Probably a very dumb question but hopefully I won’t get flamed.

I’m starting to put together my rebuilt LQ9, and while checking the timing chain I noticed my dots are not lining up. The company that put together the short block said the piston was set at TDC, but it looks to me like I need to rotate the crank just a smidge so that Everything will line up, or I’m supposed to be lining up the “0” instead of the dot.

I started to rotate it around but then stopped and decided I may need someone who knows more about these engines than me. Of course it’s Saturday and the company is closed, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Looks like it's going to line up just right to me.......
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LOL

 

When you put the "0" keyway in the sprocket onto the crank key, the dot should be the mark you use.

Check for exact #1 or #6 TDC with a dial indicator. With the crank at the right spot the cam & crank dots should be together, since both #1 and #6 are at TDC then; butt it's at #6 firing, not #1. After 1 exact full turn of the crank, the dots will both be at 12:00, and that instance of #1 & #6 TDC will be #1 firing.

 

Put a dial indicator on the No. 1 or use a piston stop to determine exact TDC and then see if those dots don't line up perfectly. Cannot eyeball exact TDC as there's dwell time to consider here.

 

Do I need a big timing wheel for this? I have tons of dial indicators.

 

Nope; just a dial indicator.

 

Looks good to me. There’s slack in that timing chain…turn the crank back a hair and it will be lined up. It’s definitely not a tooth off.

 

No timing wheel necessary, looks good to me as is and my thinking is that when you find TDC on 1 or 6 those dots will line up.