ok i need to get my motor at tdc. My buddy help me take the heads off the motor for my top end build. Well i asked then before we took it apart if we should put it to tdc he said no that it would be alright. Well i need to know how to turn the motor over to get it to tdc. Can i just bump the starter with a battery charger since there are wires disconnected i dont want to hook the battery up. or is there another way to get this motor to tdc thanks. sorry for the dumb questions.

 

take a piece of tape or something to make a mark like a felt marker and indicated a line that orients to where the #1 plug position is on the distributor housing and remove the distributor cap.

take off the valve cover driver side valve cover.

turn the motor over, either by bumping it with the starter or manually with a big socket on the crank bolt. You want to turn the motor over until the line on the balancer matches up with the "0" mark on the index plate AND the rotor is pointing to where the #1 postion is on the distributor cap.

Now, when it get it that way you could be at TDC or 180º out. TDC would be on the compression stroke and 180º out would be on the exhaust stroke so keep an eye on the valve rockers on the #1 cylinder. you want BOTH rockers to be in the down position while the balancer lines up with the index plate and the rotor points to the #1 position on the distributor cap (since the cap is off that's why you first mark an orientation mark.

 

the motor is already apart the heads are off of it and the dist. is out of it.

 

You should be able to stick 2 lifters in the #1 cylinder exh\int lifter bores. Rotate the motor until they are both seated all the way at the bottom of their bores. Line up your balancer and note that the piston is at the top of the bore. This should be TDC on compression because both valves would be closed if you had everything installed.

Wade

 

thanks for the replys

 

Bring #1 piston up to the top, watch the #1 lifters should be all the way down
Im pretty sure thats TDC
Is the timing chain cover off?

Im sure someone will chime in any minute now.

EDIT Someone beat me to it again

 

no timing cover is not off. Thats why i want to get the motor set at tdc so i can pull the balancer off and timing cover to get ready and change the cam.

 

I wouldnt worry about being at TDC if your going to change the cam shaft.
You already have all the info on how to set it to TDC now.

 

why is that. I thought that the motor had to be at tdc to set every thing up correct. I might be wrong though. Thats why i come here and ask the question.

 

You will set TDC when you put the cam in. For that you just line up the balancer with the 0 mark on the timing cover. When you put the cam gear on, you will set up TDC.

 

Well, you have to pull the timing chain/gears
Thats when you need to pay attention for TDC... on re-assembly

 

i gottcha thanks for the info

 

The timing gears have a circle and a dot
They need to be lined up upon installation, at this step it needs to be @ TDC

Im sure someone will pop in and clarify this a little better

 

TDC happens twice on a 4 cycle engine. The engine should rotate easy with the heads off. Put a socket on the balancer bolt and turn the engine over until the piston is at the top. Pull the timing cover. Either the timing 'dots' will be at 12 and 12, or at 12 and 6. If at 12 and 12, rotate the crank a full turn and they'll be at 12-6. I think it easier to align the dots this way since they are close together. If you get a timing set with 3 keyways on the crank gear make sure you use the appropiate mark. Once everything is back together, except for the distr, and the intial setting of the valves is done. Then drop in the distr at the correct orientation. Turn the engine over and watch the #1 valves. You should see the exhaust vavle open then close; the intake should open and then close. Keep turning the crank untill the balancer is at the 'zero'. Drop the distr in so the rotar is pointing at the #1 wire. As you drop it in it will rotate I believe clockwise. If it is not lined up, pull it back out and turn is back a tooth. The other is that the distr may not go all the way down if the slot on the oil pump is not aligned to the groove in the distr. Some people will use a screwdriver to align it. I will typically bump the starter and it will drop down.

 

nmm