Timing marks to remove head

Hi Deanna,here's a Autozone repair guide link on removing your head. Repair Guides Engine Mechanical Components Cylinder Head AutoZone com

I can't remember if the j21 has a single or twin cams, but here is a solution if you haven't taken the old timing chain off yet.
Take off the timing cover and the camshaft cover. Remove all spark plugs. Place a wire (welding rod or a piece of an old wire coat hanger) into the n;umber one plug hole - this is the plug for no. 1 cylinder, the cylinder nearest the radiator.
Turn the engine until the exhaust valve just closes and the intake valve just opens. This is referred to as the valves "rocking". At this point the wire should be right at the top of the piston stroke, and the number one piston is timed to take in gas on the down stroke, that is, the intake stroke.
At this point you should see the timing marks on the timing gears and their relationship to one another. The marks are either dots on the gear teeth, or marks on the camshaft which line up with marks on the cylinder head. These marks line up when the crankshaft is at top dead center, which is the position you turned the crank to while feeling the position of the piston with the wire.
I wish you well, good luck.

Timing the Cam to the Crank

There are several ways to time the cam to the crank. Be sure to check the manual before you install the timing chain or belt.

• Some timing sprockets are properly timed when the marks face each other.
• On others, there must be a certain number of chain links between the marks.
• Sometimes chains have colored links that must be aligned with the marks on the sprockets.
• Some overhead cams have a mark on the cam gear that lines up with a mark on the cylinder head when the timing mark on the damper is at the TDC mark.

Align the timing marks for the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets before removing the timing belt or chain.

If the old parts are available, carefully compare the new gears or sprockets with the old ones. Check the keyway and timing marks just in case there might have been an error made in manufacturing. Sprockets are sometimes stamped backward. Its much better to find the problem during assembly, rather than waiting until problems show up after reassembly and reinstallation.

Maintaining Valve Timing

During a valve job, it is essential to keep the timing chain or belt in place to maintain correct valve timing. Position the number one cylinder at TDC. Some overhead cam engines use a single long chain for a cam drive. The chain can be wedged against its guides with a tapered block of wood.
the chain tensioner on some ohc engines must be wedged to keep the chain in position during cylinder head removal. courtesy of nissan motors.

Some engines have a lower and upper chain. These engines do not require special attention to wedging the chain. Be sure to look for hidden head bolts and check the repair manual before removing the OHC head.

• Hi Ronald, Get ready for a lot of work! The first thing is to clean the engine of all dirt and contaminants that may cause damage when the head id removed. When the engine is cold disconnect the battery. Remove the air cleaner ducting and housing and then drain the coolant from the radiator and engine block. The coolant drain plug on the engine block sometimes becomes corroded so be careful and if it is too tight leave it. Get yourself some masking tape and mark all the relevant electrical connections before removing them. If your engine is the type with timing gears turn it to Top Dead Center (TDC) and once set leave it. If it has a timing belt remove the front plastic timing cover and look for and identify the match marks for valve timing. If you can't see them make your own marking the TDC positions of the camshaft in relation to the cylinder head, (This may save you a lot of pain and suffering later) If the engine is diesel, identify or match mark the timing gear in relation to Crank Shaft and Cam Shaft. Remember the body of the injector pump when turned is also an adjustment so match mark the pump body to the engine. With a diesel, mark the pipes and make a sketch of where each pipe fits onto the distributor type pump. (Do not bend the pipes) If it's a petrol engine mark the position of each of the HT plug leads, remove the distributor cap and sketch the position of the rotor arm in relation to the cap. (In other words note which way it's facing. Remove the cap and the plug leads. mark all vacuum tubes for later reinstatement before disconnecting. Disconnect all electrical connections (Which you should have marked) Remove the tappet cover and clean the oil, which should be correctly taken care of. If the engine has a timing belt, loosen the tensioner bearing to its maximum adjustment and making sure that the timing marks are still aligned remove the belt. If it has a belt it will usually have overhead cam. If gears it will likely have a rocker shaft assembly and push rod operated valves. Begin to loosen these from the front and back working in to the center of the head. Loosen each bolt evenly, one turn at a time until the whole cam or rocker assembly is loose and can be removed. Keep in mind that up until this point certain valves will be open and under tension Once removed the the valves will then be fully closed. Remove the intake and exhaust manifolds, alternately loosening from each end working towards the center. Remove the radiator cooling hoses and ensure that bypass hoses are removed too. Make sketches of the fitting positions before removal. Closely inspect all areas where bolts and brackets may impede the removal, and if any remain, remove them. Careful inspection and recording will help you greatly during assembly. You are now ready to remove the cylinder head. Begin at the front of the engine by loosening the first bolt of the cylinder head and then go to the rear and loosen the bolt diagonally opposite. Follow the same loosening sequence working towards the center until all bolts are loosened. and then remove them. The cylinder head can now be removed. In the case of the engine being diesel powered, look at the outer edge of the gasket where you should see an indicator of the gasket thickness. This is very important when buying the replacement gasket (never reuse an old gasket) The thickness is in relation to the piston protrusion above the engine block and if the replacement is too thin, the valves will collide with the pistons during operation (which ain't very good for pistons or valves!) If the gasket is too thick the compression will not be achieved for maximum performance. I suggest that when the head is removed, after cleaning it should be taken to an engineering company for checking and if warped it should be lightly skimmed. The tightening sequence is opposite to removal, meaning begin at the center and work outwards. This applies to the cylinder head, manifolds and tappet cover. In fact not a bad idea for everything you apply a spanner or wrench to. Ps. Why do you want to take the head off? Just asking. Regards John
  

