Mitsubishi Repair: Engine Timing Belt, fiber scope, mitsubishi eclipse

Question
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Non Turbo 2.0L DOHC:
Thanks Anthony,
I started the car and heard a noise. Timing belt tensioner broken. I towed it to the shop for a timing belt. Quote $1100, couldn't afford it. Picked it after they had it all torn apart and paid them for their time. I did the timing belt by the book lining up the timing marks on the sprockets and the crankshaft. (Also did pulleys, water pump, tensioner, and seals) When the shop mechanics pulled the belt off they marked the position of sprockets different from the book, but I decided to go with book's directions (Chiltons). I started the car and it runs but it just isn't right. I looked at the valves with a fiber scope through the spark plug holes: no bent valves anywhere. Pulled everything apart, and the belt is still lined up properly by the book. Now I want to put it on with the markings the mechanics made but the marks are rubbed off. What should I do? I thought about pulling the valve cover and looking at the position of the rockers to see if I can get a fix on the timing...is it possible there are aftermarket cams on this POS; would the cams or crankshaft twist enough to really make a difference? How could I get the timing data? I can't find the angular cam timing for when the valves open and close anywhere. Could the timing be different from 'stock'? Any help greatly appreciated. Thx.

Answer
Bryan,
People that modify Eclipses typically do not upgrade their cams unless they have made several other more visible bolt-on upgrades.

The correct way the shop mechanics should have proceeded to changes the timing belt would have been to set the #1 cylinder to TDC, and then made the markings.   It may be necessary to remove your valve cover to set the cams yourself so all the valves are closed, then turn your crankshaft so your #1 cylinder is at TDC.  The Chiltons manual is pretty good as an instructional guide, though the link I'm providing below may give you some more guidelines to follow:
http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G-NT.html

See if that link provides any information that the Chiltons may have missed.  Once your timing is set properly, your engine should run smooth.  If the timing is set correctly, but you're still having problems, it is possible you could have damaged head components.
Good luck!