tried again but levering rear of cam with screwdriver through oil pump hole... no cigar. I lubed gear. no cigar. I honestly don't know what the hell is going on. everything is out.

would have to be pretty gutsy to smash cam gear on while cam is in. Would not be worth the risk i don;t think. I really wanna hit this pile of shit with a hammer!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I can feel journals lining up with bearings and then as soon as cam gear starts to mesh with crank gear it just stops dead. the fact that cam stops travelling inwards when it meshes may mean that journals are still not lining up though?

i might press cam gear off and then try and see how it marries up with existing crank gear. maybe I have the wrong gears.