Hey folks.....

This may seem a fairly numn##ted question. How do you ID which cylinder is no.1? Is it the closest to the flywheel or the timing chain/belt on a 4cyl?

And for that matter, how do you ID which is no.1 on a V6?

I have a couple of workshop manuals for a few different vehicles, but I haven't seen anywhere tell you which is no.1?

Also, once you know which is No.1, how do you know if it is at TDC compression stroke? Say for example if I was wanting to replace a headgasket. I need to put Cyl 1 @ TDC compression stroke to ensure the timing isn't screwed when I remove said cylinder head.

Also is marking the dizzy shaft/camshaft with points of reference to know exactly how to put it back a good idea?

I'd really really appreciate someone pointing me in the right direction :) Maybe even some photos of a cylinder head off with pics of before/after to reference would be appreciated, offering free beer if you're located anywhere near eagleby/beenleigh in brisbane if you can help me.:beer:

Look at the engine face on - where the drive belts are.
On a 4 cylinder number 1 is closest to you.
On a V6 or V8 it is the left bank cylinder closest to you. Rear bank is 1,3,5 and front bank is 2,4,6.

(Flame me someone if I'm talking BS again. lol)

4 cylinder - line up the pulley and cam chain cover markers. Lift distributor cap. Rotor should be pointing at a mark on the outer edge or be pointing to the wire connector. If not, turn engine 360 degrees by hand, line up marks, look at distributor.
If you have the rocker cover off, No. 1 is at TDC of the firing stroke if both valves are closed.

Sounds like you are working without the manual and not much practical experience. Best to get one and do some reading before you start opening up the engine.

Look at the engine face on - where the drive belts are.
On a 4 cylinder number 1 is closest to you.
On a V6 or V8 it is the left bank cylinder closest to you. Rear bank is 1,3,5 and front bank is 2,4,6.

(Flame me someone if I'm talking BS again. lol)

4 cylinder - line up the pulley and cam chain cover markers. Lift distributor cap. Rotor should be pointing at a mark on the outer edge or be pointing to the wire connector. If not, turn engine 360 degrees by hand, line up marks, look at distributor.
If you have the rocker cover off, No. 1 is at TDC of the firing stroke if both valves are closed.

Sounds like you are working without the manual and not much practical experience. Best to get one and do some reading before you start opening up the engine.

Thanks MadMax, well I do have the workshop manual, however oddly, it doesn't specify which is cylinder 1, also you're right I don't have a shiteload of practical experience aside from owning 4 cars with the 4g54. I've only removed a cylinder head from said engine once, and transplanted a 4g54 in an NC Pajero, which was altogether very easy, bolt in bolt out.

But i'm quite confident when it comes to things such as correct pattern to undo head bolts, removing all gear necessary to remove head, ignition timing i'm ok with
When you say line up the pulley, do you mean crankshaft pulley, as in the timing chain side of engine? How do you manage to see the marks with the lack of space/sh#t everywhere say with a TS Magna?

Yep, the crankshaft pulley has a notch in it, cam chain case had a scale on it with TDC marked with a longer line.
Hard to see the timing marks for sure. I give them both a wipe with a rag (or a squirt of engine degreaser if really caked up), then mark the notch in the pulley and the TDC mark on the cam chain case with liquid paper. Suddenly it's much easier! (Need those marks to be clearly visible when you use a timing light to set the ignition timing anyway.)

Look at the engine face on - where the drive belts are.
On a 4 cylinder number 1 is closest to you.
On a V6 or V8 it is the left bank cylinder closest to you. Rear bank is 1,3,5 and front bank is 2,4,6.

(Flame me someone if I'm talking BS again. lol)

4 cylinder - line up the pulley and cam chain cover markers. Lift distributor cap. Rotor should be pointing at a mark on the outer edge or be pointing to the wire connector. If not, turn engine 360 degrees by hand, line up marks, look at distributor.
If you have the rocker cover off, No. 1 is at TDC of the firing stroke if both valves are closed.

Sounds like you are working without the manual and not much practical experience. Best to get one and do some reading before you start opening up the engine.

not flaming but some manufacturers go by other means of numbering:
on a peugeot 4 pot #1 is the cylinder closest to the flywheel (nearly caused me a bung diagnosis when swapping injector positions... swapped #2 with #1 and #2 error code still came up... phone peugeot and waddya know)
mustangs are the left side front to rear then the right side front to rear
and V engines the #1 cylinder is generally the most forward biased cylinder

not flaming but some manufacturers go by other means of numbering:
on a peugeot 4 pot #1 is the cylinder closest to the flywheel (nearly caused me a bung diagnosis when swapping injector positions... swapped #2 with #1 and #2 error code still came up... phone peugeot and waddya know)
mustangs are the left side front to rear then the right side front to rear
and V engines the #1 cylinder is generally the most forward biased cylinder

Well i'll be damned, i'd have thought it'd be somewhat universal as to what's considered cyl 1 in 4/6 V6/V8 engines. How can you reliably be sure you have Cyl 1 tdc if you don't have a manual telling you which is cyl 1?

Interesting! Well, as long as I got the Mitsu 4 and V6 numbering right I guess I can't complain! lol

4 cylinder: Definitely 1 2 3 4 starting at the cam chain end of the engine.

6 cylinder:
Mitsu Endeavour, AWD, transverse engine.
"Cylinder number 2 is the one closest to the drivebelts, on the radiator side of the engine."
Same setup as the Magna V6.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/superbovine/2009-11-25_194608_105860447.gif

Interesting! Well, as long as I got the Mitsu 4 and V6 numbering right I guess I can't complain! lol

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/superbovine/2009-11-25_194608_105860447.gif

the rear bank is more forward biased

the rear bank is more forward biased

Blame the guy who drew the picture! Yes, but you are right, no 1 is the furthest forward.

the rear bank is more forward biased

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg80/Metal_G_man/CylinderNumbers4g54_zps0665647d.jpg

So a 4g54 would look like this than?

Cool drawing! 100% accurate too!

Cool drawing! 100% accurate too!

Hah, 5 second mspaint job :P thanks though, if that's correct that tells me pretty much what I need to know. Wonder if it'd be handy for others to know too....