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[Doctor Gollum]

The rubbery bits could well be excess from previous cam cover gasket work.

The pins look like locating dowels, but wouldn't like to say where from

[YZ250]

The rubbery bits could well be excess from previous cam cover gasket work.

The pins look like locating dowels, but wouldn't like to say where from

Hmm, 4 dowels and 4 camshafts. Surely not, the odds on them all falling out together would be astronomical. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Have never removed the cam sprocket from an Omega engine... But that's one hell of a coincidence...

[YZ250]

Have never removed the cam sprocket from an Omega engine... But that's one hell of a coincidence...

Likewise. 

Something like this, but these are allegedly performance cams so may differ.    They are apparently for a Vauxhall Omega/Vectra V6 etc according to the description. Main focus is on the dowels sticking out of the end.

[STEMO]

Or not 

Sorry 

[STEMO]

Have never removed the cam sprocket from an Omega engine... But that's one hell of a coincidence...

Likewise. 

Something like this, but these are allegedly performance cams so may differ.    They are apparently for a Vauxhall Omega/Vectra V6 etc according to the description. Main focus is on the dowels sticking out of the end.

That's not a bad shout, but both ends of the wayward pins look to be 'shiny', as if only the central piece was metal on metal. On those cams only one end seems to protrude.

[Raeturbo]

Doesn’t the original camshafts use a woodruff key fitting?

[Tick Tock]

Following this with interest, even if I'm no help in knowing where those dowels / rollers have come from. The following pics show the cam sprockets and camshafts, so I doubt that the dowels would come adrift when the sprockets are fitted and all 4 timing marks aligned.

[Dave G]

So, with the crankshaft line mark pointing vertically down (6 o’clock) I would say the belt has moved three teeth to the right away from the backplate notch - on both sides.

The pins do look very similar to that last post. But I can’t see all of them dropping out without huge damage.

In other news, I’m going to have to suspend my investigations for a few days. Brother in law taken ill yesterday. Very poorly in hospital. So it’s the train down to Epsom. Lovely.

[countrywoman]

So has some moron fitted a new belt and took the pins out as they had trouble lining the timing marks up? Just a thought

[Dave G]

Whoa there. Steady on with the moron bit…!

A few points here to clear up some previous questions from along the topic:

• I’ve had the car from new so I know its history. It was my company car and then I bought it at the end of the term.
  
• Camshaft covers have never been removed.
  
• All my previous belt changes have been done by Marks DTM Calib (most definitely NOT a moron). I watched him do a perfect job - and some other maintenance too.
  
• As for me, I’ve replaced alternator, HBV, door lock motors, thermostat, brake discs, calipers (cleaned/painted), brake pads, rear shocks, water pump and of course regular oil and all filter changes (regardless of miles). But I did give up at wishbones.
  

All of these jobs on a Vauxhall Omega 2.6 V6.
So I’m not completely stupid - just moderately stupid - for tackling this at my age!!!

See, I CAN be grumpy at times…

[YZ250]

…………..
All my previous belt changes have been done by Marks DTM Calib (most definitely NOT a moron). I watched him do a perfect job - and some other maintenance too.
……….

Certainly nobody on here would doubt Marks work so no worries there.    As the cambelt is around three teeth out, and the fact that the engine died whilst idling, the heads will have to come off to rectify any valve damage. As for costs to get it back on the road, JamesV6CDX would probably have a good idea of roughly how much as he’s done a few now. I’m not implying that he’d be interested in doing it, just that he’d have a better perspective of costs having done it himself on his own vehicle.
With that mileage , and if it’s in reasonable condition, it’s certainly worth repairing if costs can be kept to DIY and a bit of outside help/guidance. 

[YZ250]

Following this with interest, even if I'm no help in knowing where those dowels / rollers have come from. The following pics show the cam sprockets and camshafts, so I doubt that the dowels would come adrift when the sprockets are fitted and all 4 timing marks aligned.
……….

Good find with the photo.    When the heads come off things should become clearer. 

[TheBoy]

No idea, just putting it out there, waterpump bearings on roller bearings?

But as others have suggested, 3 teeth is going to need, as DTM himself would say "Off with its head!"

If no piston damage, I'd imagine that would be new valves and stem seals (which you'd always do on a 2.6 anyway, due to GM fitting poor ones), gaskets (various, such as exhaust manifold, HG and cam gaskets) and bolts, and of course a new timing belt.

[Dave G]

So today I locked the cams with a locking kit and released the belt tension.
I took off the tensioner and the top idler/adjuster (not sure what it’s called) and could find no fault with either.
Put the belt back on with the crankshaft back in the 6 o’clock position. Timing obviously by eye but couldn’t be any worse than it was.

Not looked at the water pump yet - I can’t see how anything could escape from that. It’s solid and spins freely with no wobble.

To get the plugs out for a manual turnover is going to mean a lot more disassembly, plenum, piping etc. but if it has to be done…

Once again, I’m very grateful for all your suggestions on here.