Posted by Bill Bowes on September 11, 1998 at 22:00:11:
In Reply to: E12 Head/Valve Timing posted by Ted Burton on September 10, 1998 at 16:16:59:
Lower End:
Set engine to Top Dead Center. with the Head off, Piston 1 will be at the top of it's travel. There is a mark on the front engine cover, and this will be aligned with a mark on the crankshaft pulley damper.
Head:
The head is at top dead center when both valves for Piston 1 are closed. However! The cam shaft has two large indentations in it, four bolt holes, and a dimple.
Looking straight at the engine from the front of the car, at top dead center, Piston 1 valves should be closed, a bolt hole should be at 12:00 position (remember the engine is at an angle, so 12:00 is as if the engine was standing straight up and down, but it will be at an angle). There is a flat spot on the front of the head too.
There should be a large round indentation at 11:00, a bolt hole at 9:00, a dimple at around 7-8:00.
Align the cam sprocket with the cam shaft, making sure the dimple aligns up. Bolt it down, and it should be aligned just fine. Don't move the engine much until the distributor is installed.
If you are off a link or two the engine may run, but not well, but this should work ok for you.
Get a Haynes manual.
Bill Bowes