At this point, the crankshaft should be exactly at TDC, you have confirmed the left/driver camshaft slot is correct, the right/passenger camshaft sprocket retaining bolt is loose, the right/passenger camshaft slot is correct, and the camshaft bearing cap bolts have been torqued to 25
in-lbs.
Now comes the difficult task which I have not performed with the engine in the vehicle. Insert the tensioner spacer as shown below.
View attachment 58832
You will have to somehow position the spacer so it stays in place by itself. Then you will need a shallow 27mm (or you're using a 1 1/16in) socket since you probably can't get your hands in a position to push directly on the tensioner and rotate it at the same time. If you had an ordinary bolt the same diameter and thread as the tensioner this job would be easy. You wouldn't need the spacer and you wouldn't be fighting the tensioner spring. I didn't have one available and since my engine was out I could start the threads with just my hands. Anyway, you have to compress the tensioner spring against the spacer enough that you can start the tensioner threads in the hole. You must be careful not to cross thread or damage the threads. If after a few attempts, you have no success and are concerned that you might damage the threads then I strongly suggest that you obtain a bolt with the same threads as the tensioner. It would be better to wait until you find a bolt then to damage the threads in the head.
When you have successfully inserted the tensioner/spacer or bolt then torque it to no more than 20
in-lbs. This will be enough to keep the camshaft sprocket from rotating but not so much to damage the guide assembly.
