I was wondering which marks are supposed to line up after doing a timing chain replacement? I bought the car knowing that the timing chain had broken and a Ford dealer replaced it. They quoted the previous owner that it needed a new engine. I was wondering if the W124 has a zero tolerence engine, meaning zero tolerance between piston to valve clearance. I was trying to check the cam timing and when I line up the marks on the crankshaft with TDC, what should I see at the camshaft. There is a little hole that lines up with the marker on the camshaft bearing. Also does this model need to have the injection pump timed or is that older models? Any help or answers would be greatly appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Steve190E 2.3 (edited 09-19-2000).]

The small dimple in the end cam journal should line up with the marker on the cam retainer cap. Yes, the valves and pistons are an interference fit if timing is lost. If this is a gas engine, there is no injector pump to time. Just get the cam and crank right and everything else will work.

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

Is the small dimple you are talking about on the camshaft itself or the camshaft pulley. I have seen pictures etc. that show that you line up the camshaft pulley (22)to the end bearing. The dimple that the dealer lined up with the end bearin is a very small hole. Thanks for your response, but I am still unclear.

The timing mark is on the end of the camshaft, behind the cam sporcket. Should line up with a reference mark on the first camshaft retainer cap.

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

Is it the small hole between the two cam seals that is supposed to line up? In diagrams and pictures it does not even show the small hole. It shows that you are supposed to line up the end of the cam with the last bearing end cap. There is two of these lines the end of the camshaft. Which one is it. Would you be able to maybe email me a diagram or something? Sorry to be such a pain in the behind. I don't want to pull the motor all apart because somebody put the timing chain on wrong.

I don't know what you mean by the two cam seals. From the front of the engine you start with the cam sprocket gear (for the timing chain). Behind that gear there is the shoulder that the gear sits flush against when it is in place. Behind that, there is the front end of the cam. There should be a dimple on this radius that should line up with a reference line on the first cam retainer cap when #1 cylinder is at TDC on the compression stroke.

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

Sorry to be such a pain. I wish Ford had never got there grubby hands in there. The dimple you are talking about is it a small hole that I am talking about or is it right at the end by the camshaft drive gear?

YES,, you've got it mate!! Right behind the cam drive sprocket..

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

[This message has been edited by jeffsr (edited 09-20-2000).]