I'm reassembling my 1.6 after discovering my last head was no good, after having the motor out of the car for almost four months. Now I've begun the task of getting all my timing components lined up.

I did a little bit of reading and found that on 1989-93 Miatas there is a white mark indicating top dead center. My pulley thing doesn't have this mark. Are there any alternatives to finding TDC other than just getting it (visually) close? Where would the white mark line up with if it was actually there? Am I screwed?

I don't want to ruin my **** after investing this much time and money, my car has been down almost a year. If anyone has a solution to this problem or advice on putting this thing back together as I've never done it before, I'd be eternally grateful. Thanks in advance.

 

There could just be a small notch without a white mark.

 

Yes, I believe I've found this. Where would it line up? Around what I believe to be TDC, it's like halfway between the 10 and the T on the little timing gauge thingamajig.

 

It should point to the T, which happens to signify top dead center. If it doesn't, your harmonic damper may have slipped and needs replacement. That has happened to me before.

 

I'll have to look again tomorrow.

 

While you're at it, I'd color the notch with a white paint marker to make it easier to see.

Interesting story regarding that, I once made a whopping 138whp at 12psi with my greddy due to a slipped harmonic balancer.

 

Yeah, I'll make for damn sure to mark that thing once I get it figured out. However, I do remember a bit of white residue (which I thought was silicone or something) a little to the left of the notch on the damper. Is it the notch on the damper that is marked with white or ?

 

the notch is what you're looking for. the factory put the notch in and possibly colored it white, the factory didnt make a white mark to one side of the notch or the other. You'll want to put white paint marker either on the notch, or you can put it near the notch to make it easy to find (as it sounds like a PO did). If you're unsure about what the notch looks like, find a buddy's miata, start it up, and use a timing light. You'll instantly see exactly what the notch looks like.

It should line up at "T" when TDC.

When Idling and using a timing light, it should line up with "10" which signifies 10* BTDC

 

Sounds like you have it but, the only other way ever suggested to me to (in an all else fails situation) is to put the dipstick in the spark plug hole and watch it as you turn the crank.