Before everyone flames me ive used the search and couldnt find what i was looking for so here i am.

Basically ive bought an adjustable cam gear (because it looks nice ) i want to know whether there easy to fit (BTW D16Z6) basically can i just take my old one off and slide the new one on without ------- anything up.
Also my mate who has a b16 tells me i cant run the car without the white plastic cover on because the timing belt could slip off and destroy the engine, but im pretty sure ive seen a lot of people not running the covers.

Im sorry in advance for posting a noob question but im still a semi noob and any help/advice would be appreciated.

 

The simple answer is your friend doesnt know what he's talking about. The white cover is there to prevent rocks/gravel/debris/homeless ppl from getting between the timing belt and either of the gears and causing the motor to jump time. It does nothing to hold the belt in place.

With that being said, what does your cam gear look like? How many bolts hold the center section? Pics are good.

 

Thanks for that, i thought id seen others without the cover........... here are the pics.............





The timing marks are set to 0 will that be ok when i fit it or will i have to adjust it?

 

with it set to zero it will be fine, but i wouldnt try to install it without bringing the engine to TDC and loosening the belt. it can be done and i have done it, but since you are asking this question i dont think you could do it the short cut way.

also, just cause your friend has a b16 doesnt mean he is smart. the cover is only there to keep things out. what keeps the belt in place is a large beveled washer between the crank pulley and the timing belt crank gear. i wouldnt run without the bottom part of the cover, but you will be fine without the top part.

 

I thought it would just be a case of slide off and slide on, obviously not though. Why does the engine have to be at TDC?

 

cause all of the marks for timing the cam to the crank line up at TDC. its possible to swap the gear without doing all of that. i have done it myself plenty of times, but you have to be sure that its right when it goes back on. if its wrong by more than a couple teeth you get bent valves. to me its not worth the risk. its not much more work to do it right

 

Ok thanks for that ill do it the proper way then.

Im still looking for a write up somewhere of how to do it (cough cough!)

 

This ---- is sig material....lol

 

---- i was hoping someone had done a write up for me.

Was pretty funny though.

 

there is a wirte up on how to do it. its called a helms manual. look under timing belt then once you remove the timing belt just remove the cam gear and put your new one on. the helms manual might even have a how to on removing the camgear. its not exactly brain science or rocket surgery. figure out what you need to remove then figure out what needs to be removed for you to gain access to what you replacing