I need help setting to tdc on my ka24e

[christiantsuji]

i have a single cam ka and the head timing, timing cover, timing chain, and everything else is out besides the block.
how do i know if my cams and my head is set at tdc?
for the cams do i just set it to a 12 oclock position?
and for the crank how can i find out if its on tdc compression stroke?

[jza80king]

[quote="christiantsuji"]i have a single cam ka and the head timing, timing cover, timing chain, and everything else is out besides the block.
how do i know if my cams and my head is set at tdc?
for the cams do i just set it to a 12 oclock position?
and for the crank how can i find out if its on tdc compression stroke?[/quote]

So you DONT have the timing chain on right now? Just wanted to clarify, to see if I can help, even though I had a dual cam motor. On my DE motor, I just turned the crank pulley by hand with a big socket and lined up the indicator marking on the crank (off the top of my head it was the 2nd from the left marking) with the needle, I am not sure if that is the same with a single cam KA but you can also refer to the FSM here on the site free for download. When I was at TDC on my ka24DE the cams were in the 9ish oclock (intake side) and 3 oclock (exhaust side). As for seeing if you are on the compression stroke I used a little piece of tissue and turned the crank and when it was on compression it would blow the tissue up. Once I knew it was on compression stroke, I used a long screw driver and inserted it into the spark plug hole of the 1st piston and carefully turned it until it reached it's peak. Once it reached peak, I checked the crank marking and it was in line with the needle. Hopefully that makes sense.