Hello everybody! I have a problem. My timing belt broke on my 90 civic si and it killed the cylinder head. Well, I was lucky enough to find a replacement cylinder head on ebay for $100, but I have a problem.
I don't know where TDC is. I understand that it's for cylinder #1 which is the one closest to the drivebelts. I understand that it's when the piston in cylinder one reaches the very top of its arc....but I don't know how to determine which revolution it's on without using a compression tester (trying to avoid purchasing). The revolutions being 1.intake 2.exhaust... I don't know how to avoid being 180 degrees off.

My main question is this. If I'm going to completely change heads it seems logical to me that I need to do three things:
1. set cylinder #1 to the top of its arc with the head off so I can actually see the piston
2. install the head with the lined up TDC marks on the cam attached to the head
3. bolt up

Basically, my thinking is pistons go up and down while the cylinder head controls the intake and exhaust...if the exhaust involved the block i wouldn't think like this, but I don't believe that's the case.

Finally, if I am 180 off and I crank it over and it, of course, doesn't start will I damage anything?

Anyone help me on this???
Sorry for the length...very tired.

 

Um.... why not just look at the ports? The intake ports are different than the exhaust ports...

 

ok theers a woodruff key that keeps the camgear in place just put that in then mark the top part of the cam gear to that. then line the oil pump gear tyo the tdc mark and whoola.