Im just wondering whats the easiest way to time my D16? I just got done replacing my head but I need to get my timing belt back on and the dizzy too.. only problem is that when I took off the dizzy the motor wasnt at TDC yet.. I donno if that matters or not.. but yeah what would be the easiest way to get this thing timed? I marked the belt and everything so any help would be great..

 

It has marks on the crank and cam that should be lined up. If you don't even know what you're looking at buy a service manual. Did you torque everything down? Easiest way is to pay some one who knows how to do it.

 

1) Pull all spark plugs
2) get a 17mm deep socket on the crank pully bolt
3) stick something long and durable in the #1 cylinder, till you feel piston
4) turn the crank slowly, till the #1 piston stops moving up, or till it just (ticks down abit)
5) make sure where it says (UP) on the cam gear, that it is in fact pointing directly up. If it is then slide the timing belt on.
6) install the dizzy (turn the dial until you can slide it on the camshaft.)
7) FUN PART! The TENSIONER. Get another person to help you. Get something and push the tensioner untill BOTH sides of the timing belt are tight. The tensioner has a 14mm bolt tighten that before letting the pressure off the tensioner.
forgot about them spark plugs, ya need to put those back in.
9) In the morning go to Autozone, Napa, Advanced Auto. Get a Helms.

 

ok hang on let me elaborate some..

I already replaced my head.. before I did so I set the motor to TDC. before I set the motor to TDC and replaced the head.. while I was taking everything off the head I took off the dizzy.. so before I set the motor to TDC I took off the dizzy. Then I set it to TDC and took off the head or whatever.. now I have the new head on.. and the cam is set with the motor so that the up mark is up and the 2 lines on the cam line up with the head.

This is what I need to know.. which way should I turn the lil dial on the dizzy? I was thinking counterclockwise (same as the camshaft). And also.. I have a helms lol thats what I used to do all this work.. the only reason why Im asking is cuz when we took the timing belt off the old head we just slid it off and didnt even do anything with the tensioner. So..... my tensioner is still very well hidden because I never took the lower timing belt cover off XD

 

ya the plactics on the timing side are a bitch to get to aswell, you shouldnt be able to slide the timing belt onto the cam gear without loosening the tensioner. your going to have to get to that tensioner or the belt will fly off and your pistons will slam the crap out of valves.

Theres only one way to put in the dial on the dizzy back on. (the ecu sends signal of when to fire spark) if that was the misunderstanding. So it doesnt matter if it spins, just turn it till it fits into the end of the cam.

 

ohh ok lol thats the thing I was wondering is if on the inside (since I have never taken the cap off the dizzy and looked inside) there is like a side to the dial that tells it when to fire to which plug and so on. Thanks for the help.

Oh and also.. yeah I know.. those covers suck.. I see a lot of ppl without them tho.. should I just leave them off after I remove them or should I put them back on? lol and yeah the belt wont go back on as easily as it came off.. which sucks cuz if it did I would be driving by now.

Ohhhh yeah and one more thing.. haha I plan on flushing out all the old oil and coolant in the block. Whats the best way to do this? Cuz I was just gonna drain the oil.. then pour a quart down to drain any other remains of old oil... and then go ahead and fill it to spec with all fresh. As far as the coolant goes.. I was gonna do the same thing... but wouldnt the engine have to be running and get a lil hot so the coolant will get flowin? cuz when I took the old head off I got some oil in the lil space between the cylinder walls.. whatever thats called.. lol so yeah what should I do about that?

 

the plastics... dont need them at all, just keep hoses/wires away. Just drain all the oil like normal. but when you refill, take the vlave cover off and get the entire head real well with oil, b/c i dont know if that other head's been sitting. to drain the coolant, pull the lower radiator hose at the bottom of the radiator and let it drain. put the hose back on, turn on the car w/ radiator cap open, and fill the radiator till it stops bubbling and its totally full, and put the cap on, and remember to let the thermostat open to finish filling. All you can really do with the oil in the coolant is dullute it.

 

ok there should be a rather large size bolt in the front of the block right under the exhaust manifold. pull that out and that will drain all of the coolant that is still in the block, you want to flush out all of that oil. just drain the oil like you normally would and change your filter and fill it back up to spec. i have never run those stupid timing covers on any motor i have ever had and have had no problems, with that aspect anyways. they are to prevent shit from the road from flinging up into the belt and causing it to just time. if you are mudding your civic, then you have bigger problems lol the dizzy will only fit in one way. just turn it till it fits. loosen your tensioner and put the belt back on. it will go on super easy once you loosen that bolt. like everyone else said have someone help you to keep it tight while you tighten up the 14mm bolt on the tensioner. then fill it with fluids and fire her up. should be good to go if nothing was put together wrong

 

awesome! Yeah I have to say thanks a lot cuz its ppl like you who make this awesome.. It was the first time I have ever done any type of work like this on my car.. but I couldnt afford to have someone else do it for me so I was like what the hell Imma do that shit myself and learn.. well.. I ran across some problems.. and when I did I read the book and jumped on here.. thanks for all the help I should have her running in the morning.

Ohh and yeah I know about gettin the whole head nice and wet. That new head I put on was nice and clean cuz it had been ported.. but hadnt seen a motor since.. so yeah it prolly was just sitting.. either way I know to get it nice and lubed up cuz of the friction of the camshaft in the actual head itself.. and all the moving parts and such.. lol thanks for the help once again guys

 

no problem buddy, let us know how she runs