MAJOR PROGRESS ALERT
The cams are in - hopefully for the last time:
Cams prepped for VANOS:
Cam gears:
Full timing system:
Timing cover / VANOS drive / timing chain:
VARIABLE
NOCKEN
WELLEN
STUERUNG
Front crank seal:
And then.. what's this? It is fully. Mechanically. Timed.
So I adjusted the valve clearance where required:
And put a fucking cap on it.
Things I Learned Today(tm):
- Don't install the head before the big cam chain guide on the intake side. It's a complete fucking nightmare to install with the head in place.
- Following the Beisan walk-through for VANOS rebuild makes mechanically timing this engine pretty straightforward. Start with #1/6 @ TDC; install the cams per FSM specs with #1's intake / exhaust lobes pointing at each other with a ~45* upward angle; install the cam gears per Beisan's instructions. Ta-dah.
- Harmonic balancer bolts are one-time use.
- Valve clearances did tighten up a bit after installing the head - mostly. A few went the other way.
- Metric feeler gauges make S54 valve jobs a lot easier. Glad I got a set.
I have new harmonic balancer bolts coming along with an underdrive crank pulley. Why not, right? A/C is already deleted, after all. Planning to button up the sump tomorrow, and hopefully prep the front subframe for install. Maybe even get the flywheel / clutch installed!
Still need to sort out fuel line under the hood, but might be ready to get the engine back in the car next weekend... :woop: