CPS Synchro Screw-up, Help

[NOLA '98Ranger]

Just changed my Camshaft Position Synchro and Sensor. Got everything back together and it runs like crap over 2500 rpm's. It runs fine at idle, though everything went fine, but when it goes over 2500 rpm's it starts jerking.

I think I didn't have it in the proper position for TDC. First time setting TDC on this truck. Felt for the exhaust air at the #1 piston, but the markings on the balancer where hard to read and I wasn't 100% sure about the positioning. There was a pre-existing white mark, so I went for it. A red flag should have gone off when taking off the CPS the tab wasn't aligned with the gap.

I did take a picture of the old CPS and Sychro before removing and marked the position. The install should have been in the same exact position.

How f#ck'd am I? Is this going to be a trial and error situation, trying to find the correct position for the CPS Sychro? Does anyone have a picture of TDC on the front of the engine, to help me locate TDC? This is what I really need. There were no good details of this in my manual. Which makes no sense, considering how important it is to find TDC.

Maybe it something entirely different, like I leaned on something that I wasn't supposed to while working on the truck. It's been done I'm sure.

Help me out guys. You've solved problems for me before. This is just the first time I couldn't find my answers in the archives.

 

[betomonroy]

Try a Haness manual on your truck at your local Autozoo. I goes for arround $20.00 and is worth it every dollar.

 

[TomB1269]

If you can confrim piston 1 is on the compression stroke you can remove the #1 plug and carefully use a screw driver (or finger if small enough) to feel for piston at top dead center as a freind turns engine by hand. (do not try to click with key while screw driver or like is in plug hole).

 

[NOLA '98Ranger]

Used a Haynes manual, and confirmed #1 at TDC with my finger while turning the crankshaft with ratchet.

I believe what I did was: Timing marks on balancer where not lined up properly, so the synchro was misaligned when it was taken off. Then new synchro was installed the correct way, making the timing off.

Going to give it another shot after I eat.

 

[NOLA '98Ranger]

Fixed it.

Well, we'll see once I drive a good bit. Idiot mistake. Started over from stratch. Lined up wrong marks on front of engine the first go around. Surprised it ran at all, wasn't even close. Oh well, lost a few hours of work today so I could come home and work on it.

 

[TomB1269]

Bad day wrenchin' on truck ................. better than a great day at work???