Started my cam swap....
 

What size is the big bolt on the harmonic balancer? When finding TDC, is the "finger on the sparkplug hole" method sufficient, or should I buy a screw-in, positive stop locator?

the harmonic balancer bolt is 15/16 I think.... as for the TDC... you can use a combination of your finger or even just a flash light to LOOK iin there... if you pull the valve cover you'll be able to just see the valve if it's open or closed and that willl give you an idea if you're on compression stroke or not... the balancer only goes on ONE way, so you'll know if your at TDC with that... then it's just a matter of which stroke...
-as

The easiest way to find top dead center when swapping you cam us just make sure your timing marks on the timing set are lined up and then you are at top dead center of the power stroke period because that is the only time they line up.

Chunky : Thanx.

Shaggy : Do the marks ONLY line up for the #1 cylinder, or for each cylinder on the compression stroke?

that's true, forgot about that.... when you put in the cam, there's going to be a DOT or maybe a triangle on the timing sproket of both the cam and the crank. The sprockets will only go on ONE way so when both sprokets are on, you'll have to turn the crank to face UP and turn the cam to face down, so those dots or triangles face each other. At that point you've set your cam timing. According to Shaggy your number one shoudl be a TDC on the compression. I'm sure he's right, I just dont remember it myself. So with that if you dont move anything you can slap your distributer back in with the rotor facing #1 and you're good to go.

You asked about the marks lining up. The balancer has marks on it that are allways relative to the NUMBER 1 cyl. That's the cyl at the passenger FRONT of the engine. Cyl 1 goes up and down once for every crank rotation. So if it's comming up on the exhaust stroke, next time it's coming up on compression. So when yo're trying to find TDC for cyl 1, when your balancer's mark for TDC is lined up with the metal pointer thing you've got TDC, though to tell if it's the compression or exhaust stroke you'll need to check the valves.
-as

They only line up relitive to number one.

my god people, all you have to do is pull the distributor cap, and make sure it's pointed to #1, and then reference that with the balancer 0, of course do this before pulling the balancer, then start tearing into it.

rotor pointing to #1 cyl.
 

:p I was just getting to say the same thing! No need to pull valve covers, etc. :confused: Put the balancer to TDC and make sure the rotor is pointing to #1.

I think that the reason they are talking about the valve covers is to check wether or not it is on the compression stroke or exhaust stroke. But I must agree, just put the balancer on "0" and pop the cap to check and see where it sits. But in all reality, the balancer is the only thing you need to check if you are changing the cam. You have to reset the timing anyways when you install the new cam.

Thanx everyone
 

This all might be common sense to some of you, but this is my first time going into a motor. I'm sure I'm not the only "virgin" on this board either. What I'm saying is, sometimes it's good to get this info out for the novices. Especially to keep the hobby and sport thriving. And also as a refresher for more experienced guys. Well, I'll get off my soap box now. Thanx again guys!

omar, i wasnt insenuating that reply at you at all, i just thought my opinion was an easier way than the first reply, i mean the #1 is marked there for you, also, it helps to have a haynes maual on hand for a 1st timer, well, sometimes i have to look at mine to see which way accesories go on after doing it already twice.:)

I wished i would have asked more question like this the first time i pulled the motor apart, but all went well in the end, and after several trips to autozone.

No offense taken, sorry if I came off like that. I just like to learn as much as possible before trying something. I know alot of you guys have valuable knowledge from experience (some things the manuals and books don't tell you), and I like to pick your brains. You know what they say: Knowledge is Power !!!