m20 timing 180 deg. out?

[Mike]

If you have your block set at TDC, using the lower timing cover notch, and you have your cam gear set at its mark, and your balancer lines up with its notch, should cylinder #1, or cylinder #6 be on overlap?

[backtrail69]

Line up the head and the block at the TDC marks.

[whodwho]

Not on overlap but lobes down and rockers loose.

[Mike]

Ignition rotor at TDC should be at 11 oclock, or 5 oclock?

[whodwho]

Don't go by the rotor, there will be a notch on the cam sprocket and a line on the head that line up.

[Mike]

I understand, but I searched, and found some topic that basically the crank rotates 2:1 per cam rotation., and that you can in affect, get the spark to occur on the exhaust stroke....get it?

[whodwho]

It does turn twice the cam but with the crank is on it's mark Cyl #1 is on TDC and with the cam on its mark the dist rotor can only point to Cyl #1 on it's compression stroke.

[Tree18is]

make sure!!!!!!!!!!!!! you tighten the timing belt adjuster screw! and crank the engine over twice by hand.. and make sure you belt doenst stretch or move the tensioner.. mine did..
now I need a head.
k cool bye.

[whodwho]

Not on overlap but lobes down and rockers loose.

To clearify your Q, didn't see you were asking on 1 or 6, this would be for Cyl #1

[whodwho]

make sure!!!!!!!!!!!!! you tighten the timing belt adjuster screw! and crank the engine over twice by hand.. and make sure you belt doenst stretch or move the tensioner.. mine did..
now I need a head.
k cool bye.

Actually you do want to leave the tensioner loose so that the spring of the tensioner puts the proper tension on the belt as you turn it the two revs(in the correct rotation never backwards) - recheck your marks and tighten the tensioner.

[nando]

TDC on #1 and #6 are the same. 180/360 doesn't matter, all that matters is that the marks on the cam and crank match.

[nando]

I understand, but I searched, and found some topic that basically the crank rotates 2:1 per cam rotation., and that you can in affect, get the spark to occur on the exhaust stroke....get it?

no, it doesn't matter. see my post.