Fiat 128/Yugo timing question

I have a '76 Fiat 128 1300. Long story short, bought it at a salvage auction with a broken T-belt about 5 years ago. I rebuilt the head and reinstalled it but could never find the timing mark on the cam pulley. Another project or two came up and it has been sitting since. During that time, I manged to score a pulley off of a Yugo. After comparing the two, the original Fiat pulley has a mark, but it looks more like scratch. Anyway, my question is: does anyone know what to line the cam mark up with? Is it suppose to be straight up? I know this is an interference motor and would hate to set it wrong. Thanx!

I don't know the answer (even though I have a FIAT 1300 sitting in the garage), but somebody over here will definitely know: X web forum

I wonder if it is like the 124/132 series engines.. where the timing marks are not on the engine, but on the timing belt cover mount?

Which unbolts from the head..

I have nothing to add other than Welcome Back. I hope you are well.

IIRC, mad_machine may be right. But if you have 2 original pulleys that match in every other way, could you not transfer the marks? Try the Yugo pulley and see if it will rotate thru 2 complete engine revolutions without banging the valves. If no bad noises with by-hand rotation, try it on the starter with the coil wire pulled. If no bad noises then reinstall the coil wire. I'll bet you'll be fine.

When I did my Yugo, the timing marks were 180* off the mark on the block, IIRC.

I know that's not very comforting.

I would definatly find top dead centre on #1.. make sure both those valves are closed.. and then after the pulleys are tightened down.. slowly hand crank the engine around a couple of revolutions to check for binding.

The above is the foolproof way to know you've got clearance. 2 full revolutions (easier with the plugs out).

Now, it's been about a million years since I owned a sohc Fiat, but I thought the timing mark for the cam was on the tin that the belt cover attaches to, and the cam wheel has the hash mark in the backside of the pulley to match. I may be totally wrong though, it's been a long time.

Xweb would know, or www.mirafiori.com or www.flu.org also could answer you definitively.

AngryCorvair wrote: I have nothing to add other than Welcome Back. I hope you are well.

Thanks Pat.

Thanx for the inputs. After looking at the Yugo pulley and reading about the differences between the 1300 and the 1500 I figured it wouldn't work. I figured I'd stick to plan B, used the one that came with the car. I backed the crank up about 90 deg from TDC and cranked the cam around until the #1 intake closed and was about 1/2 between it opening the exhaust:

I read somewhere today that the timing mark on the 1300 cam should be in the up position in regards to the motor. My scratch and dent (marked in silver) was in what I'd consider an up position:

I put the crank at TDC and installed the belt. I cranked it by hand (plugs out) and felt no mechanical resistance other than the valve springs. I think I'll try it on the starter tomorrow...

Good luck with the motor!

Welcome back! Nice to see you again!!

the mark on the cam pulley is miner. From the pix you posted you need the back plate that holds the timing belt cover in place. I have one and a pulley if you like you may have them for the shipping. they are still on the eng it has 50k and it free. ill see if i can make a card board marker for you.

That'd be cool, JP. I don't think it was on the car when I bought it. The belt had broke and someone installed a new one, but the valves were bent. They never put it back together 100%. I'll PM you.

Is it weird that when I saw Yugo for some reason I ignored the rest of the title and thought this was about SKS's?

I'm with Pat. I have no idea, but nice to see you back, Dave! Hope all is well.

Welcome back, frankenstang!

It's been a lng time since I did an SOHC Fiat, but IIRC at TDC on 1 you draw a line through the center of the crank and the cam and the mark goes at the top of the line. Like this:

Hehe, it runs... Thanx guys! More to follow.,