This is for a 22R engine...the oil pan is off, the timing cover and timing chain are off. Although I think I have everything set at #1 TDC, I want to be sure I'm not at #3 instead. Could someone layout the most accurate way to be sure.

Especially starting with the numbering of the cylinders. I'm assuming that #1 if the front cylinder, but I haven't found the numbering sequence in any of my manuals. Is it 1-2-3-4 with the #4 the rear most cylinder? Or is there some other esoteric numbering scheme?

And can I tell anything by looking from underneath the crankshaft ...right now the first and third cylinders are up and the other two are down. Should there be an obvious difference between the first and third, ie,how far up each one is?

Let's assume that the crankshaft was turned a number of times without a timing chain, so you don't know where you're at. Where do you go from there?

It doesnt really matter.
It's not like it does anything different when it goes down and back up. #1 will always be #1.
What you have to worry about, is when your piston is at #1, that your cam / valves are in the correct position.

And yes, #1 is the very front most cylinder. front to back, 1-2-3-4.

It's hard to check the TDC height of #1 because of the shallow angle of the spark plug hole. So I'm looking for another way to figure this out, so I can be sure the crank is set at #1 TDC. On the cam and valve side it's easier, I can check which rocker arms are loose.

Thanks Staceman, for the cylinder order. I know that's pretty obvious, but I just wanted to be sure.

You can take a screwdriver and stick it in the plug hole, and watch it go up and down and you rotate each way... when it reaches max height, you're at TDC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

When #1 is @ TDC, #1 valves will be loose. #4 will be tight.
Set the cam gear with the dowel pin straight up and the crank pulley timing mark @ 0*.