Ignition timing for tuneup should be 6 degrees BTDC measured with timing light And engine idling at 600 to 700 RPM, vacuum advance to distributor removed for setting timing. The timing light is set up with the trigger lead connected to the spark plug of cylinder number one which is the first cylinder form the front of the engine.

Be sure to remove the "SPOUT" connector first for an accurate baseline ignition timing. It will be in the vicinity of the ignitionmodule itself, it will hang out from the harness as 2 wires plugged into a small plastic piece. Remove for setting timing and replace when done.

The timing mark on the main pulley should be marked with chalk for visibility, and it should be algined with engine running with the casting behind that front pulley and to the left as you face the front of the engine. at between 6 and 10 degrees Before Top Dead Center. The casting is marked off with the degrees on either side of "TDC" and "before,"

The timing adjustment is made by loosening the clamp bolt that holds the distributor in the engine just enough to allow rotation of the distributor with some effort, but not much. Once timing has been set, retighten clamp bolt.


For cam timing when timing belt is replaced, the engine is rotated so piston on number 1 cylinder is at top dead center, the cam gear has a mark on it's edge for number 1 cylinder that aligns with an alignment mark cast in the head.

below are the instruction you well need to remove head .....good luck Removal Procedure

1. Remove the air cleaner element.
2. Remove the air cleaner outlet resonator. .
3. Remove the powertrain control module (PCM) and engine wire harness bracket and related hoses and connections.
4. Remove the generator.
5. Remove the intake manifold.
6. Remove the exhaust manifold. Do not remove the exhaust pipe from the manifold. Only have the manifold pushed off to the side of the engine.
7. Position the A/C line out of the way towards the front of the vehicle.
8. Disconnect the following cross-vehicle engine wiring harness connectors:
• Engine coolant temperature sensor • Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor • Ignition coils • Harness clamps at power steering pump • Wiring harness fastener at the right front inner fender • Throttle body • Camshaft sensors • Camshaft actuators • Fuel rail • Heated oxygen sensor (HO2S)
9. Set aside the cross-vehicle engine wiring harness on the left side of the vehicle.
10. Remove the camshaft cover.
    
11. Partially drain the cooling system.


12. Before performing one of the top dead center (TDC) procedures, break loose both the exhaust and intake camshaft sprocket bolts. Use a 25 mm (1 in) open end wrench on the camshaft hexes to hold the camshaft from turning. DO NOT remove the bolts.
13. Perform one of the following methods for the service timing procedure.
    
14. First Method--Rotate the engine clockwise by hand to TDC on the compression stroke by using a piston TDC indicator tool and/or dial indicator in the number 1 cylinder.
    
15. First Method (continued)--The TDC indicator tool graduation marks on the shaft should note top of the piston stroke.
    
16. First Method (continued)--When the piston is at TDC, the flats at the rear of the camshafts will be facing up and level when using a straight edge across the camshaft flats.
    
17. Second Method--Rotate the crankshaft in the engine rotational direction clockwise until the number 1 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke. The word Delphi on the exhaust camshaft position actuator will be parallel with the cylinder head to cam cover mating surface. When the piston is at TDC, the flats at the rear of the camshafts will be facing up and level when using a straight edge across the camshaft flats. A 0.005 inch feeler gauge should not slide under the straight edge (1).
    
18. Use a white paint pen or equivalent to place a reference mark on the harmonic balancer to the front cover for alignment purposes.
19. Lower the vehicle.
Important: If the timing is correct (TDC compression stroke number 1 cylinder), the camshaft flats will be in the up position.
Install J 44221 to the back of the camshafts.

20. Remove the upper timing chain guide to the cylinder head.
    
21. Clean the timing chain and gears with brake cleaner or suitable solvent. Use a white paint pen or equivalent to place a reference mark on both timing gear sprockets and the timing chain to mark location prior to disassembly. It is recommended that the paint marks be in the 12 o'clock position.


22. Install EN-48464 . It is important to install the tool with the proper orientation and to ensure that it is seated square against the timing chain and against the timing cover center bolt.



23. The narrow ramp of the wedge tool needs to be placed so that it faces the timing chain.
24. The wedge tool should be lightly seated using a couple of very light taps with a small plastic or brass hammer. The wedge tool will be fully seated against the tensioner after it moves about 25 mm (1 in).
25. Once the tool is correctly installed, unscrew the handle and remove the handle


26. Remove both upper cylinder head access hole plugs from the front of the cylinder head.
27. Remove the 1 long and 2 short cylinder head bolts next to the exhaust and intake timing chain tensioner shoes and discard the bolts.
28. Remove both upper timing chain tensioner shoe bolts.
29. Remove the exhaust and the intake camshaft sprocket bolts. Discard the bolts.



30. Carefully remove the exhaust and intake camshaft sprockets with the timing chain from the exhaust and intake camshafts. The illustration shows the exhaust camshaft sprocket already removed.



31. Remove the sprockets from the chain, tie a piece of mechanic's wire on the timing chain and let it drop.



32. Before removing the cylinder head bolts, use a drift punch and hammer to shock the bolts. This will ensure that the cylinder head bolts will not strip out the threads in the engine block or break. If a bolt breaks during engine disassembly, EN-47702 is available to assist in the removal of the remaining bolt segment.
    
33. Remove the cylinder head bolts. Discard the bolts.
    
34. Remove the cylinder head.
35. Place the cylinder head on a flat, clean surface with the combustion chambers face up, in order to prevent damage to the deck face.
    
36. Remove the cylinder head gasket.
Discard the gasket.

37. Remove all remaining gasket material from the engine block.
38. Inspect the cylinder head gasket mating surface on the engine block.
39. Clean and inspect the cylinder head.
40. Disassemble the cylinder head if necessary.

The 2.2 is known to "strip" the timing gear. The cam gear is made of a synthetic material. But...you could possibly have an injector bad on #1.

TDC is top dead center/ remove spark plug on cylinder no. 1/ rotate the crankshaft pulley using a socket wrench and power handle and check if the piston on your cylinder no. 1 reach the top center that is TDC/ remove timing belt cover and locate a synchronized marking on your camshaft and crankshaft pulley/ remove old timing belt/ install a new one but make sure that the mark on your camshaft and crankshaft is perfectly synchronized before putting the cover/ manually rotate the crankshaft pulley again and see if it rotates 360 deg. freely then you can be sure you did the job correctly.

Remove tappet cover and turn engine till the lobes on the cam shaft at no.1 cylinder are facing upwards and not pushing on the lifters.The cam gear has a little line on the side of it near one of the teeth that should line up with the top edge of the cylinder head.Get no.1 piston at TDC (top dead center) and check that the crank gear mark lines up with the marks on the plastic cam belt cover.Fit belt turn engine and check marks again.

Timing Belt
Removal
1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove air cleaner assembly.
3. Remove radiator upper fan shroud from radiator.
4. Move drive belt tensioner to loose side using wrench
then remove drive belt.
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Legend
(1) Crankshaft Pulley
(2) Cooling Fan Pulley
(3) Tensioner
(4) Generator
(5) Air Conditioner Compressor
(6) Power Steering Oil Pump
(7) Drive Belt
5. Remove cooling fan assembly four nuts, then the
cooling fan assembly.
6. Remove cooling fan drive pulley assembly.
7. Remove idle pulley assembly.
8. Remove serpentine belt tensioner assembly.
9. Remove power steering pump assembly.
10.Remove crankshaft pulley assembly using
5–8840–0133–0 crankshaft holder, hold crankshaft
pulley remove center bolt, then the pulley.
11. Remove right side timing belt cover then left side
timing belt cover.
12. Remove lower timing belt cover
13. Remove pusher.
CAUTION: The pusher prevents air from entering
the oil chamber. Its rod must always be facing
upward.
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Legend
(1) Up Side
(2) Down Side
(3) Direction For Installation
(4) Locking Pin
14. Remove timing belt.
CAUTION:
1. Do not bend or twist the belt, otherwise its core
could be damaged. The belt should not be bent at
a radius less than 30 mm.
2. Do not allow oil or other chemical substances to
come in contact with the belt. They will shorten
the life.
3. Do not attempt to pry or stretch the belt with a
screw driver or any other tool during installation.
4. Store timing belt in a cool and dark place. Never
expose the belt direct sunlight or heat.
6A–30 ENGINE MECHANICAL
Installation
NOTE: For correct belt installation, the letter on the belt
must be able to be read as viewed from the front of the
vehicle.
014RY00042
Legend
(1) Crankshaft Timing Pulley
(2) RH Bank Camshaft Drive Gear Pulley
(3) Water Pump Pulley
(4) Idle Pulley
(5) LH Bank Camshaft Drive Gear Pulley
(6) Tension Pulley
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Legend
(7) Alignment Mark on Oil Pump.
(8) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt
(9) Alignment Mark (notch) on Crankshaft Timing
Pulley.
(10) Alignment Mark (groove) on Crankshaft Timing
Pulley.
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Legend
(1) Timing Belt
(2) Engine Rotation Direction
(3) Cylinder Head Side
1. Install timing belt.
1. Align the mark (notch) of crankshaft timing pulley
(2) with mark on oil pump (1).
Align the mark (groove) on the crankshaft timing
pulley (3) with alignment mark (white dots line) on
the timing belt (4).
NOTE: When timing marks are aligned, No.2 piston will
be on Top Dead Center.
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Legend
(1) Alignment Mark on Oil Pump
(2) Groove on Crankshaft Timing Pulley
(3) Alignment Mark on Crankshaft Timing Pulley
(4) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt
ENGINE MECHANICAL 6A–31
2. Align the alignment mark on the RH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2) to the alignment
mark of the cylinder head cover RH (3).
3. Align the alignment mark (white line) on the timing
belt (1) with alignment mark on the RH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2) (on the left side as
viewed from the front of the vehicle) and put the
timing belt on the camshaft drive gear pulley.
Secure the belt with a double clip or equivalent
clip.
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Legend
(1) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt (White line).
(2) Alignment Mark on Camshaft Drive Gear
Pulley.
(3) Alignemnt Mark on Cylinder Head Cover RH.
4. Align the alignment mark on the LH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2) to the alignment
mark of the cylinder head cover LH (3).
5. Align the alignment mark (white line) on the timing
belt (1) with the alignment mark on the LH bank
camshaft drive gear pulley (2).
When aligning the timing marks, use a wrench to
turn the camshaft drive gear pulley, then set the
timing mark between timing belt and camshaft
drive gear pulley and put the timing belt on the
camshaft drive gear pulley.
Secure the belt with a double clip or equivalent
clip.
NOTE: It is recommended for easy installation that the
belt be secured with a double clip or equivalent clip after
it is installed the timing belt to each pulley.
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Legend
(1) Alignment Mark on Timing Belt (White line).
(2) Alignment Mark on Camshaft Drive Gear
Pulley.
(3) Alignemnt Mark on Cylinder Head Cover LH.
6. Install crankshaft pulley temporarily and tighten
center bolt by hand (do not use a wrench).
Turn the crankshaft pulley clockwise to give some
belt slack between the crankshaft timing pulley
and the RH bank camshaft drive gear pulley.
2. Install pusher and tighten bolt to the specified torque.
Torque : 25 N·m (2.5 Kg·m/18 lb ft)
1. Install the pusher while pushing the tension pulley
to the belt.
2. Pull out pin from the pusher.
NOTE: When reusing the pusher, press the pusher with
approximately 100Kg to retract the rod, and insert a pin
(1.4 mm piano wire).
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