The service manual seems to imply it’s possible to set TDC after the timing belt is removed. I just wonder if it’s my misunderstanding and it’s impossible to avoid a piston - valve collision when any of the crankshaft or camshafts is rotated independently of the other two.

 

It's possible. You just have to be careful and stop turning the cam or crank when you feel heavy resistance. There will be some resistance as you turn the the cam gears as you be turning against the valve spring pressure. I'd say get a feel for what it feels like turning the motor before taking the belt off. Then when you set it to tdc with the belt off, you know if the resistance is greater than normal.

 

Actually, it is a simple process. First, rotate the crankshaft 45' from TDC so that all pistons are lower than TDC. Now rotate both cams to the proper TDC markings. Finally, rotate the crank back to TDC for the #1 piston and you are good to go.

 

Thank you for your cool instructions, @JRCivic1

Would you please help me with 2 more questions? Assume someone forgot to set TDC before removing the timing belt.
1. How do I determine the crankshaft is at #1 TDC or one more turn from it?
2. Can the crankshaft or camshaft be rotated in either direction, clockwise or counterclockwise?

Thank you for your help!

 

1. Doesn't matter. TDC is TDC. The cam sets what cycle the stroke is on.

2. Should probably only rotate the crank and cam in the normal operating direction. For rotating the crank that 45 degrees it won't really matter. Probably best to turn the crank backwards that 45 degrees and then roll it back to TDC the normal direction.

B amd D series are counter clockwise rotation in normal operation.

 

All of this above is good info.

TDC at the crankshaft is when the white (single) timing mark on the crank pulley is aligned with the raised pointer on the lower timing cover at about the 10:30 to 11 o'clock position. If you do not have a lower timing cover, you will have to remove the crank pulley to view the timing TDC mark on the crankshaft timing gear (also at about the 10:30 to 11 o'clock position) and it needs to align with the cast arrow (triangle shape) on the oil pump housing.