I lined up the cams so that the flat parts were on top, so that the special tool could be installed, before removing the crankshaft pulley. The pistons never moved after the heads were off. When the heads came off, No1 was not at TDC.

 

Please let me know what manual you are looking at. Confirm what engine are you working on. I'm assuming you have a 4.2L V8.
Try this manual

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...0Code%20168.pd

The timing is 45° ATDC from a post from Motorcarman.

 

I am looking at the Workshop Manual, the one that comes in 5 sections. The engine is the 4.2l from a 2005 XJ8L.

 

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...Code%20168.pdf

Link didn't work the first time. Motorcarman was kind enough to share it with us.

Look at page 26 of the AJV8 assembly section.

 

Bob,

The link to the manual didn't work.

 

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...Code%20168.pdf

Link didn't work the first time. Motorcarman was kind enough to share it with us.

Look at page 26 of the AJV8 assembly section.

 

Very nice

 

Forgive my ignorance Bob, but how do I check that the crankshaft is 45 degrees ATDC? By looking at the flywheel?

 

You don't need to find 45° ATDC. This is where the timing is when the flywheel is pin and the cams are flat. My understanding is this position was chosen because you can rotate the cams and no piston is high enough for the valves to hit them.
Follow the procedure in the repair course manual.

 

Bob,

The manual says "Prior to installing the camshafts, position the crankshaft to 45 degrees ATDC cylinder 1A"

If my camshafts need to be re-installed, wont I need to position the crankshaft at 45 ATDC for cylinder 1?

Thanks, Mark

 

All you need is to have the flywheel locked. That will give you 45° ATDC. There are no timing marks anywhere to check this.
You would need several instruments that you would find in an engine shop to check the exact timing, but it will be 45° ATDC.

 

Ah, got it! Thanks.

 

BobRoy you have lost me here completely.

Are you saying that no matter what position the crank is in it will be 45° ATDC?

That just cannot be so.

 

If the Crankshaft Holding Tool is inserted in place of the crankshaft position sensor, it will only fit into one opening in the drive plate correctly. Thus is the correct crankshaft position achieved.

 

When you put the tool into the hole the crank position sensor was in and there is a hole in the flywheel that the tool will fit into. There is only one of these holes in the flywheel that the tool will fit into. When these holes, crank position sensor and the hole in the flywheel, are aligned the engine is at 45° ATDC. You don't need to know that the timing advanced

 

Okay now I understand. Thank you.

 

Care must also be taken to install the VVT units in the correct position when aligning the camshafts with the holding tool across the flats.

Follow the instructions in the Workshop Manual.

 

FYI.
From Motorcarman on the X308 site.

 

It took a while for the penny to drop for me too!!!

Thanks for the explanation Bob.

 

update:

It's been a while, here's the latest....reset the timing properly by pinning the flywheel and having the cams flat bits on top. Just finishing up torquing one of the pulleys and I noticed a small piece of plastic on a ledge. Instantly recognizable as a large piece of a timing chain guide. Aaaaaarrgggh. Took everything apart again, put a new timing chain guide on. Had a leaking transmission cooler line, after an epic fight managed to McGiver it so there was no leak. Started the motor and alas, it still runs like a pig with misfires on all cylinders. Did a compression check on two of the cylinders, one was 105 and the other 120. I'm thinking it's time for a new engine.