If you didn`t pull the camshafts on the other bank and you didn`t touch the tensioner on that side, that`s fine, you can safely rotate the crankshaft if both camshafts are pulled on that bank you are working on.
So that`s a good thing you didn`t jump on the engine and pulled apart both banks before locking the crankshaft at TDC.
On the other hand, before you proceed, I would recommend to take a break and read all the available source of information regarding setting the timing on this engine. Based on the questions you ask I think you need to spend some time on understanding what you are doing. No offense. There are lots of good articles on the web, good threads on this forum that can help you. If you are not familiar with this job at all you can cause damage to the engine easily, or you can pull the engine apart again after you finish.
This is a boxer (flat) engine, so timing is not as trivial as it is on an in-line 4. To answer your question: depends on which bank you are working on, 1-3 or 4-6. Crankshaft`s speed is double of the speed of the camshafts, basically when the crankshaft is at TDC, cylinder 1 and cylinder 4 are both at TDC, but in different strokes. This means that the camshafts corresponding to the opposing cylinders are 180 degree offseted with respect to each other. This also means that when you are working on one bank you need to know where the camshafts are at on the other bank, since they need to be offseted by 180 degrees. If you set the camshafts on both banks to TDC, you won`t have piston-to-valve contact but your engine won`t work. So the correct procedure is to set the crank at TDC, adjust the camshafts to TDC on one bank, then rotate the crankshaft 360 degrees, and adjust the camshafts to TDC on the other bank. So, if your crankshaft is at TDC, and your camshafts on the oppoosite side (NOT on the one you are working on) is 180 degrees off TDC, then you can lock down your camshafts at TDC.
A few other notes:
- using special tools is highly recommended, will make your life much easier. If you don`t use clamp tools you can break the camshafts. They are made of very rigid steel tubes. A Chinese full engine tool set is around $80 on Amazon.
- torquing down the bolts to spec is critical. Most 6mm bolts need relatively low torque, which means they are easy to break.
- It matters how much sealant you apply and where to avoid leaks or what is worse, getting sealent inside the oil lines.
Start with these links and try to download a factory manual. Wayne`s book is free online, he has an article about timing as I recall, with lots of pictures.
Good luck!
Project NUTROD
http://986forum.com/forums/show-tell-gallery/73917-blue-boxster-resurrection-project-3.html
Boxster
Hybrid Mode
