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I need help on my 1980 luv 4X4 with a 1.8 isuzu motor. I am finished rebuilding the motor and stuck on setting up the timming chain and sprockets. The Haynes manuel said to make sure the number1 and 4 piston are on top dead center which i did but what cllinder needs to be in compression one or four or does it matter. I set it up with number 4 in compression and set the crank mark where it needs to be and set the gear on the cam where it should be and counted the 50 links on the timming chain and set the oil pump as shown but when I set the dist it points to number 4 cylinder on the dist cap. So do I need to set the number1 cylinder on compression and start over or just change the oil pump so the rotor will point to number 1 on the cap. would be thankful for any help, just the guy trying to get his trusty old luv to run

See this post: timing marks 1.8L stock for a lot of good info.

When you line up the marks for the camshaft it does put it at #4 TDC. It seems a little counter intuitive but all the instructions in the various service manuals point to #4 not #1. I have one truck that I bought not running that the prior owner lined up 180 out. What I finally did was hook up #4 plug wire to #1, and #2 to #3. After years of sitting it fired right up.

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95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

Hey thanks for the info. So i did what your post said and looked at the other posts. But when I set it up the rotor on the dist cap, points to the number 4 on the top of the cap, is this right. So to time the motor do you roll the crank to #1 compression and timie it and it will fire on the number one cylinder.OR IAM I MISSING SOMETHING HEAR. What i noticed is the way you install the oil pump (as per the posts) it seems to make the rotor point to the #4 on the cap when you set it up on the #4 in compression. Any thoughts !!!!

Hello all I need some help on setting the oil pump. I have installed the cam and sprocket and lined it up with number 4 cylinder on top dead center in compression and installed the timming chain as per the haynes manuel. set the oil pump up as to what the haynes manuel called out, but what stumped me is the rotor points to the number 4 on the dist cap?, is this right. Or do I need to reset the oil pump so the dist points to number 1 on the dist cap. If you do how do I get there any comments.
Thanks, just a guy trying to get this right before installing the motor again

What you want is for the crank to be at 0 degrees, (#1 AND #4 at TDC) and the cam lined up with its marks either straight up or straight down. Then look at which valves are both closed. If #1 valves are both closed completely then your distributor should point at #1, and vice versa for #4.

Like I said before. When I followed the book to the letter, everything ended up pointing to #4. I think that is what is confusing here. Just check that both valves close on #1 as you rotate the engine to have both valves on #1 closed and the crank timing mark at 0 degrees. Then again the same thing at #4 compression stroke. 0 degrees crank, cam so that both valves on #4 close, and distributor pointing the right way.

_________________
95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

Which way is the "Right" way? #1 sparkplug or #2???