I have a newer 95 opti, which cutouts on the back do I put the cam dowel into when I put the opti back on.

 

two will look the same and the third is different. It should have a notched line at the end of the hole

 

Steve is correct. Its the one which looks different than the other two, it almost has a box shape around the out side of the hole.

Also, when you are putting it back on, make sure of a few things. First make sure the pin goes in the slot, not the clover shape.

Next, once it is in the correct slot, DO NOT USE the bolts to pull it on. You can tap it a little with your hand and it will snap into place up against the timing cover. If it will not go you prolly dont have it lined up correctly.

 

Thanks Guys

 

After doing this job a few times I have found that is easier to mate the opti to the dowel if the dowel is at the 12 o'clock position. If it is not just hand crank it into position. One is able to keep their eye on it better at 12 o'clock as it comes together. As mentioned above do not force the opti when positioning it. Something is wrong if you have to do that.

You could also put a very, very light smear of dialectric grease on the opti hub to easy it into the timing cover seal.

 

How can you turn the dowel when the dowel is in the cam and the dots on the crank and cam sprockets have to be facing each other.
At least that 's what it tells you in the hanes manual.

 

It does not matter where the dowel is when you put the opti on, as long as you put the special notch over the dowel. You can turn the crank (and thereby the cam) to any position you want.

If your dots are facing each other, the dowel will be in the 3 o'clock position (that's #6 TDC). Look on the back of the opti and point the notch at 6 and then slide the opti on. That's all there is to it.

 

Once the timing chain is on, the position of the dots on the sprockets is irrelavant to opti installation.

Let me explain further. By rotating the crank such that the cam dowel is in the 12 o'clock position it is easier (at least for me) to ensure that the dowel goes into the opti slot (and not to one side or the other) as the opti is pressed forward. Is is not necessary to put the cam dowel in this position, but I found it useful to me.

Have fun!

 

Ok not to be dumb here but one last thing, I have put the #1 cylinder to TDC on the compresion stroke and then put the cam in, I put the sprockets and chain on so the dots are facing each other, (then the cam dowel is at 3:00 o'clock) then I turn the opti so that the different looking hole lines up with the dowel and slide it in.
Right.

 

Did you read my post above? You don't need to move anything when the dots are together. As I noted, dots together=#6 TDC. Don't get confused.