Finding top dead center on 2.0 engine

[Lockwodo]

Hi all. I'd prefer not to pull off a valve cover, so my plan is to hook up my compression gauge to the #1 cylinder, crank the engine until the cylinder pressurizes, then manually adjust the flywheel until the rotor is pointing under the #1 plug on the distributor cap and the TDC timing mark on the flywheel is under the stationary notch.

Is there a simpler way?

[Nditiz1]

If the distributor is in and clocked correctly the rotor will face towards the fan shroud at TDC/#1 spark plug.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Your fan may have a "0" mark where TDC is. It will be visible (sort of) through the timing hole on top of the fan shroud. It will be toward the back of the fan, similar to how the timing mark is.

Your flywheel should have a notch in the edge which will be straight up when the engine is at TDC#1 (and #3). That can be visible from under the car if you use a good light and a mirror, or some folks apparently move or remove the rear engine tin to see it from the engine bay.

You can use a stiff wire through the spark plug hole to see when the piston stops moving upward. Don't use something that might break off in the combustion chamber, like a chopstick. (Don't ask.)

All of these will show that the piston has reached the top of its stroke, but that happens twice during a full cycle of the engine. As you mentioned, you need to either look at the rocker arms or the distributor rotor to check if the engine is at TDC for #1.

--DD

[Lockwodo]

Thanks Dave. So would this statement be correct: if the "0" mark on the fan is under the notch in the timing hole on top of the fan shroud, and the distributor rotor is pointing at or near to the #1 spark plug wire under the disty cap, then #1 is at TDC and there isn't any need to check the rocker arms or stick something down the spark plug hole to measure piston travel?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

That is correct, modulo any worries that the fan is marked incorrectly.

--DD