M156 Cam Adjuster plates

[badgx]

Well spotted, phaser bolts 45Nm and then finally 90 degree turn This is correct.

The timing covers both front and top were torqued to 10NM on mine, with new gaskets. I have the magnesium cover which I believe is equally as fragile as the plastic ones which are known to crack. No reports of any weep, would suggest starting at 10NM, you can always carefully bump it up.

 

[C63Mike89]

Well spotted, phaser bolts 45Nm and then finally 90 degree turn This is correct.

The timing covers both front and top were torqued to 10NM on mine, with new gaskets. I have the magnesium cover which I believe is equally as fragile as the plastic ones which are known to crack. No reports of any weep, would suggest starting at 10NM, you can always carefully bump it up.

I’m keen to start this work I might not be able to wait till the Xmas holidays , I’ll be sure to take pics and post them here. Really appreciate all the help.

 

[badgx]

No worries friend, would be nice to see photos and progress It's really exciting work, remember to take plenty of videos too. I had my little ones watch over me most of the time, definitely been inspirational for them too and I'm sure we'll still be looking at the photos 20 years from now

 

[C63Mike89]

No worries friend, would be nice to see photos and progress It's really exciting work, remember to take plenty of videos too. I had my little ones watch over me most of the time, definitely been inspirational for them too and I'm sure we'll still be looking at the photos 20 years from now

I need some major help .

So I started the work yesterday and I won’t lie it didn’t go to plan.

I couldn’t get it to time lock at 40 degrees not even with a wiggle, in fact it was well off a wiggle it was not even close.

I then panicked and decided to remove the the exhaust and intake camshafts so I could time it.

I have taken them off, I got the rear locking plate in, then locked the front and replaced both camshaft adjusters with the new plates and fitted to the camshafts.

The right side is now locked in and timed, it has the new washers put on and new phaser bolts done to 45nm plus 90. At this stage I am happy.

The issue is back to the original timing.

The left side is so far out of timing like the right side was, so much so that I will have to crank the engine just to be able to get my backlash locking tool onto the camshafts , the exhaust backlash hole is too far down, I can maybe do the top one without having to crank but that’s no good.

Now it looks like I’ll have to remove the camshafts on the left side too just to get it timed up properly.

If you see the attached pictures you can see that there was a white painters mark on the timing crank but this wasn’t done by me, do you think it was timed to this position and that’s why it’s way off?

Have I ****ed up big time?

You can see where I have it set to 40, that white painters mark not made by me is way to the right.

 

[C63Mike89]

Also here is the side I’ve not done yet, look how off it is on timing….

 

[ALFAitalia]

I doubt it would run if it really was that far out.....if both banks were out the exact same amount that makes me even more suspicious.....

 

[C63Mike89]

I doubt it would run if it really was that far out.....if both banks were out the exact same amount that makes me even more suspicious.....

But if you look at the picture with the side I’ve not done yet, doesn’t that look about the same distance off from 40 to 1/6 the white mark on the picture?

I’m so confused. I’m moments away from having to rip out the cams on that side and try and time it but I just want to know if it’s me who ****ing up here

 

[C63Mike89]

I also have another question, should all m156 engines look the same when timed to 40. I mean the crank shaft lobes should they roughly be in the same position. So the side I timed on the right if someone sent me a picture of a timed right on their car it should look pretty identical?

 

[badgx]

Don't panic, I'm here for you. I'll do an emergency youtube video, it won't be anything fancy. And if you can pm me your number I'm happy to give you a what's up video call. I can guide, so we can have your timing set up.

 

[C63Mike89]

I need to get to 30 posts otherwise I can’t ping you my number, what’s your email I’ll email you now with my number

 

[badgx]

Well it's 30 posts now, see if you can send a pm?

 

[badgx]

Let me send you a post

 

[C63Mike89]

says I’m on 14 posts

 

[badgx]

says I’m on 14 posts

I just saw, half way there. I tried pm you but doesn't seem I can. I guess need to have posted at least 30 times.

 

[C63Mike89]

I just saw, half way there. I tried pm you but doesn't seem I can. I guess need to have posted at least 30 times.

 

[badgx]

Pleasure to speak to you buddy, your 80% there. Video call me tomorrow and we'll finish off final steps at bank 2

 

[ube63]

Wow and respect for the willingness to help a fellow member!

 

[badgx]

Wow and respect for the willingness to help a fellow member!

New friend is doing well. He is working on bank 2, hopefully should get there. Busy building the camshaft adjuster now and will pick up tomorrow.

 

[drummerboy999]

Hello everyone, am fascinated by this thread as I too have the M156 engine with intermittent camshaft adjuster rattle on startup however the job is a bit beyond my capabilities. So, an open question to the forum please … Is there not a reputable specialist anywhere in the UK who will do this job for me using the 63 Motorsports kit rather than the complete OEM camshaft adjusters? There’s so many of us with this issue, surely an opportunity for someone to clean up? Cheers

 

[C63Mike89]

Hello everyone, am fascinated by this thread as I too have the M156 engine with intermittent camshaft adjuster rattle on startup however the job is a bit beyond my capabilities. So, an open question to the forum please … Is there not a reputable specialist anywhere in the UK who will do this job for me using the 63 Motorsports kit rather than the complete OEM camshaft adjusters? There’s so many of us with this issue, surely an opportunity for someone to clean up? Cheers

Murder63 on instagram or AJS performance in Hitchin. I ended up having to get AJS to basically do a full top half engine rebuild after trying to do it myself. I’m putting it down to the engine timing had been messed with and I should have probably checked for TDC on the pistons to make sure the crankshaft matched but hey ho you live and learn.

But I now have pretty much a reconditioned m156 with a full pulley rebuild using the 63 motorsport adjuster back plates, skeleton front plates with the titanium bolt package, all gaskets changed, new valves, machined pistons etc etc so she will last a while