Cam Belt/Cam Belt Cover Info
Background
Some quick tips regarding the cam belts and the cam belt covers.  No speed secrets here, but they will make your life easier.
Cam Belt Stuff
Cam Belt Installation
I’ve seen people put the cam belt on the wrong side of the tensioner more than once.   Print the drawing below and stash it in your tool box or “racing briefcase”.
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Note the “check tension here” pointer.  That side of the belt should be tight when installing the belt (the crankshaft rotates clockwise as viewed in the drawing above, the crankshaft sprocket “pulls” the timing belt down).

When installing the belt, the trick is to move the tensioner fully to the left (no tension) by prying the tensioner and then tightening the mounting bolt to hold the tensioner in the “full loose” position.  Install the belt (making sure you have the cam and crank pointers lined up and no “slop” in the right side of the timing belt) and then loosen the tensioner mounting bolt, letting the tensioner snap against the belt.  Tighten the tensioner mounting bolt.

Checking the Cam Timing
I’ve found that the only way to really check whether or not the cam belt has skipped a tooth is to pull the crankshaft damper (the pulley driving the alternator).  After pulling the cam belt cover (see below), look at the “oil pump timing mark” to determine crankshaft position.  I’ve never been able to get an accurate reading with the pulley still on the crankshaft.
Cam Belt Cover Modifications
To perform the operations above, you’ve got to remove the cam belt cover from the engine.  This is no mean feat when the engine is installed in the car.  Here are some tips to speed the cam belt cover removal  process (and it IS a process).
Cover Mods
Ok, here’s what you want to do.  Referring to the picture below, first shorten the outer portion of the studs (the highlighted in red section), so that they only come to the end of the cover mount nuts.  The length of this section of stud determines how much clearance you need to remove the timing belt cover.  In the case of the SRF you don’t have much.

Second, remove the “ears” on the bottom of the cover.  While these projections improve the sealing of the cover against foreign matter, they increase the difficulty of removal while the engine is in the car.  I shortened mine...and I’ve been happy since.

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Rev. 2/21/98
Feedback
I welcome your comments or ideas on this information.  Feel free to drop me a line via “Comments for the Bro’s”.  

Barry
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