Timing a Mk1 1.8 from scratch

[MikeDrop]

Timing a 1.8 from scratch - what's involved?

So imagine a snapped cambelt. Timing needs to be discovered from scratch, my thoughts are:

• Piston 1 (closest to bonnet) at TDC
• Inlet Cam pulley "E" aligned to head marking
• Exhaust Cam pulley "I" aligned to head marking

Any more complex than that?

[snotrag]

Once done, turn the engine over two full rotations by hand and check it all goes back to the same place. If it does, it's right.

[anonymous-user]

You'll also need a timing strobe to check the timing and adjust it by rotating the camshaft position sensor.

[MikeDrop]

Excellent. Thanks chaps. Put a deposit on a nice little 1.8 import yesterday with a snapped cam belt. Too cheap to say no!

[snotrag]

It's easy. Get yourself a copy of the rod grainger workshop manual for the 1.8, cheap in eBay, it's got a really good walk through, lots better than Haynes etc.

Two big adjustable spanners really useful to lock the cams too. Change the water pump while your in there!

[MikeDrop]

snotrag said:

It's easy. Get yourself a copy of the rod grainger workshop manual for the 1.8, cheap in eBay, it's got a really good walk through, lots better than Haynes etc.

Two big adjustable spanners really useful to lock the cams too. Change the water pump while your in there!

Thanks snotrag!

I've watched a few YouTube vids that are really, really useful and, yes, the adjustable spanner technique was used in all of them