Top Dead Center with head off

[RangerDangerr]

This is a pretty stupid question, but I have a brand new head ready to go onto my 2.3

To put the motor at tdc, (before I put the new head on) I just need to put on my crank bolt and turn it counter clockwise until the piston closest to the front is at the very top, right?

Is there anything special to consider? It has to pretty much be exactly at the top of its stroke right?



also, it's been sitting for a while should I take a rag and put a thin layer of new oil on the cylinder walls before hand? thanks.

 

[RonD]

Yes to the oil, and yes #1 piston at the top is TDC as far as mark on Crank pulley.
#4 will also be at TDC
If I remember correctly the cranks key way will also be pointed straight up at TDC.

Exactly is not used in engines, lol, margin of allowable errors are pretty wide for most things.
You are mainly putting #1 at TDC for when you install the Cam and cam gear to time the timing belt.

 

[RangerDangerr]

does it matter which way i turn the crank?

 

[adsm08]

No. The only time it matters which direction the crank is turned is after the cam is installed and timing is set because it can make the chain skip a tooth by going backwards.