FOR THE DIY MECHANIC - WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

TDC - Top Dead Center can be confusing. There are TWO points of TDC for every cylinder. One on compression when the gasses are compressed, and on exhaust when the spent gas is pushed out of the cylinder.

TIMING SETS - are installed on EXHAUST TDC where the top gear indentation is down and the bottom gear indentation is up. So that they are facing each other.

DISTRIBUTOR - is installed on COMPRESSION TDC where both indentations are pointed straight up at 12 o'clock.

OIL PAN and GASKET - The oil pan CAN be removed without touching the engine mounts. However, the engine must be on EXHAUST TDC. In this position, the journals are out of the way, the pan will slide right out.