328 flywheel TDC mark

On the 308-2V you remove the flywheel inspection cover, turn the crankshaft and eventually the TDC will appear. I will be changing the timing belt on a 3.2 QV and after removing the plugs I will try to find the TDC, except I can not see a removable inspection cover. Any suggestions ? Still with the 328: on the 308 removing the belt cover is easy, on the 328 there is some kind of plastic inner cover bolted to the cover. It seems without removing-unscrewing- this inner cover the belt cover can not be removed.

 

Yes, the black fiberglass rear belt covers have to be unscrewed from the back of the belt covers. IIRC I use an 8mm ignition wrench for some, & others I can get to with an 8mm 1/4" drive socket.

The removable flywheel inspection cover is a triangular aluminum piece with a thick rubber gasket held in place by two M6 nuts. It's located on top of the bell housing just below the oil filter. When it's removed you should see something like the picture below. The PM1-4 vertical TDC mark can appear anywhere in the general area. I n this picture if's just before the P. (Yellow paint added to improve visability of the metal pointer & the TDC mark.

Often if the flywheel has been resurfaced a couple of times only about 1/2 or 2/3 of the letters will remain. Also usually they're covered with clutch dust so you'll have to clean the flywheel as you turn it. When you get to the PM1-4 marks, use break cleaner to clean the area up as was done before this picture.
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Ok, what V has shown you is after a lot of work, here is what it looks like in nature. This is from an '88 US spec 328. So this is what you really see..
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Believe me, You really need to make a mark like that or you won't be able to see jack. I used special pink and yellow parts pens (one for each bank) Especially if you don't take the lid off and are looking at an angle.

Everything on these cars is hard.

 

Sorry, I forgot that on the later QVs & 328s the oil cooler had been relocated & gets in the way to accessing that cover. It's still there, just under the oil cooler & hoses(sigh).

 

HAH!

Well sh.. shoot. I just really looked at that pic. The hose going to the coolant reservoir has a fuel injection spec stenciled on it.. that can't be right.

Arrgghh..

 

Thank you guys ! I am used to the much friendlier 308 set up. So far the rear belt cover is removed, I am working on the front cover, removing the A/C.Next will be the plugs , disconnecting hoses above the flywheel TDC , removing the little cover,etc. It is basically the same routine as on the 308,but a lot more involved, more work.