I've spent the last three days working on my '91 Olds 3800. The cam magnet had broken and since it had 205k and never had the timing chain replaced I figured I might as well do that too. I buttoned up the job this evening, and the engine would not start. Any suggestions of what to check before having to pull the cover again. I'm thinking the timing is off........... When I put the cam gear back on, I was careful not to turn the cam or the crank and just put everything back on as I'd taken off the old. Was this a mistake not to line up the dots on the cam gear and balance shaft gear? I thought if I just replaced each gear as it had come off on the keyed slots...not moving the cam and balance gear I'd be ok, guess not. If I have to take it back out...both those gears have dots to line up....so where should the crank be as there are no dots to line up there like on the old 3.8 engine. Additionally, could the problem be in the crank sensor, I understand this needs to be aligned as well, BUT it is held on with just 2 bolts and there seems to be no adjustment in putting the bolts back thru the holes and tightening them up.

Thanks for any help.....I'm really hoping I don't have to pull the cover again.....it'* a lot of work.....BUT I have this feeling that'* where I'm headed.

I feel I've wasted a bunch of time........5 quarts of new oil and a gallon of Anti-freeze which seems to be raising in price about as fast as gasoline.

you gotta line up the lines.. otherwise it won't be accurate no matte rhowe careful you were


-justin

x2

Ok, the "dots" on the balance gear and cam gear point toward each other...then is there a specific setting for the crankshaft which has no markings on the gear as I'm accustomed to.

Would the crank sensor keep it from starting?

Thanks

It could.

Do you have a tach? When you crank does the tach move or just sit there doing nothing?


-justin

I hate to think about all that work to take the cover off again. I did not line up the dots on the cam and balance gear. I just went back on with the new in the same position that I took the old one off...being careful not to move anything. I guess that was my problem. There is no markings at all on the crank gear, so I'll have to make sure I have that right.....would 12 o'clock on the crank correspond with the slotted key on the crank. The last one of these I did had markings.......and a distributor.

Thanks

Take a look at the balancer for the groove in relation to the timing mark on the outside of it. Probably off a little. They do that kind of stuff to keep us on our toes.

I would strongly suggest picking up Chilton'* #28200 for $15 bucks the next time you're in town.

I have Haynes......I'm finding it inferior. Most of the info. is dedicated to the pre-3800 engine set-up. I'll look for the Chilton.