Originally Posted by
Civic2Scooby
actually placing a metal rod in cylinder 1 and rotating to TDC is a perfectly acceptable way to line up timing marks on the head and the cam.
I wouldn't go as far to say it is acceptable... Yes, it will show you when the piston is at the top of it's stroke, but it can potentially damage the piston, and it is supposed to be done WITHOUT a metal rod.
Besides, a flashlight and your eyeball can do the same job, so why not just "eye" it out?