Cant seem to post pictures here but hopefully my explanation will suffice.

Installing a new timing set, dots are crank gear at 12 and the cam at 6, I notice that these seems to put the engine at TDC every time (on the #1 piston ) and Im assuming its on compression stroke, ( since both valves are closed ) am I correct?

Does this pretty much sum it up for any engine...I mean I know that they are not all at 12 and 6 some are at 12 and 12 but if the dots are lined up correctly is it a guarantee every time that your at compression/firing for the #1 cylinder?

Thanks

Depends on what you're working on. There are some mfgs that do fire cyl #1 with dots at 12 and 6(crank and cam), but mopar and chevy v-8's are firing cyl #1 with both dots at 12 oclock.

The engine isn't on a compression stroke till you install the cam. If you install it 12/6 or 6/6 or 12/12 it's either on a compression or an exhaust stroke but till the cam is put in it don't matter.

Ah I see so would it be safe to say that if the dots are lined up ( however they are supposed to be lined up ) that all typical engines any one of us normal people would be working on ( not talking exotic whatever ) that it would be on compression stroke on the # 1 cylinder?

Cams already installed, I mentioned both valves closed

If the cam is installed with the dots properly lined up then yes, it will be on the compression stroke. Get the dots wrong and it will be on the exhaust stroke and you'll be wondering why it doesn't start.

with the dots at 12/6, #1 and #6 pistons will be at TDC (or close enough for this discussion) but #1 is on overlap (valves open) & #6 is on compression, valves closed (ready to fire). Back up the dampener a bit to ~18 BTDC & line up the magnet with a reluctor tooth (rotating the housing) so that the rotor is under the #6 cap plug wire terminal & you're all set on that part.

excellent, thanks

got it

On all early(pre 2000) Mopar V8 when you align the crankshaft dot at 12 O clock and the cam dot at 6 O clock you are in the over lap cycle, stroke, of the camshaft, not on the firing stroke of the crankshaft. # 6 cylinder is on the firing stroke when #1 cylinder is in the overlap stroke
Two revolutions of the crankshaft for one revolution of the cam shaft on Mopar V8 four stroke motors

Dots lined up, #6 firing.

So just to confirm whats being said is that assuming the dots are lined up between the crank and cam gears that the dist. should be dropped in and rotor lined up to fire on the # 6 cyl?

That would get you close enough to get the engine started?

Does that ( again) pertain for most common engines?

Yes. But I would roll it around and get the timing mark on the damper where you want the initial timing. Say, 16 BTDC or whatever. Then before you drop in the dist. look at the clocking of the intermediate shaft down in the dist. hole. It should be very close to North and South in the engine. If it's not, make it so. Take a big flat head screwdriver and twist it CCW and it should disengage from the cam gear and you can rotate it so when it drops back down the slot in the gear is parallel with the cam. The gear will turn the intermediate shaft when it goes in so you have to be "in front" of where you will end up. Mark the #1 terminal on the dist. cap down to the body of the dist. Drop the dist. in without the cap. Make the rotor point at your mark and loosely tighten the dist. clamp. Put the cap on and check 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 COUNTER clockwise on a big block. On a factory type dist. with a vacuum can, the can should point up towards the intake and #1 should be close to about the 5 o'clock position when looking from the pass. side of car. This is a big block?

Thanks, actually right now Im putting together a SB Ford and Im glad I was able to play around with this before I move onto my Mopar engines, given me alot to think about and time to take advantage of getting some questions answered.