PRocedure to locate: TDC

[rdauenhauer]

Dizzy had been removed and impeller replaced with one with no marks?
I know I can get it 180 out so what is the key to finding it 1st time, valve cover off & chk the Rockers?

[dstar5000]

intake valves opens and then piston comes UP to TDC.

DOn

[Piledriver]

Welcome to the STF!

Yep, you can actually cheat a little and not pull a valve cover if you pull a plug and have a compression tester...
(or some hose... or Loooong fingers)
...on a 914, this matters... On ~ anything rear engined, it usually easier to drop the covers.

Amazingly you'll only have pressure on the compression stroke...

Once you find the compression stroke on #1, A modded cored out plug with a length of rubber rod makes for a great stopper, find either side of TDC then make the final mark in the middle.
Do the same for 2/4 with 2 scratches.

Do not be tempted to use a pencil or such. Trust me on this...

[rdauenhauer]

[rdauenhauer]

Is it possible to get the impeller / piston relationship correct at TDC but have the dizzy drive gear installed incorrectly?

[Piledriver]

Is it possible to get the impeller / piston relationship correct at TDC but have the dizzy drive gear installed incorrectly?

Absolutely, you can stick the drive gear in most any orientation...
If you have a mech advance distributor, and have the firing order right on the cap, it really won't matter much.

Makes it harder to set up though and generally discouraged.

A bit of Tomato stake--- Bamboo--- makes for a great removal tool, a pencil or random wood dowel will likely break up.
(An actual tool exists for this job, but the bamboo works about as well)