How do you find top dead center on a 1988 V6 Toyota 4Runner and set the timing after an engine swap?

top dead center for cyl. #1 is when the notch on the crank lines up exactly with "0" on the timing cover. if you have the upper timing cover off, the marks on the cam gears should be up and in line with the marks on the metal plate behind the gears. if all those things are lined up, the engine has cylinder #1 at TDC of the compression stroke. to set the distributor at this point, find where the #1 plug wire is. trace its location down to the distributor body and mark on the distributor EXACTLY where the electrode is. (you need to be able to see where its supposed to be because you cant install the distributor with the cap on) now remove the dist. cap. before installing the distributor, turn the crankshaft counterclockwise just a little to line up the notch on the crank to the 10 deg. mark. now install the distributor so when its fully seated, the rotor points directly at the mark you made on the distributor. (you may have to remove and remesh the gears a few times to make this work, you also have flexibility with the built in adjustment on the dist. itself) this will be very close to correct ignition timing. after the engine is running it should be checked with a light.