Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

If the mark on the #1 bearing cap aligns up with the mark on the cam and the crankshaft is at 0°, there are only two possibilities:

1) The #1 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke.

2) The #1 piston is at TDC on the exhaust stroke.


In the first case, the cam lobes are pointing generally upward and the valves are closed.

In the second case, the cam lobes are pointing downward and the valves are open.

If you've got the first case, you don't need to bother with the camshaft.