TDC with the heads removed.

I have a 2.7L 99 Tacoma Prerunner. Had issues with cylinder misfire and had mechanic help me replace head. He left it timed incorrectly and never returned to finish the job. i could not use any of the timing marks since everything was installed incorrectly (chain no 1 and no 2) cams and pulleys don’t line up at all.

So I’m starting from zero. I removed everything from my engine bay and stripped all the goodies. Got a new timing chain kit but never found TDC while the head was on. (Dumb I know)

I need to find TDC with the heads removed as I have decided to take on this task myself. Any tips??

 

With the head off, rotate the crank until the #1 piston is at the top of its stroke and you will be close enough to TDC to install head and cams. Once you go to install timing gears and chain, you'll dial everything it in to get the timing dead on.

To more specifically answer your question, with the head off it's at TDC is when the #1 piston, which is the one closest to the timing chain, is at the top of its stroke. You can confirm it's at TDC by setting the timing chain cover in place and slipping the crank pulley onto the crank and verifying that the mark in the pulley aligns with the mark on the timing chain cover. With the head off, intake stroke vs exhaust stroke is not applicable because the stroke is determined by which valves are open and closed and the valves are in the head and the cams open/close them, and neither are on the engine at this stage.

 

@Beer:30 dude thank you!!! You just made my life so much easier. I’ve been stressing trying to find any info only regarding that issue.

 

What about the ignition distributor (if equipped)? The TDC in compression stroke must be aligned with distributor pointing to the #1 cyl. Or I am overthinking this?

 

When you install the distributor you install it with the rotor pointing at #1. Not pointing at the cylinder but where the #1 wire goes to the cap. Most caps will have that marked.

 

Not pointing at the cylinder but where the #1 wire goes to the cap.

 

Does the 99 even have a Dizzy?

 

No it does not.
95-97 3RZ has distributor
98-00 3RZ has 2 coils with plug wires
01-04 3RZ has coil on plug

 

Did the mechanic use the service bolt in the exhaust camshaft gear when he removed it? Otherwise, it will throw off the marks on the exhaust gear and the valve timing.