06 Tundra timing snafu - what would you do?

Timing belt job on 2006... put the belt on backwards, Rcam on driver, LCam on passenger, but they line up with everything so does it really matter?

Back story. Bought this truck after the belt broke while it was idling in the guys driveway. Took a chance, and then boroscoped it when I got it home and the valves/pistons all look good. So I splurged on a kit and realized afterwards while buttoning things up that I put the belt on backwards. However, I did put the crank at TDC (0 degree), and lined up the cams to the slots on the rear cam cover (not the T, just the line), and when putting the belt on, I didn't check the crank gear mark against the block, but the cam marks did line up fine with the belt, just backwards. I put the tensioner in and rotated it and nothing hits, everything stays lined up after putting 4 rotations on it, so I think I'm good, I just want validation. I could take the fan bracket back off and crank pulley and cover and do it "right" but this truck has 299k on it already and just am curious as to what you all would do.

 

It probably doesn't matter, but my OCD would get the best of me and I would need to correct it while I still had things apart.

 

Ideally it goes on the right way so you can verify the marks are where they should be on the crank.

 

I agree. But if I put the crank pully back on and the cover and it is still pointing to 0 degrees, it should be fine which is what I did. I think I'm going to leave it. I have about 2 hours before it starts pouring after work and want to get this put back together and tested.

 

I'm not smart enough to know. What has me a little concerned is I've heard the marks should NOT line up again if you roll the engine over - I've always heard it would need to rotate a bunch of times (coupe hundred?) to get back to where everything lines up again.

 

You need two rotations of the crank to have the camshaft marks line up again.

 

Here's the belt I pulled out of the engine. 299k on the truck, this belt has been replaced at least once. They cut corners when doing the job before. Missing bolts in places, the AC compressor only held on with 2 bolts, etc. I still need to source a grommet for the left side timing cover and a hood release rod.

 

There is no way the marks on the belt go all the way around with only two revolutions of the crank.

I don't think we are talking about the same concept.

 

You're correct. The marks on the cam gears will line up exactly every 2 rotations, not necessarily the marks on the timing belt. You're absolutely correct.

 

If you're not buying used and want OEM, PM me your VIN and I'll look it up.

Position (left/right) is normally called based on sitting in the driver's seat. So when you say "grommet for the left timing cover", I'm assuming you mean the grommet that the cam position sensor passes thru?

FYI, if you replaced the water pump, make sure you didn't pinch the cam position wires with the pump housing. Likewise, it looks like the crankshaft position sensor is routed correctly behind the fan bracket so it can't be clipped by a belt/pulley, but the angle is tight so not 100% sure.

I can't speak to the belt. I want to say the arrows are equidistant. If you can rotate the engine freely without interference, that speaks highly to all being OK. I just don't know personally if the cam arrows are equidistant from the crank arrow. I want to say "YES" and I know 100% we've had someone else reverse the arrows on here, I just can't recall if they bothered to correct. I've also seen one picture of a running engine with the arrows backwards on here.

 

Grommet 90480-26025

 

Got it all together and it purrs like a kitten. I am going to run to walmart to pick up some coolant and oil and then take it on a maiden voyage tomorrow.

 

Congrats on your win! Hopefully you got a good deal on the truck!

 

I did. Paid $500 for the truck, zero rust frame or otherwise, but not a perfect condition vehicle by any means. Has scrapes and bruises, but runs well. I just got in from bleeding the coolant. Hot heat, ice cold AC, rear window goes all the way down (very nice), but its a 2wd truck, not 4wd.

 

Thank you. Do you happen to know if I can just purchase the hood release rod? Looks like just the entire hood release mechanism is for sale. I would make one but not sure what it is supposed to look like.

 

You'll need to hit a junkyard for that. www.car-part.com may help you find something.