I just bought a rebuilt 92 vg30e engine replacing a blown engine in my 94 max. The old engine and shop manual has the cam timing marks at 11 o-clock for the rear and 1 o-clock for the front (roughly). The new engine timing marks are at 3 o-clock for rear and 1 o-clock for front

Are there differences on different year model engines? Is the 92 engine miss marked? My shop manual is for a 94. Does any one have a 92 manual they could check on this for me.

 

sounds like the rear is off...I wonder how that works?

 

Do you know if this engine is good? The engines are the same. I don't know if you noticed but there is a stamped dot on the backing plate of the Timing belt cover.

 

Yes, the engine should be good. The stamped dots are the ones I'm confused about because they are different than the other engine and the shop manual.
My first intuition is to just go with the alignment marks no matter where they are located and my second is to find someone who agrees that its possible to have different locations of them. I'm under the impression that all cams are the same, (for that engine) and don't want to trash an engine because of improper timing belt instillation.

 

Does the timing belt have marks on the outside of the belt?

 

Have you tried manually turning your new engine to see if the valves contact the pistons? Just thinking that if you try this, and there is contact, then you'd know for sure that the timing marks are off on your new motor (that's all assuming you haven't already heard it running?). I've no experience with the timing belt yet (doing mine this weekend), but everything I've seen says the marks should be as you described for your old engine - 11 and 1 (roughly).

 

No, there is no difference on a VG30e engine with reguards to the timing marks from 1985-1994

11 o-clock and 1 o-clock roughly is correct.

A cam that is 3 teeth out "Will" make the valves hit the pistons. I have seen this done at our dealership by a couple of tech's

 

I'm gona line them up at 11 and 1 using the old timing belt back cover. I sure hope it is the correct way. I can't find anywhere where it says they should be any other way. Even the timing belt kit instructions say 11 and 1. Thats for 6 different make cars. Thanks every one!!

 

I have some pics of mine when I took it apart if that would be helpful. I have an 89se. The marks on the cover are white highlighted and the ones on the cams are red. BTW mine was off by 3 teeth on the front cam when I got the cover off! No interference but confused the heck out of me for a while, I just set it back and put the belt on. Runs great now. Shoot me an email if you want the pics.
Steve