I fallowed the Manual already, but that is a fairly quick step to re-do. Does it matter which one is up and which one is down. Also, is the beleif that this is better arguable or is it pretty much subaru fact? Thanks

the up/down only matters when you go to put the timing belts on.

 

I usually follow the usual method; with both dots up, put the drivers side belt on, turn the engine over once, put other belt on. I'd rather do that than trying to get sneaky and put one up, the other down, and not need to turn the engine over, mess it up somehow, and have to do it again

 

I've also found it's easier to put the cam towers on with the keys/dot up. That puts the cam in a position where it doesn't depress any valves, so you just slide it, and all the rockers are stuck in place; Compared to how I did it the first time, fighting to keep the rockers in place while I tightened down the cam tower.

I did the both up rotate the engine ordeal. I will stick with that for now. Thanks for the input, startin this mother fa up tomarrow.