[8v] timing woes

[doubt at inwave.com (Nate Mellom)]

Foxx,
First off, there are 2 marks on the 8v cam gear, one on each side.  Make 
sure you're using the one on the engine side, not the strut side.  That 
mark should be lined up with the top deck of the head, as you'd see it 
without the cam cover.
Second, the crank pulley has a notch on it, the intermediate shaft 
pulley has a punch mark.  Those 2 should line up, which will align the 
crank and distributor properly.

Quoted directly from the 8v Bentley:
1) Hand-crank the camshaft sprocket until the centerpunch mark in 
exactly in line with the upper edge of the camshaft drive belt rear 
cover. (The rear cover does NOT refer to the rear of the engine. Ed.)

2) Hand turn the crankshaft and the intermediate shaft until the 
centerpunch mark on the intermediate shaft sprocket is positioned in the 
V-notch on the crankshaft pulley.

It'd be a good idea to look into the timing cover hole on the tranny to 
make sure you see the timing marks, and check under the distributor to 
make sure the rotor is pointing at the #1 BTDC mark.

I have a bit of experience timing 8v's, hopefully this'll help.

Good luck!
Nate

Foxx (in a box) wrote:
>   so i finally got the head back on the scirocco. one of the new exhaust 
> manifold studs broke (the nut wasn't even on half way) but everything 
> else went smoothly...except for the timing. i got everything to where i 
> *thought* it was but apparently i'm off as the car won't turn over.
>   the cam has the dot on the pulley. i assume that should line up with 
> the top of the head (with or without gasket?). the intermediate shaft 
> should have the distributor pointing at number 1. how do i line up the 
> crank shaft (i have the lower timing cover still on)? of all the things 
> i ever do on these cars it's timing that ALWAYS gets me. many thanx in 
> advance.
>