timing COMPLETELY retarded

[new240bee]

I bought a sohc 1990 240sx it has timing chain issues well i thought that was it turns out i open it and the ENTIRE timing of the whole engine is off not one thing lines up to spec when turned by hand i need to know whats the most simplistic way to align EVERYTHING along the way when i change the timing chain and complete sprockets gaskets and work my way from the inside out aligning everything CORRECTLY my main question at this point before i alogn the new chain and sprockets i wanna know how can i be 100% SURE that my cyl#1 piston is at tdc on compression stroke cause i think thats how u align the chain and sprockets first... right?? And if not please correct me i wanna make sure i dont F*@^ anything up when EVERYTHING is fully bolted back in to spec.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Just line up the TDC mark on the crank pulley with the dowel/mark on the timing cover. Pull your valve cover off (which you'll have to do anyway) and verify that the valves are all closed on cyl #1. That's top dead center on the compression stroke.

After that, your new chain will have marks on it that line up with corresponding marks on the sprockets. Should be fairly straight forward.

[centralcoaster33]

I recently found this article and it may help you. The pictures aren't working for me and I don't know how to fix that. It also mentions another writeup by AZHitman, so, maybe you can find that. Good luck.
ka24e-sohc-timing-chain-replacment-t220807.html

PS - if you haven't already, get your FSM and use it for stuff like this.