How can I turn the crank and cam so the timing marks line up right?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

71 C-10 402. Not a rebuild, just a new oil pump and timing gear.

Just pulled the timing chain and gears off, and something escapes me for installing a new chain and gears.

Each gear has a timing mark. As long as those marks face forward the gears only insert one way. That's because there's just one key way on each snout.

As I understand it, assuming the engine is straight (which it's not in the picture), when you install a timing chain the cam gear mark should be at 6-O-clock, and that lines up to crank gear mark at 12 O-clock. In other terms, the timing marks line-up vertically.................I assume the cam and crank turn independently without a chain (clockwise). As it sits the marks on the gears did not meet per the description. How do you safely rotate the crank and cam so the marks line up correctly for installing a chain?


I realize the spark plugs should be removed beforehand. Can't use the flex plate to turn the crank, because the block is on a stand. No I'm not going to use the crank bolt.........or a pipe wrench (yikes). Thank you.....