Trying to set timing on a 1992 mazda

I am showing a 2.5 engine in a Mazda truck, but its generally the same as a 2.3.
Its not supposed to be an interference engine, so no damage should have occured when the belt broke. Its possible the cam gear is 180 degrees off, but if the marks are lined up by the book it should be correct. Its very possible the marks are a few teeth off since the cam gear can move when the tensioner is released.
Checking compression on all 4 cylinders will tell you if the valves are in the right place.

Is it possible to turn the distributor shaft 180 degrees and reinstall the dist ?
I am assuming you have spark at the plugs, just not at the right time ?
If the distributor has not been moved, and the rotor points to the wrong wire, you could have put the cam gear in upside down ?

you replaced the lifters? why? the engine is out of time, the cam position determines if its on compression stroke or not. you may have bent valves, if not you are lucky. the cams have pins to hold them in time and then the chain is installed with crank on #1 tdc (keyway up). if all is lined up correctly and it doesnt have compression, you have bent the valves. Water pump replacement is not a job for a DIY.

Why remove the gears? No need to. Just be sure they are clean of any belt residue. The gears are locked in the correct position for the shafts.
You need to rotate the gears to position the shafts (Crank and Cam) to the correct position before installing the belt. Follow the instructions that should have come with the belt. Usually need to line up some marks on the gears to marks on the engine case for the valve timing to work right.
Pull the spark plugs so you can turn the crankshaft easier (BY HAND ONLY) Mark the wires to reinstall correctly. I did this a long time ago. Seem to remember pointing the mark on one gear to the mark on the other gear. Use a straight edge to line up the two. Dont take this as gospel.
Good luck.

I cant find a picture to show you, but if you rotate the engine until #1 is at TDC there should be a timing mark on the crankshaft gear that lines up with a pointer and the cams should have marks that line up also. Most of the time there is a molded line in the cam gear and it lines up with a molded slot in the plate behind the gear at the 12 O'clock position.

I'd be looking at waterpump, belt that drives waterpump and/or fan clutch/

hi, normally the camshafts have a timing GROOVE at the back. if you select a suitable length of flat bar and place into the GROOVE. you will also need to TIME UP the CRANKSHAFT and INJECTION PUMP. these can MOVE and DAMAGE WILL OCCUR.

the camshafts are marked IN and EX

p.s. you did not give a YEAR or PETROL / DIESEL or TYPE. gerry

you should have timing marks that are lined up on your engine. You have your crank to line up at a certain point as well as the two cams. I don't know off the top of my head where these might be for this car but you can find it in a Haynes or Chilton manual if you so desire to also learn more about your overall car and take care of this or i can find these specs and send them your way. Up to you?

well not sure exactly why it wont line up use something to turn the crank and cam to appropiate position start sliding crank gear until cam gear is touching then start to push both at same time make sure your crank key and cam pin are bothin place On many OHV pushrod engines, the crankshaft sprocket is installed on the crankshaft nose and the crankshaft is rotated to position piston #1 at TDC. At this point, a mark stamped onto the crankshaft sprocket is pointing directly upward (toward the camshaft).
The camshaft sprocket is then temporarily bolted to the cam and used to rotate the cam until a mark stamped on the cam sprocket is pointing directly downward (toward the crankshaft). The sprocket is then removed from the cam (without allowing the cam to rotate).
The timing chain is looped over the cam gear, the mark on the cam gear is positioned directly downward, and the chain is looped around the crankshaft sprocket. When the cam sprocket is attached to the cam, the timing marks on the crank and cam sprockets should be pointing toward one another.