92 grandprix 3.4L camshaft timing

[92grandprix]

I am trying to set the timing of the camshaft on my 3.4L engine. My question is when turning the crankshaft 360 degrees what should I look at the harmonic balancer to go around 360 degrees or the crankshaft sprocket the is above the harmonic balancer to go around 360 degrees.

[pocket-rocket]

Look at the harmonic balancer. There is a line cut in it that runs right to left that will line up with an arrow on the timing chain cover when #1 is at TDC.

[92grandprix]

Thanks Pcoket-Rocket, but i think my question was not clear enough.
The problem i have is that the timing instruction says .....
"Rotate the crank 360 degrees so that the rear cam flats are now face down. The crank mark should line up with the arrow on the timing chain cover. Install lock rings on the front cams and remove the front hold down tool. Now both banks are timed and its reinstall from here."

My question is what I am supposed to look at when turning the enigine 360 degree? Am I supposed to look at the harmonic balancer or the crank sprocket which is above the harmonic balancer.
I was looking at the harmonic balancer and after turning that 360 degrees it puts the camshaft flats facing up again.

[pocket-rocket]

I don't know if you missed the slot on the balancer or not because out of all of the probably 6 or so DOHC I have timed (not counting mine more then once even though it has happened from head swaps, ect.), when I remove the hold down tools and rotate the crank (by looking at the balancer) 360 degrees, the flats on one bank fasced down and the other faced up. When you are done one set should be up, the other should be down for the engine to run right. IIRC we locked the rear cam gears down first, removed the tool on the rear head, rotated the crank 360, locked the front cam gears down, removed the tool and the timing was done. The timing belt pulley above the crank spins at half the speed as the crank, so if you rotated that 360, the crank has just gone 720 degrees, which would explain the flats being face up again. Either way you time it, rear cams or front cams first doesn't matter, just as long as you locked them down when #1 was at TDC and roated the crank 360 between banks so that one set is up and the other is down.

[92grandprix]

Timing Problem Solved

Hey Pocket-Rocket, Thanks for you advice. You were right I was not looking at the harmonic balancer all the time while i was turning it and have missed the mark the first time it went by. Any way thanks again I finally got the car back together last week end and are enjoying driving it again. PS : THe car is a 92 STE that I had an accident with a few years back and by the hood latch had a switch that sends a message to the instrumental pannel saying the hood is open when the hood is not closed all the way. That switch is broken do you know where I can get one to buy? And another thing is the fuel light by the fuel gauge keeps flashing on and off. Do you have any idea what is causing that to happen? This only started after the accident. Thanks, Joe.

[pocket-rocket]

No problem man That's what the forums are here for. BTW, the LQ1 has a timing chain as well, just like the pushrod engines. That is why the pulley you were looking at went 1/2 the speed of the crank. For the hood switch, I would try to hit up a junkyard. As for the fuel light, I don't have a book for a GP, just my Lumina so my book wouldn't have the right schematics in it for that circuit (Luminas didn't get that light) to see what all is involved in it so hopefully someone with it can chime in to help you out. Grats on doing your timing belt yourself and saving $600 bucks

[94GPGTP]

here ya go for the fuel light..

http://www.w-body.com/service/checkgauges.html

[94GPGTP]

btw it does do the trick.. worked on my 89 tgp... make sure you get all the varnish off for a good solider

[92grandprix]

Hey Robert, Thanks for the info to fix the check gauge and fuel light that keeps flasing on and off. I did nto get a chance to fix that as yet but will try to this week end. I will give you a feed back to let you know if that worked for me. Any way does that scrap car that you have have the information center that my car have? If it does would you happen to have the hood switch that is by the latch in the fornt of the car, that send the signal to the infromation certer indicating that the hood is open? If you have that switch are you willing to sell it? Please let me know. The switch is not that improtant but my car only have 59,000 miles for a 92 and I will be giving it to my son who is about to graduate from high school and I would like to get it back to original as close as possible.

Thanks.

Joe.

[94GPGTP]

joe

no it does not have the Drivers Info Center (DIC) like yours and did not have that switch.. sorry i cant help you on that one... Check the STE's too when you go to the yard..

[92grandprix]

Flashing fuel and check gauge light fixed

Hey Robert, Thanks again for the information to fix the flashing fuel and check-gauge lights. It was as easy as you have said and it took a total of maybe 2 hrs to get it out, slodered, and back together again. THANKS GUYS you have been very helpful. I have a few little things to get fixed and my car would be like new again but with 53,000 miles.
Joe.