[robinrush9]

Hello people! I attacked the head gasket job on a N54 without doing my due diligence - call me impatient. I rotated the crank counterclockwise quite a distance. I am now only realizing that many posts warn against doing this. When the flywheel locking pin is in there's no shot of aligning the camshaft special tool. I've rotated the crank clockwise 180 a few times and still no go. What should I do? Thanks in advance.

[Mustafa.e92]

Timing complements aren’t designed to be turned counter clockwise so their is a chance you can skip timing. I think your fine just keep turning it clockwise throw something like a screw driver in cyl1. Make sure cam barcodes are pretty much about to be lined up and cyl1 is almost at the top. keep constant pressure on the flywheel lock pin while slowing turning the engine. It’s a very tight fit has to be exactly aligned. You will know it’s in the right hole in the flywheel because the crank will barley turn anymore

[Mustafa.e92]

I just re read that if the issue is the cam sprockets aren’t ligning up but the crank is locked. It’s user judgment but I’ve been able to get something on the cam. Wrench or alignment tool and slowly get it to the right spot. Again this only happens when a car loses timing and it’s user judgment as you have to be careful as their is a chance you’ll smack a valve on a piston. Being your careful you’ll feel the resistance change and shouldn’t damage anything if you stop right away

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

What isn't lining up? The forks that go on the camshaft or the plate with nubs that go into the VANOS plates?