TDC Shortcut?

[drewusmaximus]

Hi all, Is there a way to Quickly set the engine to TDC with the valve cover off? I need to set to TDC so I can loosen the rocker arm and slide to the side to pull off the push rod.

Thanks in advance!

[themadscientist]

pull the plug on #1 and put a long screwdriver in the hole and slowly rotate the engine and watch the screwdriver handle. It will get to the top and start to drop back down. Move it back and forth until you find the true high point. Why is using the timing marks not the way to go?

[drewusmaximus]

I'm not familiar with the timing marks. I saw a video on youtube that a guy was fixing the tensioner and he marked two parts of the chain, along with the cam gear that he said would put the engine on TDC but, I don't want to risk marking the wrong part of the chain. I assume the different color of a couple of links on the timing chain are the ones you mark? He had to rotate the cam 17 times to get it on TDC. I also read about the screwdriver method, I wanted to verify the easiest way but accurate. Timing is something I'm not really good at and the last thing I want to do is screw up the timing.

[themadscientist]

Ah, I got you now. All the screwdriver thing does is tell you the cylinder in question is at the top. The piston will do that at two points, at the top of the compression stroke and the top of the exhaust stroke. TDC is the top of the compression stroke right before the plug fires. If the chain has slipped off the crank gear and you aren't sure which stroke you are on, check and see where the rotor in the distributor is clocked. If the piston on #1 is at the top AND the rotor is oriented towards #1 on the distributor, you are at TDC.

You have an 89 according to your info, so single cam, right> Here are the timing marks.

[drewusmaximus]

Thanks for the explanation! I appreciate that! Since I can't see the oil pump gear because I have the timing chain cover on, I will reference the timing by using the screw driver, Cam sprocket, and the distributor.
Here's the thing... I heard what sounded like a rattle in all RPMs. It's not the tensioner because I verified. So I assume it's a lifter so, I pulled the valve cover off. All the rockers are nice and tight, except for two on the intake side that are compressed. So I assumed the lifter might be stuck but, someone here said it might be the exhaust manifold. Sure enough, there are two bolts missing right under the valve cover on the exhaust side. So, to avoid messing with the rockers and lifters, I want to verify from someone that the rockers' positions are normal based on the pic below. If they are, then I can focus on the exhaust bolts and see if that is what's making the tapping sound.
Can anyone verify that my valve train looks normal?
I would appreciate it so I can move forward as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance!