How do you replace timing chain in a1988 chevy s10 with a 2.8 where are marks on gears set do you use #1 top dead center or #4 tdc

50 causes, want to guess wrong 50 times
its not a dead started. nor dead battery. nor bad alternator at this point.
the word is start, not turns over, the starter motor and engine both turn over called spinning, he engine then spins(turns) and then spark burns the fuel so spark is first.
not start using jumper cable car top car other car running,
like the AAA auto club tow man does 100 times a day.
?
if dead , check spark, fuel can not burn lacking good spark\
we test all spark plugs for strong spark
if you did the chain wrong the cam is time wrong and now cam and spark are timed wrong. and compression is 1/2 normal and is now 3 ways wrong. see? chain wrong cause 3 wrongs
and on modern cars newer, the PCM sees CMP and CKP out of sync and pcm then cuts spark and cutting spark cuts fuel tool
so now 5 ways wrong
your post did not say at what point that work made engine dead.
your list if events seems wrong. time
runs
new chain
dead , is this it?, seems so to me but I can not watch you mess up.

the chain can not be just thrown on
and TDC happens 2 times on 4 cycle engines
the correct TDC must be used per the manual.
some use #1 firing other cars use #4
or just match marks crank and cam,

L61 engine with chain balance shaft.
cam chain, shows 7 tools to do this job , ouch
step 22
Rotate the crankshaft in the engine rotational direction clockwise, until the No.?1 piston is at top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke.
ahhhh yes very tricky timing settings to avoid piston valve hITS
steps:
Rotate the crankshaft in the engine rotational direction clockwise, until the No.?1 piston is at top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke. set chain color cap to crank cog mark
then at cams, 2 more chain caps at:
set EXH mark cam to chain colored cap

1. Using the dampener, rotate the crank so that the mark on the timing chain drive sprocket is at 5?o'clock position.
2. Set the crankshaft to 60?degrees before the top dead center.

position the exhaust camshaft with the offset slot to 2?o'clock position.EXH mark.
Position intake camshaft with offset slot to 11?o'clock position..
INT mark
all; 3 marks must be correct or bend valves you will
if set wrong DO IT AGAIN> now, keys in pocket.
this is an INTERFERENCE engine,
use DUE RESPECT OF THIS or huge damage happens./

I don't know what car you have, so here's what was needed on mine:
1. Bring engine to Top Dead Center, ready to fire #1. There should be a mark on the front pulley or on the flywheel. Move cams to the TDC mark, too. My car was twin cam, the front cams needed to face apart, and set the marks....

Yours may be different.

Valve timing. With a belt replace and retime. With a chain replace chain and sprockets. Move the timing mark to TDC top dead center.
Then see which plug is closest to firing it should be # !. Pull #1 plug
attach wire and see where it fires. If timing mark is way off return to TDC before repairs.

22R 4 cyl.Get # 1 piston to TDC(stick the harmonic balancer back on temporary)setting the mark to O on the timing tab,pull the balancer back off and slip the chain on the crank gear after finding the single dot on the chain.Set the mark on the cam gear at very top and put the chain mark on that mark on the cam gear.Stick the cam gear back on the cam and bolt it back on.Your set now.

put it on tdc
and go from there
tdc top dead center

The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2, distributor turns counter-clockwise. The ignition timing can be set using marks on the vibration damper. The wide mark is TDC (Top Dead Center), each mark after the wide mark represents 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 degrees before TDC. Set timing 3 degrees BTDC (Before Top Dead Center). In addition, valve timingis set like this: Intake opens: 12 degrees BTDC
Exhaust Closes: 8 degrees ATDC

yes when at TDC the marks will line up easier.

i just rebuilt my 22r you have to make sure the chain is set on the timing gears properly also when you put the distributer in you have to find tdc on the #1 cylinder on the compression stroke. the piston travels and the valves open and close after the exhaust valve opens and closes the intake valve will open as the piston travels down when it closes the piston will travel back up compresing the fuel when the dot on the crank lines up with the mark on the timing cover that is tdc top dead center on the compresion stroke. once you have that yoo slide in th distributor so as the rotor points at the number one contact on the cap

TDC is when the number 1 cylinder is at top dead center. You can do a preliminary adjustment with a rod into the spark plug hole. If the head isn't on yet, just turn it to the top. Align the timing marks and put your chain on.

get timing light and attach to #1 cylinder unhook timming comp. mark pully at T.D.C (top dead center) and crank engine. adjust distributor till #1 and #4 are within hash mark 0 on top of pully. not positive how to tell it the best way but tried. that is how i interpreted it