Hi everyone,

I have been recently working on head gasket replacement on my 97 ram 1500 with the 5.9l engine. I have zero experience. I am at the point where I need to take the heads off. I been watching YouTube videos and reading the service manual. In the YouTube videos guys like to put the timing in tdc before taking off the heads. But in the manual it seems you can take the heads off then set the timing to tdc.

From what I understand tdc is when the number 1 piston is at its full compression stroke? I assume if I set the tdc first then once I remove the heads I should see the #1 piston all the way up on its compression stroke?

Also what if I take the heads off first then set the tdc after. I should be able to rotate the crankshaft until the number piston is all the way up?

In the manual when it says to “Rotate the crankshaft until the “V8” mark lines up with the TDC mark on the timing chain case cover. This mark is located at 147 degrees ATDC from the no.1 firing position.”

Is there a mark with the V8 or should I line it up in the middle of the V and the 8?

My plan was to set the tdc first then remove the heads and see that the number one piston is all the way up? Is this correct or am I wrong?

Thank you I’m advance.

 

Doesn't matter where the timing is, Removing the heads is not going to effect it.

 

Agree with above, no need to worry about timing if you're only removing the heads. Timing will come into play if you plan on removing the cam shaft, doing a timing set, or removing the distributor.

There should be a hash mark in the damper by V8 that you line up with TDC

In most cases you're correct TDC is rereferred to being Top of Compression Stroke on whatever cylinder, its always best to clarify certain circumstances and different engines may require something different so best to read carefully so you're in the right spot

 

Folks just set to TDC on number 1 cylinder to make it easy to drop the distributor back in, or set a new timing chain. Irrelevant to disassembly and easily changed later. With the rocker covers or intake off, piston should be up, and both valves on the 1 cylinder will be closed Should be able to rotate pushrods just a bit. Likewise, best to reassemble rocker arms in rotation on the engine, tightening down pivot bolts for each cylinder with the valves closed.

 

ok so I removed the heads without setting the timing first. So in order to put the heads on I should be setting the timing to tdc? To set the timing with the heads off I I can just rotate the crankshaft until I see #1 piston at its full compression stroke?

thanks for your reply

 

Any vehicle is easy to get to TDC, you don’t have to do it before hand, ive done hundreds of timing belts/ chains on various vehicles, it’s just line up the marks with the colored links…..

on our trucks when I did my timing set I never even set it to TDC, I just removed chain/ sprockets, then installed a double roller chain set, no issues…..now if you hear a snap after taking off chain then you need to set timing because that was the cam spinning

 

If you're just removing the heads I wouldnt worry about it all just set em back on

 

Did you pull the distributor?

 

​​​​​​​I did not pull the distributor.

I did clean the pistons and cylinder walls. As I rotated the crankshaft while cleaning I kept and eye on the #1 cylinder on its compression stroke. I noticed that the number #1 cylinder was fully compressed when it was a mark on the harmonic balancer. It looks like that mark is zero? As it’s between two 10s?




Also when I rotated it to the v8 mark that’s when I noticed it was finished it’s compression stroke and has been decompressed a little bit.

 

I plan on doing my timing cover as well. Will be swapping the timing chain for a double roller. Thanks for some tips