timing chain

[gremlin]

I'm doing my timing chain on my 95 240SX KA24DE. Anyway, I put the new chain in, started it up and now it dosen't start. I checked and I have no spark. I'm pretty confident that I put the chain in wrong. I lined up the top timing marks, but I didn't see one on the idler gear. Am I supposed to use the keyway as a mark? I'm confused. Also, I read in one of the threads that there can be 2 TDC on the #1 piston. How do you tell which one is the right one so the timing isn't 180 degrees off? I put everything on the #1 piston(distributor, rotor, crankshaft pully marks). Help!!!

[gremlin]

Sorry about the extra reply, but I forgot to add this. When I lined up the distributor marks, the distributor won't go in all the way. There was about 1/2 inch or so before the housing touched the engine. I had to turn it a little to the right, push in, and then back to the left again while pushing and it went in. This dosen't seem right. Why didn't it go straight in and what can I do to fix this? Thanks

[aznpoopy]

that's normal. the teeth on the end of the distributor are not straight. you have to turn it to go in.

to make sure you are at TDC for piston #1, you can stick something into the cylinder and make sure its at the top of its stroke, or open the oil filler cap and look at the cam lobes. they should be pointing outwards and away from each other.

[gremlin]

that's normal. the teeth on the end of the distributor are not straight. you have to turn it to go in.

to make sure you are at TDC for piston #1, you can stick something into the cylinder and make sure its at the top of its stroke, or open the oil filler cap and look at the cam lobes. they should be pointing outwards and away from each other. Thanks. Well here's the thing though. I took off the camshafts and then like a dumbass I turn the crank without the them in. Can I just put the #1 piston at TDC and then install the cams in pointing away from each other like they should be?

[aznpoopy]

i've never made that error before, so i can't be sure. but i don't see why not.

[seanc]

yes put number one cylinder at TDC and be sure the timing marks line up. then install the cams so that the lobes on #1 point out away from each other and put the chain on being sure all the marks line up. and yes the dizzy uses helicul cut gears so it must be slightly turned to go all the way in.

[tre]

Easiest way and most certain way to make sure you're at the top of the COMPRESSION stroke. Take off your valve cover. Watch the TDC mark on the crank pully. When the intake cam opens/shuts. Watch for the TDC mark the crank pully. THEN your cams should look like this. (ty JWT)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/SSRtre/proof004.jpg

Disregard the bottom picture (far right) Sorry the picture is sideways.

If you only took your gears off to replace the chain and left teh shafts. Hopefully everything is kosher.

I had a bitch of a time firing up my engine when i put it in. I had ignition timing right the first time but didnt want to "fire" up. It was ready but it needed to build compression (i was a moron and redid timing). I was off 180degrees ignition timing 4 times >.<

[gremlin]

Thanks ya'll !