sohc cam position

[asianami]

I'm changing the timing chain on a 90 sohc ka24de. I rotated the engine to tdc (approximately) when I took the valve cover off the cam gear's notch was pointing slightly to the right and the dot was almost at a 90 to the top position... (the dot was at 3:00) the cam slipped slightly so I think I put the chain on a tooth or two off... but when I look at all the pics of sohc timing post's they say the dot should be at the 12:00 position... the engine idles (barely so the timing is off). when I put everything back together I made sure the distributer and rotor lined up right. (yes I marked it) everything is put back exactly how I took it off. what is going on? tdc means the #1 piston is at the very top... (full compression right?) if I put the dot on the cam at 12 00 then the #1 piston is in the middle. what is going on with this...

[s13sr20chris]

ok, forget where the marks point. when you put the chain on the shiny links must be lined up with the dots. thats all that really matters.