Best method for Top Dead Center. And HG

Hey i had a quick question. To get your number on piston to TDC is it really just as simple as turning the crankshaft with a ratchet until it gets to the little mark?

Also with a Head Gasket change. If i just keep the Timing belt tied up hanging from the hood with like a metal wire or something. And then i just put the Cam gears back on the same way i wont have to worry about retiming the engine or anything right?

Where do you go to do the signature?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/Jake30/userCP.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/Jake30/sig.jpg

Alright i got it so how about that answer now coolkids.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/Jake30/userCP.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/Jake30/sig.jpg
Jake is that your computer screen? it had a msn message and 4 aim messages all runnin at the same time. do you talk to all of them at the same time? pimp :sunglasse

I get on average 50 messages a day... Thats why I am some times on invisible. There was 15 messages going nuts and iI closed down 10 of them before I did that post, and that was at 2:30am when no one is on lol.

Like right now... Heres my screen.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/Jake30/message.jpg

Alright so uhhhh how about an answer now?

Alothough i do not own a non turbo and am not familiar at all with the 420a i found your answer. It was at the Vfaq.com page. It is under the 2G NT timing belt replacement. When you do the timing belt you set the engine to TDC so it tells you how to do it here:
http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G-NT.html

As far as your timing issues goes, i'll just let someone with experience with your motor answer that one. i've retimed a 4g63 and i got it right the first time, but im not sure what the 420a is like. when i did the head gasket on my 94 escort i tied the timing belt at the top so there was still tension on the bottom part of it. and i never had to take it off. i just marked a line on the belt and the cam sprocket to line it back up. but keep in mind that it was a single cam. you might also want to grab a haynes manual. for $16 its worth it.

Get the crank to the mark and the cam dowel pins at 12 oclock, and number one is at TDC. If you need true TDC, you need a piston stop. But thats unlikely, only needed for degreeing cams really ;)

What you are describing is called the "RRE method." You are right in thinking that the cam gears can only go on one way, so it will work. The trick though is to compress the tensioner so it doesnt expand on you. If it does you'll never get the cam gears back on. Trust me ;) If you dont have a 6 bolt in a 2g, you can use the tensioner tool described in the vfaq. A M8x1.25 threaded rod with a nut welded on works great too, or the vfaqs suggestion of tapping the battery hold down. I have used all 3 versions of that tool. Screw it in, compress the tensioner a quarter inch or so, pop the 17mm bolts on the cams (retorque to 70 ftlbs upon reassembly, I Actually prefer medium locktite and 60 pounds), and suspend the belt with a bungee cord or similar so it can't fall down. If it relaxes it will fall off the carnk sprocket, and wether or not it will end up still aligned is a crapshoot. The good news is its easy to check the timing when you are done, line up that mark, or the notch on the crank pulley with the TDC mark on the plastic cover (but that has been known to be off a bit), and make sure the cam gears are aligned per the vfaq (ALL FOUR marks on the cam gears line up). If the motor is in the car, check now how the alignment is and make sure its the same when you are done. If its off you'll have to tear it apart and do it the old fashioned way. If the motor is out of the car, or at least the tbelt cover is off, you can trust that mark in the seperator plate to be accurrate.

sigh i was needing to replace my timing belt and now kevin has all out crushed my ideas of doing it myself...i think i need to learn whatever lanuage it is hes speaking in.

Wow thanks guys i hope i get it all done and do it all right this weekend.