Which TDC mark to use on a '92 5-spd?

[wtfisafleek]

So I'm finishing up my '92 5spd timing belt, and everything seemed ok. Before adding the timing belt covers back on I rotated the motor a couple times and it was very smooth.

However I dropped a long screwdriver down the sparkplug hole just to verify I was at TDC before removing the rocker assembly to do the o-rings. I noticed that as the TDC mark I'd used for the timing belt service was lined up with the block pointer, but the piston hadn't stopped moving upward yet. This is the mark I used (painted pink), and a pic of the different marks used for the auto vs the 5spd in the manual ('91 service manual, for the record):



Oddly, there's also the "T" cited to be on the auto trans cars too. If I continue to turn the crank, once the "T" is lined up, the piston has stopped moving on cyl #1:


I'm thinking I should've been using the "T" mark the whole time and not the straight line. What do you guys think?

[Grumpys93]

I’ve always used the T and verified it with my flat head and the mark on the lower timing gear behind the crank pulley.

[Fleetw00d]

With the trans off, it is easier to check. From the transmission end of the engine, the flywheel rotates clockwise. Since the timing marks used for ignition timing are 15 degrees before TDC, that mark (with +/- marks in red on an OEM flywheel) will pass the pointer first (when rotating the engine clockwise) followed by the TDC mark 15 degrees of rotation later (about 1.4 inches along the circumference of the flywheel (assuming 11 inch diameter). TDC is used for mechanical timing of the cam, the other set for ignition timing. I suggest you mark them in accordance with the manual (TDC white, 15 BTDC red) so that they match the instructions.

[wtfisafleek]

Ok I've gotten it corrected. I just had to take the belt off and adjust the cam 3 or 4 teeth. All's good now!