Engine ran like crap, timing marks dont line up
 

Took my 924s to the shop to have the timing belts and waterpump replaced. The repair guys who have been working on cars since 1977 say that the timing marks dont match up. With piston 1 set to top dead center, the flywheel is off a few inches from the specified mark. It looks like the flywheel was taken off and put on 1 bolt off from where it originally was. There should be a pin that allows the flywheel to go in only 1 way but if this pin was removed from the engine it can be put in any way possible. Question if this is true how can the engine run at all? It ran like crap before this but still how can it run?

how many bolts hold the flywheel on?

If it is 6 then that means it would be off 60 degrees? I don't see how that is possible.

?????

I would question this further. Seems fishy

Speedy:)

It looks like 8 bolts so it would be off 45 degrees.

I think there would be major valve/piston spanking happening there.

Anybody else?

Speedy:)

they may have been working on cars for 30 years, but how long have they been working on 944s?

They may be reading the timing marks wrong. Have them show you their factory service manual before you believe them.

Your car will not run with the flywheel in the wrong position.

hmmm
 

Lets think of this scenario though , what if the timing was correct but someone removed the flywheel had it machined and put it back on wrong. Are you positive the car would not run? Why?

Yep, positive.

The ignition timing would be wrong, unless they removed and relocated the TDC pin on the rim of the flywheel.

Of course, idiot mechanics might even figure out how to do that.