How To: Mazdaspeed 3/Mazdaspeed 6/CX-7 VVT The Roku Way

I put the TDC pin in and rotated my crank till it touched. I now have the valve cover and front cover off. I tore down one weekend and was getting ready for putting things back together. I noticed my lobes on cyclinder 1 were pointing basically 180 from the image in the photo. Like a dummy, I thought I'd spin the whole chain system clockwise like I have on other engines!!! Ah, now my crankshaft has been turned maybe 30 degrees while my camshafts are still in place! Why isn't this crank keyed again?!?! Ok, now what do I do? I was tried putting the car in gear and rolling a wheel, but I guess I need help rolling both. Any thoughts on this?
 
So you set the TDC pin before confirming the cams where in alignment so now everything is 180 degrees out. Is this correct?

So, you'll have to bolt it back together as it is with the old parts of you haven't used the new parts. And rotate everything together.

Or, you could remove the cams so the valves are all closed. Spin the crank to proper TDC. The reinstall the cams set all at TDC and move forward.

Do you have pictures of how it sits right now?
 
Dude your response was crazy quick!

Yeah, I spun the crankshaft till it hit the TDC pin and I thought that meant I was at TDC. Moved on. Now, looking at it the cams were as in the photo.
 

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It sounds like I'll have to take off the cams and then rotate till TDC then put them back as the should be. I was hoping to just rotate the crankshaft counter clockwise another way the 30 degrees and then back up again the TDC pin.
 
This is the only thread I get alerts for, I try to be as responsive as possible here.

That's exactly what you'll have to do. With the timing cover off you'll be able to look at the crank and see it physically touch the TDC pin. That was you know with 100% Certainty that it is accurate.

If you need pictures of that for a reference I can get some..
 
This is it, correct?
 

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Yes. The cams will seat once you tighten the caps back down. 8in lb if I remember. Then spin them and put the plate in till you are ready to tighten everything down.
 
Another question: does this look weird to you? It looks weird to me. I took off the vvt sprocket and noted it's position but it's different than photos. I expected the circle oil port to be faced up but it was opposite on mine. Does this part really matter since it's all relative?

The VVT looks broke to me.
 

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That first picture is most definitely broken and bad.


The rest of them look fine. I thought I updated the OP. When I wrote this how to... 13 years ago... OMG... We didn't know that it didn't matter the orientation of the vvt itself.

So yes, it's good.
 
Ok, I've been searching for that answer but hadn't seen it yet. VVT must have been my problem then and not excessive chain stretching.

Thanks again!
 
Yeah, I am replacing everything. My chain was stretched (atrached) but I'm not sure it was terrible. I was definitely getting some chain contact with the valve cover, but it didn't look too bad. I got everything timed up, and now I just need to put it all back together...one small bite at a time.20241012_155346.jpg
 
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Just as long as you replaced everything all will be fine.

Did you get it finished up today?
 
Nope, not yet. I didn't get a chance to touch it yesterday. I have the timing cover on and need to work up from there. I'm planning to go ahead and put a new alternator in today since it seems to be a pain in the neck to get to.
 
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